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Karen Davis
Jennifer Courtney
WRTG-2010-90
Contribution Paper
14 November 2015
Fraternity and Sorority Hazing
Hazing began hundreds of years ago and continues to be a problem in our country today
specifically in fraternities and sororities. As students begin their first year of college they
struggle to fit in and find friends and some feel the best way to do this is to join a fraternity or
sorority. Although, this is not always a bad thing, but it can be if they succumb to peer pressure
to fit in and in doing so they feel like they have to participate in hazing to be accepted. Most of
us in some time in our lives have felt the need to be accepted and understand the huge influence
of our peers; therefore the universities, local and national chapters need to do what is necessary
to eliminate these pressures.
As these selfless acts continue to be being allowed without much discipline, the students
are getting hurt physically and emotionally and are sometimes resulting in death. These injuries
can affect students lives mentally and physically for many years if not the rest of their lives,
along with their families. Even though in most schools and states hazing is prohibited, it is still
happening very often as leaders turn a blind eye.
Hazing is an issue that has been going on throughout history, as it continues to be a
problem, more laws and rules are needed to get it under control. Therefore, in reviewing the
research we will discuss how hazing began, how it is being performed but more importantly who

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should be responsible and what laws should be put in place to help avoid this horrific crime in
the future.
Evolution of Hazing
First of all, what is the meaning of hazing? It has been defined in several different ways.
In the dictionary is it defined as subjection to harassment or ridicule.
(dictionary.reference.com) A New York Court defined the word hazing as which incorporates
treatment such as the wearing of a beanie cap to permanent disfigurement of the body, which as
described would be next to impossible for any legislature to define in detail, therefore it was
variously defined as the act of putting another, in a ridiculous, humiliating, or disconcerting
position as part of an initiation process, any humiliating or attempts to intimidate by physical
punishment to harass by exacting unnecessary disagreeable or difficult work to try to embarrass
or disconcert by banter ridicule or criticism. (Acquaviva, Gregory) Many states choose to
define the term in statutes, and others will let the courts interpret the term, for example it has also
been defined as any activity expected of someone joining or participating in a group that
humiliates, degrades, abuses, or endangers them regardless of a persons willingness to
participate, but the courts will typically define hazing as: (1) the striking, laying hands upon,
treating with violence, or offering to do bodily harm with the intent to punish or injure or other
treatment of a tyrannical, abusive shameful insulting, or humiliating nature; (2) the subjecting of
a freshman or fraternity pledge to treatment intended to put one in a ridiculous or disconcerting
position; (3) the intimidation of a person by physical punishment; and any act or series of acts
which cause, or are likely to cause bodily danger or physical harm abusive or ridiculous tricks
that subject an individual to personal indignity or ridicule. (Terrell, William C.)

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It is important that all states review their statutes to ensure they are sufficient and make
sure the clearly identify the differences between bodily and emotional injures as it is crucial to
include both.
History of hazing goes back long ago. Author William Terrell in Pledging to Stay
Viable: Why Fraternities and Sororities should adopt Arbitration as a Responsible to Litigation
Dilemma writes that Greek organizations can trace their American origins back to over 200
years ago. In the United States, the first Greek fraternity was founded in 1776 at the College of
William and Mary known as Phi Beta Kappa. The first womens fraternity known as Alpha
Delta Pi was founded in 1851 and the first national fraternity for college women known as Pi
Beta Phi was founded in 1867.
During the ancient Greek times military organizations had to demonstrate how loyal they
were by suffering large amounts of pain, along with the new students in the European
universities during the Middle Ages whom were servants to the upperclassmen and eventually
these traditions emigrated to America and therefore violence became a part of the United States
Armed Forces as described by Gregory L Acquaviva in Protecting Students From the Wrongs of
Hazing Rites: A Proposal for Strengthening New Jerseys Anti-Hazing Act. Michelle A. Finkel,
MD also wrote in Traumatic Injuries Caused by Hazing Practices that hazing was actually a
requirement for graduation during the 1600s as the administration at the University thought that
most were uncivilized and had to be groomed. This requirement was also known as Pennalism,
this was however abolished in the 1700s due to the serious injuries that occurred and death.
Hazing became so prevalent in the armed service that Congress prohibited all forms whether it
was harmful or not in 1874, but many states were extremely slow to follow. (Acquaviva,
Gregory)

