Hazing. Is it necessary?

[LaneSig]

I took this off Kappa Alpha's headquarters website. I especially like the answer to the last myth. Our founders weren't hazed and they did alright.


Nine Common Myths about Hazing

MYTH: "Hazing builds pledge class unity."
FACT: Unity may be created within the pledge class, but the pledges will be unified against the chapter. The end result is a number of segregated groups within one disunited chapter. There is no use or reason for pledge class unity. Why not focus on building chapter unity through retreats, social events and philanthropic service?

MYTH: "The pledges want to be hazed."
FACT: If you believe this, why not publicize your chapter's planned hazing activities during rush, and then see how many pledges the chapter gets?

MYTH: "We only haze a little bit. It's not really that bad."
FACT: That's like saying, "I only steal a little bit. I'm not really a thief." If you wouldn't do it in front of your mother, don't do it.

MYTH: "If we eliminate hazing, KA will be just a social club instead of a fraternity. It will be a cakewalk to become a member."
FACT: Hazing is the spineless, easy way out. A truly well organized, positive, and educational program will require more time, dedication, and energy than a hazing program. The resulting difference will be initiates who are eager to work for and help the chapter, and who can better serve as leaders.

MYTH: "The military thinks hazing is good, and they do it, so why can't we?"
FACT: The military does not, in fact, conduct hazing practices, but rather engages in a crucial, unique type of training and preparation for dangerous military operations. According to the Dept. of the Army's TRADOC Regulation 350-6: "Hazing is strictly prohibited" and is "an offense punishable under the Uniform Code of Military Justice." The unique training that is conducted is done by professionals to prepare soldiers and military personnel for unusual circumstances, a disciplined lifestyle, and to put their life on the line for our country. KA doesn't ask that of our members.

MYTH: "If a pledge doesn't respect us or our principles, we'll haze him until he improves."
FACT: Hazing a new member who doesn't turn out to be worthy of membership makes the situation even worse. Just like other forms of victimization, hazing breeds mistrust, apathy and alienation, not respect. Simply terminate his pledgeship instead of endangering him and the chapter.

MYTH: "If we eliminate hazing, the other fraternities on campus will no longer respect us."
FACT: A positive, educational program can only result in a much better all-around chapter. If the other groups condemn your chapter for improving and being number one on campus, who cares?

MYTH: "Hazing activities are the only methods we have of disciplining the new members."
FACT: There are positive and negative methods of administering discipline. How does the chapter discipline an initiated member? Methods of discipline should be the same for new members and active brothers.

MYTH: "I went through it, now the pledges have to go through it."
FACT: Would you go through it again? It only takes one class to break this so-called "tradition." Our founders and early members were not hazed, so why treat today's new members differently?
If you think hazing has anything to do with brotherhood or friendship, you're caught up in the myths about hazing. At its best, hazing builds resentment between new members and initiates. At its worst, people die.

edited for easier reading

[jon1856]

And this link for other additional Myths & Facts about Hazing. And Tex-guess where it was adapted from:

http://www.stophazing.org/mythsandfacts.html

And while you seem to hold any school North of the M/D line in distain, here is a rather interesting link from a Ivy-league school named Cornell:
http://www.hazing.cornell.edu/index.html

[macallan25]

Originally Posted by jon1856

And this link for other additional Myths & Facts about Hazing. And Tex-guess where it was adapted from:

http://www.stophazing.org/mythsandfacts.html

And while you seem to hold any school North of the M/D line in distain, here is a rather interesting link from a Ivy-league school named Cornell:
http://www.hazing.cornell.edu/index.html

I don't hold them in disdain......I just said I don't have much experience with them. Look....I am not an advocate of hazing that causes emotional/physical problems.....or something that can be life threatening or tramatizing. I'm sure EE-BO, Shinerbock, and others know of plenty of good alternatives.....that can be more than acceptable.

[EE-BO]

I have to admit I spent some more time this afternoon reading the specific letter of Texas law as jon linked above, and I failed to notice that the list of specific prohibited acts is preceded by the following note,

"Activities which under certain conditions constitute acts that are dangerous, harmful, or degrading, in violation of subsections 6-303(b) and 11-804(a)(7) of the Institutional Rules on Student Services and Activities include but are not limited to[1]" (emphasis added).

This makes me feel a lot better since until today I was thinking the laundry list of potential acts was an absolute list not subject to context- and also glad I have taken more time to read up on the law. Granted it still leaves a lot to interpretation, but it is nice to know that a lot of what I consider acceptable is, in fact, not strictly illegal- and I would not say not at all in my chapter's case because we did not stretch the limits of the penal code in our standard pledging program.

This only reinforces my position that many aspects of the pledge period should continue on, but if I am going to post like an authority on a subject- I guess I have to admit when I was in error, even if the correction does bolster my argument from a purely legal standpoint (i.e. there is still room to debate the value to a given chapter of certain activities.)

And I should point out that when alcohol is involved and anyone is under 21, the above clause I found is no defense whatsoever...

Thank you Jon for taking the time to post all those links. Glad I finally got around to learning something from them.

[jon1856]

Thank you EE-BO for your kind words.
Just need to check one minor thing: I have posted both TX and WA laws here. I posted WA laws when I was discussing my school/chapter as that is were they are/were.

Either way, I am glad that you did take the time to review for your own knowlege.