Seemingly an unauthorized rite of passage for some fraternalorganizations, hazing has long been an issue that Greek letter organizationshave dealt with.
Hazing is defined as someone being persecuted or harassed withmeaningless, difficult or humiliating tasks. Some individuals still believe that hazing is just a simple,humorous prank performed on prospects of college fraternities and sororities.
“Asking someone to go and get alcohol as simple as that is considerhazing,” said Russell Frazier, director of student programs at SouthernUniversity
It still seems unknown to some “pranksters” that hazing can be fatal inall aspects no matter if it’s intentional or not.
In an anti-hazing declaration, the National Pan-Hellenic Council, thegoverning body of the nine black Greek letter organizations, the most currentnumber of recorded hazing/pledging/rushing-related deaths in fraternities andsororities totals 80 males and six females. Eighty percent of these deathsinvolve alcohol.
Patricia Strong, a reporter for the Los Angeles Sentinel, reported in2000, on the deaths of two California State University students, Kenitha Saafirand Kristin High. It was reported that their deaths occurred whileparticipating in a late night activity associated with Alpha Kappa Alphasorority Inc., the nation’s first black Greek letter sorority.
Samantha Cyprian, a member of the Beta Psi chapter of AKA at Southernbelieves those who participate in hazing activities should share the blame ofany consequences.
“It was a very unfortunate situation with the incident in California. Aperson should have a mind of their own and if they feel that it is wrong thenthey shouldn’t partake in it and if it puts you in danger and you don’t feelsafe than why do it,” said Cyprian, a senior majoring in psychology from WestPalm Beach, Fla. “I think that theperson who does it is just as wrong as the person who’s making them do it.Everyone knows that hazing is against the law, if you feel something is wrongthan why do it.”
Predominately white Greek letter organizations have also been accusedof hazing activity.
A 21-year-old California State University Chico student, MatthewWilliam Carrington, died February 2, after drinking a large amount of water.
Carrington was allegedly a candidate for membership in Chi Tau. Thefraternity had already lost its national affiliation and its school affiliationin 2001 because of alcohol violations. They were working towards becominguniversity and nationally-recognized at the time of Carrington’s death.
“I feel as though when you join an organization, you join because oftheir principles and your sole purpose is that it coincides with your ideas andmorals,” said Enitra Jones, a member of the Alpha Tau Chapter of Delta SigmaTheta Sorority, Inc.
Due to recent hazing allegations a number of universities including GramblingState University, Louisiana State University, University of New Orleans andSouthern University, have taken precautions towards hazing within theiron-campus Greek organizations.
“Lots of education” is the key, according to Victor Felts, director ofGreek affairs at LSU. “We have an assessment process, each year everyorganization has to go through a hazing workshop to better inform them and theyalso have to sign a contract and we also have a speaker come speak on the issueof hazing as well.”
State wide, a number of organizations have been suspended in the lastfive to seven years do to allegations of physical hazing.
“Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc. was on suspension for five years fromGrambling University due to physical hazing. The Omega Psi Phi and Phi BetaSigma were both suspended for the fall 2004 semester due to an altercation thatcame about with the Sigmas of Jackson State and Grambling and the Omegas ofGrambling,” said Charlette Favors, coordinator of student organizations atGrambling. “The minute we hear anyrumors or if someone were to file an grievance, we get with the president andthe adviser of the organization that we are hearing things about.”
Despite the number hazing incidents that have occurred, only 44 statesin America have anti-hazing laws. The six states without the laws includeAlaska, Hawaii, New Mexico, Montana, South Dakota and Wyoming.