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In 1901, 27 years after Congress prohibited all forms of hazing, Illinois passed the very
first Anti Hazing law making this kind of conduct a criminal act, but unfortunately the violence
continued. (Acquaviva, Gregory)
In the United States today, all but 6 states have put in place criminal or civil statues
against hazing, but it still continues and is no longer just restricted to military barracks or college
animal houses, it is now in American schools including high schools and can begin as young as
junior high. (Acquaviva, Gregory)
Physical Injuries
There are several forms of hazing and over the years it has become increasingly more
violent. In the scene from the movie Animal House where there are several men causing a lot
of chaos and drinking, this has become the stereotypical image of a fraternity as written by Kerri
Mumford in Who is Responsible for Fraternity Related Injuries on American College
Campuses Even though the movie was filmed in the 1970s it is still referred to today as an easy
stereotype for reference purposes.
Over the past two decades, the concern has increased as hazing consists of binge
drinking, violence and sexual assault on campuses. Sometimes the injuries can also become
fatal. Cheryl E. Drout and Christie L Corsoro write in Attitudes Toward Fraternity Hazing
Among Fraternity Members, Sorority Members and Non-Greek Students for example that at
Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1997, a freshman died from alcohol poisoning during a
hazing activity. Another example was a student from Alfred University in New York was forced
into the trunk of a car and required to drink so much beer, bourbon and wine that he died due to
the quantity he consumed. Additionally at St Louis University a pledge died after being forced to

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receive shocks while lying on a table naked and having his skin covered in a flammable
chemical.
Some additional hazing acts can include beating, paddling, whipping and striking.
Michelle Finkel argues, Intra-abdominal injuries, intracranial damage, and deaths are all
documented consequences of blunt trauma caused by beatings as part of hazing practices.
These practices can scar students for a lifetime and ultimately result in death. These acts have
also led to renal failure and hemoglobinuria. At a state university in Missouri in 1994, a
fraternity member died following a beating during a pledge session by seven fraternity brothers
and they left him in the vehicle while enjoying some fast food. The student endured many
injuries including fractured kidneys, bruised thigh, fractured ribs and a massive subdural
hemorrhage. There was also a hazing incident in 1975 when a student was slammed into a wall,
which fractured his skull and caused an intracranial injury that caused death.
These acts should not be acceptable and yet they continue to be and affect
students emotionally not just physically.
Emotional Injuries
There is a lot more to hazing than just bodily injury. Gregory Acquaviva describes that
The pain of hazing is not limited to bodily injury. Rather, the litany of physical and
psychological sadism from hazing triggers significant emotional harm, including anger, fear,
nightmares, and suicidal tendencies. Nearly three-quarters of high school students subject to
hazing reported negative consequences. Emotional scars as dicussed in this quote can
sometimes be worse as they can take longer to heal than a bodily injury. Also, one in five have
reported poor academic performance; eighteen percent indicated they had difficulty sleeping,
eating and just concentration. However, the most troubling was the fact that fifteen percent of

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hazing victims reported to have suicidal thoughts and some even follow through, which is
alarming. Because many hazing victims are deprived of dignity and traumatized to the point
that the quality of their lives are permanently affected. (Acquaviva, Gregory)
These statistics are alarming and concerning for the future of our country, as we know
suicide is on the rise. It seems it is the norm these days to hear of one committing suicide for one
reason or another. Something needs to be done so we can at least help eliminate suicide caused
by hazing.
Who Is Responsible?
As students continue to get away with hazing, there is a lot of discussion around who
should be responsible when these activities take place. Should the university, local chapter or
national chapters be held responsible? Author Kerri Mumford says Litigation against
fraternities has resulted in enormous civil damages paid to injured plaintiffs, often involving
multiple parties including the local chapter, the national chapter, the college and the individual
defendant fraternity members who cause the injury. It is time for both national and local
fraternitys chapters, as well as the colleges, to take a role in preventing these injuries. Because
of the large amount of fees that have been paid the college and chapters should start to take this
seriously to help start eliminated these injuries. (Mumford, Kerri)
Every state seems to have a different idea around the wording they incorporate into law,
for example Gregory Acquaviva writes the following when discussing the New Jerseys AntiHazing Act The current act references only bodily injury and it is recommended to include
effects of the mental and emotional health on students as well. The new act would impose a bold
policy statement and help bring attention to all the wrongful doing on campus and help eliminate
schools from hazing and the long-term effects: The current act with only referencing bodily

