Thinking of rushing..Terrified of hazing

[Kevin]

What exactly is there to be "terrified" about? Even if there was hazing, it's not as if they can force you to do anything. Simply walk away and call the hotline/law enforcement authorities.

[Ghostwriter]

Originally Posted by NotYetGreek

Does anyone know if University of Idaho still has problems with hazing? Do most universities have hazing problems?

Are there any tips anyone has to look out for early signs that may foreshadow hazing that I should look for before I am in a dangerous situation?

I didn't know Idaho had a problem with hazing. You seem to be a little too paranoid. Sororities, in general, do not have a real big problem with hazing at this time. The risk is too great and most Nationals have a zero tolerance for this type behavior. I suggest you not join a sorority as you seem way too weak.

I think that VandalSquirrel might be able to clarify if she is still around.

[VandalSquirrel]

Originally Posted by Ghostwriter

I didn't know Idaho had a problem with hazing. You seem to be a little too paranoid. Sororities, in general, do not have a real big problem with hazing at this time. The risk is too great and most Nationals have a zero tolerance for this type behavior. I suggest you not join a sorority as you seem way too weak.

I think that VandalSquirrel might be able to clarify if she is still around.

There is another poster here who is a current collegiate member, I'm an alumna, but still in the vicinity. If there were hazing issues on this campus they'd be all over the news, and I know the student media paper would print any incidents. Do we have risk management issues, yes, as do all colleges and even people aged 18-22 all over the US and Canada. In regards to fraternities ahve I seen behavior i find borderline with my NPC lens? Yes, and there have been groups who have addressed issues that were crossing the line and handled them internally before it became a huge issue and people were filing law suits or dying.

If there was a group hazing at UI they'd be exposed and handled with a quickness, and in my time here I have never heard of nor seen sorority hazing. Trust this is a small campus and it wouldn't be kept a secret. Not to slam my nearby neighbors at Wazzu, but they have had sorority issues with hazing, not us. You can call the Dean of Students Office, Bruce Pitman would be happy to talk to you and I'm sure they'd transfer you to the newish (as of last summer) Greek Advisor, Matt Kurz, as well. You can reach both of their offices at 208-885-6757 bruce Pitman at askjoe@uidaho.edu or greek@uidaho.edu

I am refraining from saying anything else other than GO VANDALS!

[carynie13]

I would also suggest that when you go through recruitment not to listen to the tent talk because I can almost bet that you will hear about sororities that "haze hard" when in fact it is completely untrue. Don't let the gossip bring you down. I know I didn't and I'm so happy for that because I love my (non-hazing) chapter.

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by NotYetGreek

Does anyone know if University of Idaho still has problems with hazing? Do most universities have hazing problems?

OMG! Of course!!!

[Titchou]

Originally Posted by NotYetGreek

I am considering attending University of Idaho and rushing a sorority. I joined Greek Chat so I could browse the forums about hazing. I want nothing to do with hazing or any such incidents. That is the one thing that is holding me back from rushing. I understand from reading these posts and news articles that most hazing goes on during the pledging process. Also, that most hazed students were actually doing the acts their abusers asked them to do. If someone tries to leave a dangerous situation are they harmed? Or are they allowed to freely leave?

Does anyone know if University of Idaho still has problems with hazing? Do most universities have hazing problems? Should I not even rush? I am so terrified of this, so any serious information or experiences would be appreciated.

Are there any tips anyone has to look out for early signs that may foreshadow hazing that I should look for before I am in a dangerous situation?

What actions would you consider hazing that would "scare" you? Did you know that scavenger hunts are considered hazing? What about requiring a certain shade of nail polish for initiation? That's hazing too. Do those things scare you? I doubt it...but they are considered hazing. Yes, there have been some bad incidents - dangerous ones. But there are also these types of things that happen that shouldn't "scare" you but are demeaning inother ways. The NPC groups have come down hard on hazing - even the scavenger hunts and the nail polish. Odds are you won't run across even this.

[KSUViolet06]

We could scream "WE DON'T HAZE!" all we wanted and there are alot of PNMs that wouldn't believe us. I don't consider it my PERSONAL responsbility to BEG PNMs to believe us. It's in ALL of our official materials and such. If that't not enough for some PNMs, I don't know what to tell them.

Either you're going to ignore the negative media attention concerning hazing and find out for yourself, or you're going to sit back and watch others join and have great experiences. That's up to you.

[knight_shadow]

Originally Posted by Drolefille

I'm sure there's some of the NPHC/NPC differences coming across, but I don't see answering these questions as begging for members or desperately trying to convince someone.

We corrected the misconception and encouraged her to a) think for herself and b) go through recruitment and find out. PNMs aren't held to the same expectations that aspirants are and 17-18 year-olds can need reassurance. Far better that we correct the misconceptions than allow them to continue.

