The True Life of Greeks
...or heard about. I have heard of instances in which the brothers make pledges carry their books, or make them wash their vehicles, or blind fold them and make them participate in potentially harmful acts. Other rituals might include tying the pledges up, nudity, and most of all public humiliation. If someone were unable to do these acts, then they would be embarrassed and ridiculed. There have been many laws passed that are designed to keep hazing from happening. Many studies have shown that “while most fraternities have strict rules against hazing, it still exists in many pledge programs and possess risk to the pledges, activities, and the local and national chapter” (Clay 2). Some hazing rituals are so extreme that a legal course of action must be take to prevent this injustice from harming the good of the chapter and individual lives. Rituals such as long periods of exposure to hot or cold temperature or drinking more than one gallon of water or juice in one sitting. Even though hazing is illegal in most states, students still continue to participate in rituals. I believe members of these organizations should be made aware of the laws against hazing and the resulting consequences. I feel that if the schools, as well as the local and national chapters, would put an emphasis on the severity of punishment resulting from hazing, many Greek students would not want to participate in these rituals. The Presence of Alcohol in Hazing Rituals When students go to college they experience freedom and the opportunity to start a new life. For many, starting a new life means trying to become more popular. To do so, students sometimes pledge a fraternity or sorority with the hopes of finding popularity within a niche. Students often feel that they would do anything to belong. Greeks already in the system take advantage of the pledges’ need for acceptance by forcing them to participate in extreme and harmful rituals. Finkel writes, …alcohol was present in 95% of falls from high places, 94% of fights, 93% of sexual abuse incidents, 87% of automobile accidents, 67% of all falls on fraternity property, and 49% of hazing incidents. Alcohol was a factor in 80% of injuries resulting in paralysis and in just under 90% of deaths. (231) I can’t count the times I have gone to a frat house only to see pledges drinking alcohol from a funnel, which pours about 2 beers down a persons’ through in 5 seconds. I feel that if these people were not under the influence of alcohol, they would realize that what’s happening is wrong. Alcohol is present in almost every hazing incident. The shared idea is that “since alcohol usage is such a widespread activity on campus, Greek organizations that are associated with alcohol might be seen as being more popular” (Drout & Coroso 537). I know quite a few Greeks that are not even of age to drink legally. So why do the fraternities and sororities continue to let alcohol impair their judgment and disregard for the rules? Alcohol is a depressant that allows them to commit acts without any inhibitions, which pleases members of the Greek system. When I have been around students that were intoxicated, they always seem to think the embarrassing things they have made these people do are hilarious, when really they are just cruel. One Greek alumnus writes, I am outraged when I read about fraternity men sitting in front of the frat house yelling obscenities at women when they get incoherently drunk, when a gang rape happens in a fraternity house, or when actives use horseplay, practical jokes and tricks, or humiliating and even painful ordeals in the hazing of their pledges. (Clay 2) I believe this situation has gotten out of control when a member is willing to stand up against drunkenness and hazing. The extreme use of alcohol can often result in a fatality, and the one person’s dream of acceptance is dead. I believe alcohol consumption should be discouraged among Greeks. Authority figures look down on the behavior that surrounds intoxication, and yet no major steps are being taken within the individual and national chapters to stop the drinking. When the authority fi...