ColinHien

Eversince1776,whenPhiBetaKappa,thefirstfraternityever,wasfoundedtherehas
beenhazinginfraternities.Forthenext217yearsithasbeenatraditionthroughmostall
fraternitiestohazepledgestobuildcharacter,strengthenrelationshipsbetweenpledgebrothers,
andtestthepledgestoseeiftheyaregoodenoughtobecomealifetimememberoftheir
organization[1].Intheyear1993hazingwasmadeillegalafterrecentinjuriesandevendeaths
occurringinsomefraternities[4].ThatLawhasbeenverydifficulttoenforceduetothefactthat
fraternitycouncilsatschoolsaremadeupofbrothersinthefraternitiesoncampusandiftheyare
forhazing,theycanveryeasilyturnablindeyeonthesituation.Anotherreasonthatitisvery
difficulttoenforceisbecausenobodywantstotellontheirbestfriendsandgetthemintrouble.
Believeitornot,hazingbringspledgesextremelyclosetogetherandformsalifelongbond
betweenagroupofmenwhowoulddoanythingforeachother[1].Notonlydoesitbringthe
pledgesclosetogether,butifdoneright,itformsthesamebondbetweenthepledgesandthe
brothers.Iamnotsayingthatallformsofhazingshouldbelegalandbrothersshouldhavefree
reigntobeattheshitoutoftheirpledges,butIamonehundredpercentforconstructivehazing
thatbuildsbrotherhood,developscharacter,teachesrespect,andformslifelongbondsand
friendships.
Hazingcanbedoneinmanydifferentways,frommakingpledgesexercise,anddepriving
themofsleeptomakingthemeatstrangefoodslikemayonnaiseoronionsallthewayto
waterboarding,extensivephysicalabuse,andforcingthemtodrinktillneardeath.Hazingcan
becomeverydangerousveryfastwithoutsomerestrictions,butatthesametimethe

restrictionsshouldnotbetootightorelsetheywillbeforcingtwohundredyeartraditionsto
becutoff,stoppingnewmembersfromhavingthetruefraternityexperience,andkeeping
themfrombuildingthefullfriendshipsthattheycould[3].Thesearenotjusttraditions,they
areritualsthatnearlythesameastheyhavebeensincethefraternitywasfoundedasking
themtostopthisisaskingthemtostoptheirrituals.Atthesametime,toomuch,ortoo
extremehazingcancausephysicalharm,ruinfriendships,andinsomeextremesituations
evencausedeath.Hazingneedstobeconstructiveandhelpthenewmembersbuild
friendships.Whenhazingistakentoofar,itcancausemanyissues,suchas
riskofinjury
overalldiscomfort,brokenfriendships,decreaseingrades,depression,suicide,ordeath.
Thereisnoneedtophysicallyharmanybodytoprovethattheyareworthbeinginyour
organization.Mostofthehazingstoriesthatmakethenewshavesomesortofphysicalabuse
inthem,whichiswhytheyareonthenews.Thisiswhytherestillneedstoberulesand
safetyregulationswhenitcomestohazing.Physicalabuse,suchas
contactofanotherperson
intendedtocausephysicalpain,injury,orotherphysicalsufferingorbodilyharm,does
nothingconstructiveatall,itestablishesfearandhatredinsteadofrespectandfriendshiplike
truehazingshould.

Therearemanyobviousdisadvantagestohazingbecausethosearetheonesthatmake

newsheadlines,suchasPledgediesduetohazingbuttherearealotofbenefitstohazingif
doneproperly,butyouwillneverseeanewspaperheadlinesayingPledgestaughttime
management,andrespectthroughhazing.Thenewslikestotellthestoriesthatwillgetthe
viewersattention,evenifitmeansnottellinghalfthestory.Yes,thestoriesthatthenewstell
aboutfraternityhazingarehorrifyingandheartbreaking,butthatiswhenhazinggoeswaytoo

