Hazing creates a sense of unity

[Texan85]

Originally Posted by Kevin

Do you think that hazing is becoming frowned upon more because it's culturally obsolute or because it's too expensive in terms of insurance, lawsuits, etc. for our respective organizations to allow it to continue?

It doesn't seem like many organizations placed a very high priority on hazing when it was at its zenith 20+ years ago. I don't mean to be cynical, but could it be that the only reason we're even talking about this has nothing to do with the human tragedy, the danger, etc. and everything to do with the financial survival or our respective institutions?

If I had to pick, it would be the latter. I think that because of all of the no hazing policies by GHQ, and by the campus that you are at makes it an unfavorable practice.

Second to that I have been told hazing comes from post WWII and the marines and soldiers coming back on the GI Bill, so I think its starting to take root in the new milenium that it is just an archaic practice.

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by Texan85

Second to that I have been told hazing comes from post WWII and the marines and soldiers coming back on the GI Bill, so I think its starting to take root in the new milenium that it is just an archaic practice.

That certainly contributed to a new rise in hazing, but hazing has been around a lot longer than that.

[Tom Earp]

I beleive hazing was in practice from the inseption of GLOs and is not based on the men/women who returned from WWII. They had seen enough hurt/blood shed and I am sure were not up to having to be hazed by a group of kids who did not fight in this war.

I know that at the two schools I attended, the men on GI Bill help build dorms at one school and the stadium at the other one. Doesn't sound like hazing would come from them.

When West Point was founded, the new plebes had to ride cannon barrels with a team of horses running with the cassions.

Beating, making a new member drink in excess is a way to make a stronger member of any GLO would steer me away from them.

I do not think I would find any glee in those or any other forms of degredation appealing.

[Kevin]

Originally Posted by Texan85

Second to that I have been told hazing comes from post WWII and the marines and soldiers coming back on the GI Bill, so I think its starting to take root in the new milenium that it is just an archaic practice.

I doubt that.

Go to your next convention and ask one of the grey-hairs that question. I don't know one way or the other, but I would have to assume that hazing has been around a long, long time.

My fraternity was founded in 1869, essentially in response to (and against) the hazing and other morally objectionable practices which were being perpetrated by the forerunner organization of ATO. Hazing was alive and well in 1869. It has deep roots in the american educational system. I have no reason to believe it slackened off on its own between 1869 and WWII.