I don't believe that NPC "begs" for members either -- I think it really comes down to the bolded. Our organizations have plenty of information about hazing (definitions, what to do if you suspect it, etc) and PNMs/aspirants have access to that information. They can choose to acknowledge that info or to ignore it.

If, after researching, an aspirant STILL doesn't want to pledge, so be it. I'm not going to lose any sleep over it.

Originally Posted by KSUViolet06

We could scream "WE DON'T HAZE!" all we wanted and there are alot of PNMs that wouldn't believe us. I don't consider it my PERSONAL responsbility to BEG PNMs to believe us. It's in ALL of our official materials and such. If that't not enough for some PNMs, I don't know what to tell them.

Either you're going to ignore the negative media attention concerning hazing and find out for yourself, or you're going to sit back and watch others join and have great experiences. That's up to you.

Co-sign.

[Drolefille]

Originally Posted by KSUViolet06

We could scream "WE DON'T HAZE!" all we wanted and there are alot of PNMs that wouldn't believe us. I don't consider it my PERSONAL responsbility to BEG PNMs to believe us. It's in ALL of our official materials and such. If that't not enough for some PNMs, I don't know what to tell them.

Either you're going to ignore the negative media attention concerning hazing and find out for yourself, or you're going to sit back and watch others join and have great experiences. That's up to you.

I think the point is that no matter how much we, or our orgs, point out that we don't allow hazing, it can happen. But I really don't see how any of this is 'begging' or lowering ourselves.

She can go through recruitment and see, but she can also be aware that if she's faced with a hazing situation she has the ability to say no and not be pressured into it.

[KSUViolet06]

Originally Posted by Drolefille

I think the point is that no matter how much we, or our orgs, point out that we don't allow hazing, it can happen. But I really don't see how any of this is 'begging' or lowering ourselves.

She can go through recruitment and see, but she can also be aware that if she's faced with a hazing situation she has the ability to say no and not be pressured into it.

This.

[Ggirl617]

I don't think the fact that our laws tell us not to haze coupled with the fact we have enough members in our GLO's is enough to not do anything else. In theory, this is accurate, but in practice, no.

[knight_shadow]

Originally Posted by Drolefille

I think the point is that no matter how much we, or our orgs, point out that we don't allow hazing, it can happen. But I really don't see how any of this is 'begging' or lowering ourselves.

She can go through recruitment and see, but she can also be aware that if she's faced with a hazing situation she has the ability to say no and not be pressured into it.

This is something that's communicated to PNMs/aspirants. Anything beyond that would be stepping into "spoonfeeding" territory (IMHO).

Originally Posted by Ggirl617

I don't think the fact that our laws tell us not to haze coupled with the fact we have enough members in our GLO's is enough to not do anything else. In theory, this is accurate, but in practice, no.

To each his/her own. If you want to go beyond that, that's your call. But it isn't necessarily "wrong" to expect prospective members to form conclusions on their own.

[Drolefille]

Originally Posted by knight_shadow

This is something that's communicated to PNMs/aspirants. Anything beyond that would be stepping into "spoonfeeding" territory (IMHO).



To each his/her own. If you want to go beyond that, that's your call. But it isn't necessarily "wrong" to expect prospective members to form conclusions on their own.

I agree, I just didn't see how anything here was related to us begging for members.

[knight_shadow]

Originally Posted by Drolefille

I agree, I just didn't see how anything here was related to us begging for members.

"We aren't hurting for members" =/= "Begging for members" (in my eyes)

I think the point is that none of our GLOs will cease to exist if a handful of PNMs/aspirants don't form their own conclusions. There are hundreds (if not thousands) of others that are more than willing to come to us.

[AXOrushadvisor]

Originally Posted by NotYetGreek

I am considering attending University of Idaho and rushing a sorority. I joined Greek Chat so I could browse the forums about hazing. I want nothing to do with hazing or any such incidents. That is the one thing that is holding me back from rushing. I understand from reading these posts and news articles that most hazing goes on during the pledging process. Also, that most hazed students were actually doing the acts their abusers asked them to do. If someone tries to leave a dangerous situation are they harmed? Or are they allowed to freely leave?

Does anyone know if University of Idaho still has problems with hazing? Do most universities have hazing problems? Should I not even rush? I am so terrified of this, so any serious information or experiences would be appreciated.

Are there any tips anyone has to look out for early signs that may foreshadow hazing that I should look for before I am in a dangerous situation?

I think it is good to be aware of hazing. No Greek organizations that I know of endorse hazing. If any hazing is done it is usually by a couple of bad apples not the whole group. I certainly wouldn't let this hold you back from participating in recruitment. I don't know any thing about the University you site or the groups there. I don't think there are any warning signs if a group is going to haze you. I would treat sorority life like your own life, if some thing is going on that makes you feel uncomfortable leave and tell some one.