farandgetsoutofhand.Whentheserulesarebrokenandthingsgettooextreme,Thatisthen
theIFCattheschoolgetsinvolvedandeithersuspendsthefraternity,kickthemoffcampusfora
fewyears,orgivesthemthedeathpenalty,whichmeanstheycannevercomebacktothatschool
again.Withsimplerulesandregulationshazingcanbegreatlybeneficialtobothbrothersand
pledges.Itteachesthepledgestimemanagementandrespect,whileshowingthemthe
importanceoffriendshipandbuildscharacter.Thehazingprocesshelpthebrothersbecauseit
showswhichpledgesaredeservingofwearingthefraternityletters,showsthecommitmentand
dedicationofthepledgesandallowsthemtoseethetruecharacterofthepledges.Allofthiscan
beaccomplishedinasafeandveryeffectivewaythroughhazing.Mostimportantly,everything
hastobeconstructiveinthelongrunPhysicalabuseanddrinkingtillneardeatharenot
constructive.Withminorsleepdeprivation,physicalabuse,tediousandtimeconsumingtasks,
mind/trustgames,andverbalabuseanimmature,irresponsiblehighschoolstudentcanbe
moldedintoaresponsible,respectableman[2].Thesedayswithsuchstricthazingrulesitisvery
difficulttoaccomplishthis,Icanspeakfrompersonalexperienceaboutthis.Mypledgeclass
andIwerenothazedatall,andwithnottheslightestbitofhazingIcanhonestlysaythatIdonot
havetherespectforthebrothersandexecmembersthatIshouldhave.Ihaverespectformy
parentsbecauseIamscaredofthemandwhattheywilldotome,butwithmyfraternityIknow
thattheywontdoanythingtomewhichmeansIamnotveryscaredofthemandIcangetaway
withmorethanIshouldbeableto.TherearealsostillsomeofmypledgebrothersthatIamnot
thatgoodfriendswithbecausewehaventgonethroughmuchtogether.Ihadthechancerecently
togodowntoUSCandspendtheweekendwiththem,andUSCisknownforhazingtheir
pledgesworsethananyotherchapterofPhiSig.TheydidnothaveanypledgesatthetimethatI

wentdownthere,butIspoketotheoneswhowerejustinitiatedthedaybeforeandtheyallhada
lotofrespectforeveryoneofthebrothers,becausetheywerescaredofthemforthepasteight
weeks.Theywerenotterrifiedofthebrothers,theysaidtherewasatrustthattheyhadinthe
brothersthattheywouldalwayskeepthemsafeitsthesametypeoffearyouhaveforyour
parentswhereyouknowifyoudosomethingwrongordisobeythemyouwillbepunished.now
thattheyarefinallybrotherstheysaidthattheyweregreatfriendswithalltheotherbrothers.I
alsohadthechancetospeaktomybrotherwhogoestoNCStateandwashazedandthereisnot
oneofhisbrothersthathedoesntlove.Afterhearingthestoriesfrommyolderbrotherandmy
dadfromwhattheyhadtododuringthepledgingprocessIfeellikeIammissingoutonabig
partofthetruefraternityprocessandIfeellikeIhavenotearnedmywayintothisfraternity.
Thepledgingprocessshouldbesetuptomakeyouabettermanandprovethatyoudeserveto
wearthelettersofyourfraternity,andifyouthinkthatthetypesofminorhazingthatI
previouslystatedshouldnotbepartofthepledgingprocesstheninmypersonalopinionyoudo
notdeservetojoinafraternity.

Thereisahugefocusonhazinginfraternitieswhenitisnoteventhatbad,theNavy

SEALStechnicallyhazetheirnewmemberswaymorethananyfraternity,andifyouaskany
oneofthemiftheylovethemanstandingbesidethemoriftheywoulddieforhimtheywill
mostdefinitelysayyes[8].Aperfectexampletoshowthebondscreatedaftergoingthroughthe
extensivebootcampwithextremeamountsofhazingisthestoryofMarcusLuttrell.Inmy
opinion,MarcusLuttrellisoneofthegreatestAmericanheroesofalltime,andheoncesaidthis,
Thetruesoldierfightsnotbecausehehateswhatisinfrontofhim,butbecauseheloveswhatis
behindhim[5].ThismanwashazedunmercilesslywhilegoingthroughtheNavySEALS

trainingcamptopreparehimforwarandtoformthestrongestbrotherhoodandlovepossible
betweenhimandhisfellowsoldiers,hisbrothers,hisfamily[8].Thehazingworked.Before
bootcamphewasarodeostarwanttobeoutofTexas,buthesoonmetagroupofcomplete
strangerswhoendedupbeingapartofSEALteam10andhecametoloveeverysingleoneof
themthroughthebondsthatwerecreatedfromhazing.LTMichaelP.Murphy,Matthew
Axelson,andDannyDietzwentthroughthesamehazingandinitiationasMarcusdid[6].They
lovedeachothermorethananythingintheworldandthosefourmenprovedtheirloveforeach
otherontopofamountaininIraqwithhundredsofenemysoldiersstandinginfrontofthem[7].
ThosethreemendiedprotectingMarcusastheyallfleddownthesideofamountaininIraqfrom
invadingsoldiers.Theywouldntletanybodybehindnomatterhowbaditgottheygavetheir
livesfortheirbrothers,theonesthattheymetforthefirsttimeinbootcamp,theonesthatthey
werehazedalongside,theonesthattheyproudlycalledtheirfamily.Thismightbeanextreme
exampleofthebenefitsofhazing,butIfeellikeitreallysendsamessageandrelatestoa
fraternityalot.SEALSgothroughwaymorestuffthenpledgesdoandnobodysaysanything
aboutthat.Theyaredeprivedofsleep,screamedat,publicallyembarrassed,andforcedtodo
physicalexerciseuntiltheypuke.Theyarepushedtotheirbreakingpointandfurther,whichis
waylessthananyfraternityhaseverdone,butwhattheydoisperfectlylegal,whileabrother
tellingapledgetogethimaforkatdinner,ormakinghimdoasingularpushupforbeing
disrespectfulisillegal.Besidesthefactthathazingcanbeverybeneficial,thelimitationsonit
areprettystupidinmyopinion.AccordingtotheIFCatUNCCmykindergartengymteacherhas
hazedme,becausetheyforcedmetorunlapsaroundthegymanddopushupsandsitups.Ifmy
fraternityweretomakemedothatstufftheywouldbekickedoffcampusandpossiblyhadlegal