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injury is very vague and does not cover the fact that hazing can become an very emotional
problem for victim, therefore this should be included into the act as well.
Furthermore, another form of legal action that people can take is called a civil action.
Several parents that have brought these actions against universities and the local and national
chapters and some have won thousands and millions of dollars. (Finkel, Michelle A.)
How to Prevent Hazing
After reviewing all this research it is very concerning that hazing still continues after all
these years without anyone taking full accountability. There has to be some change before more
lives are lost and student suffers form irreparable damage that will affect the rest of their lives
along with their families.
The first thing to be done is to get the university, local and national chapter together to
discuss the problem and put rules in place and be sure they are enforced. With this requires
strong leadership whom can carry out the rules.
Most campuses claim to be dry campuses, however the fraternities and sororities are
constantly having parties and consuming ridiculous amounts of alcohol. How can they consider
them to be a dry campus? The local and national chapters should have to follow the universities
rules and if not then should not be allowed to be associated with the school. This needs to be
addressed immediately.
I know someone who is very close to me whom is currently in a sorority where none of
these acts are tolerated. If the rules are broken then they can no longer be associated with the
sorority and can no longer a member. Therefore, I know the rules can be followed when
appropriately enforced by strong leadership.

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Secondly more laws should be put in place and enforced similar to the one defined by the
Anti Hazing Act of New Jersey by not only identifying hazing as a physical injury but also a
emotional injury that in the long run can be more devastating and take longer to heal, not only
for the injured but their families as well. In Florida each university is required to adopt a written
anti-hazing policy and in Massachusetts all student are penalized for not reporting hazing
incidents. Howeve, it is still unusual for hazing to be charged as a crime, therefore this needs to
be changed. All hazing acts should be considered a crime and prosecuted as such. All states
should look to follow something similar to Florida and Massachusetts.
There was an incident at the University of Vermont when the President cancelled 15
remaining hockey games because a hazing incident had occurred on campus, If all universities
would take this approach, I do feel hazing would decrease because social events like hockey and
football are such a huge part of being engaged and therefore students would not want to put that
in jeopardy and might think twice of participating in a hazing act knowing the possible
consequence. (Finkel, Michelle C.)
Thirdly, I want to discuss the involvement of police or lack thereof. Law enforcement
know that there are parties going on almost on a weekly basis on campus and seem to dismiss
this and it is astonishing. With police presence, if they were to check in periodically on the
parties then I feel this would eliminate a lot of hazing activities including binge drinking and
rape.
And finally, we need to further educate the students about hazing and make it mandatory
to go to a seminar about hazing if they want to become a member of a sorority or fraternity and
make sure they are clear on the rules identified by the university and the chapters. This could

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greatly help them understand it is not accepted, and that there are places and people they can turn
too in time of need; they dont need to keep silent.
Conclusion
In conclusion it is important for us to all realize that hazing is continuing to be a big
problem in America as students continue to try and fit in and will do anything necessary to do so.
They will put their life and health in danger just to be cool. It is time for our leaders in the
universities and chapters to make this issue a priority and make every effort to change it.
Students should feel safe at school and should not feel like they have to commit a crime just to
be included.
If we continue to ignore the problem students will continue to suffer from emotional scars
along with the fact that suicide and physical injuries will continue to rise.

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Works Cited
Acquaviva, Gregory L. Protecting Students from the Wrongs of Hazing Rites: A Proposal for
Strengthening New Jerseys Anti-Hazing Act. 26 Quinnipiac L (2008): 305-36. Print
Dictionary, http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/hazing?s=t
Drout, Cheryl E, Christie L. Corsoro. Attitudes Toward Fraternity Hazing Among Fraternity
Members, Sorority Members, and Non-Greek Students. Social Behavior and Personality
31.6 (2003): 535-44. Print
Finkel, Michelle A. Traumatic Injuries Caused by Hazing Practices. American Journal of
Emergency Medicine 20.3 (2002) 228-23. Print.
Hazing." Dictionary.com Unabridged. Random House, Inc. 14 Nov. 2015.
<Dictionary.com http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/hazing>
Mumford, Kerri. Who is Responsible for Fraternity Related Injuries on American College
Campuses? The Journal of Contemporary Health Law and Policy 17.2 (2001): 737-69.
Print.
Terrell, William C.Pledging to Stay Viable: Why Fraternities an d Sororities Should Adopt
Arbitration as a Response to the Litigation Dilemma. 43 U Mem L. 511(2011): n. pag
Print