Hazing IS a risk to your chapter

[katherinewms]

I am an advisor to a sorority in my area and I am really concerned that so many think that their activities are harmless and that the anti-hazing push is too extreme. I don't know whether many of you realize, but the numbers of college students who go through rush each year is steadily decreasing. Also many college administrators are taking a hard look at greek organizations and their benefit to the campus. Getting tough on hazing is just one way our national organizations are trying to promote a positive image of greeks. By doing silly pranks, even if they don't seem harmful, we are only destroying our reputation as a whole and moving towards our ultimate demise. I also disagree with the correlation between greeks hazing and a regiment that is required to become a successful soccer athlete. In my mind the difference is in the purpose of the two organizations. The purpose of most greek organizations is to intensify friendship among members and to perform such deeds and mold such opinions as will conduce to the the building of a purer and nobler womanhood/brotherhood/sisterhood/man/etc. in the world. The purpose of a soccer organization is to also promote friendship but I would say more importantly to build a better athlete. Making rules about what to eat, when to eat, how and when to excercise serves the purpose of the soccer team, but doesn't serve the purpose of the greek organization. Not only that, but a new member of a soccer team expects to make those sorts of sacrifices in order to be successful. Likewise, a new member of a greek organization should be given clear expectations of how to earn their membership. Chapters that haze more than likely do not promote the activity during membership recruitment, and so thereby are NOT setting up the expectations of the new member like the soccer team probably does. In reference to the scavenger hunt where pictures must be taken from around the county. What purpose does that activity serve? If it is truly an educational experience that has some merit and you would be willing to explain the details and purpose of the event to a school official and the parents of those involved, then I would say it is not hazing. But consider who would be held responsible if one of the participants were kidnapped, injured, or worse during this activity which I suspect requires the participants to visit areas of a county of which they have little or no familiarity. The example of the maze of strings to find your big sis/brother, in my opinion does not sound like hazing. Again, I would say look at the purpose of the activity and decide whether you would be willing to explain the activity to school officials and parents. If not, then its best to question the necessity of the activity.