chargesbroughtuponthem.Myhighschoolsoccercoachforcedustorunmanymilesevery
practice,andIwouldassumethatifwerefusedwewouldbekickedofftheteamoratleast
punishedinsomeway,butIwouldntknowbecausenobodywasstupidenoughtodoit.We
wereafraidtodisobeyourcoachbecausewewerescaredofwhathewouldmakeusdo.Oddly
enough,mybestfriendsinhighschoolweretheotherpeopleonthesoccerteamwithme.What
Imtryingtosayisthattheregulationsthatareputonfraternitiesandwaytooextremeandquite
stupid,becauseittakesawayagreatexperienceandlimitsthefriendshipsmade.Hazingcanbe
verybeneficialifdoneright,whichisprovenbytheNavySEALS,MarcusLuttell,andthethree
brothersthathelostontopofthatmountain.

Therearemanydisadvantagedtogivingfraternitiesfreereignovertheirpledges,but

therearealsomanydisadvantagestonotallowingthemtodoanythingtothepledges.Thisis
whythereneedstobeamiddlegroundmetthatkeepthepledgesfrombeingphysicallyharmed,
andabused,butdonttreatthemlikechildrenandprotectthemfromeverything.Somesimple
fiveA.M.workoutswonthurtanybody,allitdoesiskeepthenewmembersinshapeand
keepingthefraternitylookinggoodandmoreattractivetowomen.Fromfirsthandexperience,
withoutanyhazingthereisalackofrespectfromthepledgeclasstowardsthebrothers,which
thenleadstoapoorworkethicwithinthefraternity,becauseweknowthattheywontdo
anythingtous.Withtoomuchhazingtherecanbeextensivephysicalabuse,thatleadstoa
separationbetweenpledgeclasses,whichiswhenapledgeclassgetshazedsobadthattheyhate
everyoneelse,anditcontinuesontothenextpledgeclasses.Withagoodamountofhazingdone
properly,afraternitycanbeverysuccessful.Characterwillbebuilt,brotherhoodwillbeformed,
andrespectwillbeestablished.AnotherquotethatIreallylikefromMarcusLuttellis,Indeath

asinlife,westandtogether,alwaysafamily,alwaysateam.Thebrotherhoodneverdies[5].I
lovethisquotebecauseitappliesalottoafraternity.Wewillbebyeachothernomatterwhat
happensbecauseweareafamilyandthroughlifeanddeath,wearestillalwaysbrothers.Life
longbondsareformedthroughthepledgingprocessandbeingabrother,butinordertobecome
abrotheryoushouldhavetoearnitandonewaythatisdoneisbykeepingtwohundredyearold
traditionsalive,butstillbeingsafeaboutit.


WorksCited

[5]AZQuotes,'TOP25QUOTESBYMARCUSLUTTRELL|AZQuotes',2015.[Online].
Available:http://www.azquotes.com/author/18673Marcus_Luttrell.[Accessed:10Nov2015].

[2]H.Dix,'WhyHazingIsGoodForYou',
TotalFratMove
,2015.[Online].Available:
http://totalfratmove.com/whyhazingisgoodforyou/.[Accessed:10Nov2015].

[4]Educationlaw.lawyers.com,'HazingisIllegal|Lawyers.com',2015.[Online].Available:
http://educationlaw.lawyers.com/collegeanduniversitylaw/noifsandsorbutshazingisillega
l.html.[Accessed:10Nov2015].

[8]MailOnline,''Whenthechargehitsyouloseallcontrol':NavySEALrevealsbrutaltraining
regimeandtheelectricnippleshocktorturehewasforcedtoendure',2012.[Online].Available:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article2129101/NavySEALdetailsbrutaltrainingcourseel
ectricnippleshockhazingenduredside.html.[Accessed:10Nov2015].

[7]MarcusLuttrell,'NeverForget|MarcusLuttrell',2015.[Online].Available:
http://marcusluttrell.com/neverforget/.[Accessed:10Nov2015].

[6]Navy.mil,'SummaryofAction',2015.[Online].Available:
http://www.navy.mil/moh/mpmurphy/soa.html.[Accessed:10Nov2015].

[3]Nobullying.com,'TheAntiHazingLawControversy',2014.[Online].Available:
http://nobullying.com/antihazinglaw/.[Accessed:10Nov2015].

[1]TotalFratMove,'WhyWeHaze',2015.[Online].Available:
http://totalfratmove.com/whywehaze/.[Accessed:10Nov2015].