Is branding hazing?

[whittleschmeg]

Question: When a "Pledge" "New member" is hazed do they say no or do they go along willingly with what is happening?

I do not think that people should get prosecuted for getting branded especially if they are brothers/sisters of an organization and are showing there loyalty. But if a brother/sister does it willingly does a pledge get hazed willingly if they dont say no. My question may be premature or naive could someone shed some light on it.

Does anyones national bylaws hold new members responsible for going along with hazing. I have been told that Chi Omega does hold there new members responsible for not saying no.

[MaMaBuddha]

Originally posted by starang21
NO.

very short and sweet.



no branding is not hazing. a few of my LS have brands. I've attended branding ceremonies. i've branded a few frats in my day.

pure tradition.

[Lady Pi Phi]

Originally posted by preciousjeni
...ETA: Wolfman makes the vital point that branding is not something that you'd go to a "professional" to have done - that defeats the purpose.

I understand this, and respect the tradition, but my only concern for not going to a professional would be out of health safety.

[kddani]

I think this is a really risky practice for whoever is involved. I wasn't aware that just about anyone could brand someone else. You're REALLY opening yourself up to a lot of liability. When somethings not done professionally, there's really the greater risk of additional injuries. It could easily get infected, and if that gets bad enough, very serious injuries are easily conceivable. So the person doing the branding and the group involved could be very open to a lawsuit.

[CanadianZete]

There is liability when alot of things are done. I know that it was MY choice to get my brand. I would not even think for a second of suing one of my brothers if something went wrong. But nothing did go wrong, I've never seen any of them go wrong. We take proper care of them, keep the wound clean, let it heal properly.

There is no question over liability when a brand is given or recieved, it a an age old tradition, one that will never stop and probably not a great topic to argue over since it is so important to so many people.

So the simple answer is no it is not a hazing activity, or at least it was not for me. It was a choice that I made, and I recieved my brand a year after being a brother. Clearly not a hazing offence. I know many people who choose not to have them, that is once again thier choice. Whether on not others agree with the practice it is one that is performed in many organizations and has been performed for many many years.

[Tom Earp]

So Basically it is each to His Own.

That should about say it all.

So Be it!

[msn4med1975]

kddani while it is true that any MEMBER of the organization could do the branding, any member generally wouldn't. When my ex and friends got branded it was often by someone who had been branding for years and had studied under someone else for a stretch before they did it alone. As others have stated they are very well taught how to clean them and care for them. In the twelve years I've known men in Greek life, all over the country, I've seen some ugly brands but none were ever caused the need for medical attention. While most of my ex's line was branded there were at least three others that weren't and they were not treated any differently than those that had been branded. I say that to say while it's a cultural norm and wouldn't shock me to see a brand on my Omega dentist it wouldn't shock me anymore not to see one.

Finally, post pledging is an issue but branding is not a part of that. Branding is usually an honor/privelege not granted for about a year--for most of the men I know. And during that year they are supposed to seriously consider if it's something they want to have emblazoned on them for the rest of their life. As someone else stated, being outside of the group in this case lends itself to some misconceptions about the practice of branding. Explaining it here will only give you basic info but will not truly enlighten you.

[roqueemae]

Mr roqueemae decided to get his letters (KA) branded on his arm. I saw it a few days after (while we were in college and long distance). It was green and swollen. I freaked out and cleaned it and put medicine on it. I was convinced we would have to cut out part of his arm if I didn't do something. Then a couple of months later he came over with the chapter name (Delta Xi) on his ankle/calf area. This time it wasn't infected. I didn't get it because he already had his badge tatooed on his ankle. Now he has KA everywhere. He was very excited about all of it. I on the other hand have only my ears pierced with no other piercings or other body modifications. I had considered it but never enough to actually do it.

[starryeyed]

Originally posted by Kevlar281
We have a chapter brand; we don’t use it on each other, in fact it’s entirely the wrong brand to use for body modification. It’s actually an annual event in the spring where all newly initiated brothers get their boots branded. I know were not the only fraternity on campus who practices this tradition; and anyone from cattle country would understand the significance of a man branding his boots.

LOL! I LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!