Paige Moser

Brendan Hawkins

ENC 2135

October 16, 2017

Research Paper

Greek Organizations are an enormous aspect of college social life. Originating in 1874,

according to the New World Encyclopedia, fraternities have been around for as long as your

grandmothers, grandmother was in college. Because Greek life has been around for such an extended

period of time, a multitude of traditions and expectations come with representing a specific set of letters.

Events such as dance marathons that benefit charity, formal dances that allow members to dress

sophisticated and enjoy a night out, and the bond made between brothers and sisters are a few of the many

aspects that make Greek life such a valuable aspects of the college social scene. However, not all of these

traditions can be considered positive or beneficial to the organization and those who are members. One of

the negative aspects that correlates to Greek life in a college town is the act of hazing. With the beginning

of each year, a flock of young, excited men come to universities and apply to become a member of a

fraternity. These hopeful members are called pledges, and they are subjected to the act of hazing. Hazing

can be defined as any action or any situation created intentionally that causes embarrassment,

harassment or ridicule and risks emotional and/or physical harm to members of a group or team whether

new or not, regardless of the persons willingness to participate (Hazingprevention.org, 2017). The roots

of hazing can be traced back to primitive times where boys took part in painful rites into manhood.

Hazing is also linked to 19th century British public schools. At that time, the practice of "fagging" took

place in which younger boys were required to act as personal servants to older boys (Ehlrich, 2013).

Hazing is a prominent issue that still occurs to this day. At Florida State University, specifically a

plethora of hazing instances have occurred within fraternities. These actions are affecting the Greek life

community, and surrounding area of Tallahassee negatively due to the fact that these occurrences are
teaching growing generations that hazing is required in order to feel excepted within society. This

negative consequence is causing a social acceptance of neglect and ignorance to circumstances that can

cause harm to a human being both mentally and physically. If these matters involving hazing are not

resolved, the events that occur behind closed doors could lead to profound penalties for both the members

involved and the University itself.

Since 2015, 21 separate hazing cases have been investigated by FSU and its police department

(Etters, 2016). At Florida State University, there are many precautions in place to prohibit hazing from

occurring in any organization on campus. There is a belief statement that reads At Florida State

University, we believe students should not be exposed to harm when pursuing involvement on campus

life (Affairs, 2017). There are on campus police stations and online, anonymous reporting websites that

allow any individual to report an incident of hazing if they see it occur or if they are a victim. Based on

morals of tattle telling being wrong, and social acceptance being so necessary in society today, a lot of

hazing crimes go unnoticed or dont entail enough evidence for police to be able to prosecute. When

hazing occurs, the older member involved is enforcing a sense of fear within the person wanting to join

the organization. This is due to the fact that the person whom has to do the disturbing requests has such a

desire to be included, he/she will do anything to prove themselves. Florida State University student

Brennan Brinkley said, I dont really find it surprising that there is hazing going on. I think everyone

kind of accepts it and everyone knows that it happens (Bennett, 2017). Also, those whom are forcing

the applicant to commit the acts has already gone through it themselves when they were going through the

process of joining the fraternity. Its an endless cycle of torture and humiliation. Some even argue that as

the cycle continues, the events that occur get worse due to the mental effects that hazing had on the

member who already joined. Even when police are aware and get involved, members are so scared of

being the one who ruins the fun for everyone. So, when interviews and questionings take place

members and pledges refuse to cooperate and deny any allegation (Etters, 2016).
 During an investigation in 2016 involving the fraternity Kappa Alpha Psi (following hazing

accusations), students were asked their opinions on the topic of hazing. One specific student, Alexis

Howard said, I keep hearing of these things happening, but it never seems like anything is done to stop

the situations (Bennett, 2016). In 2005, Florida passed a law that implemented hazing with injury to

be a felony in the court of law (Etters, 2016). This law was not enforced in a case at FSU involving the

Zeta Beta Tau fraternity in 2017. Officer Hartley of the FSU police department conducted multiple

interviews with members of the fraternity and former pledges. From these interviews, Officer Hartley

obtained information of serious hazing going on within the chapter. Events such as excessive drinking,

drug use, battery, sleep deprivation, forced calisthenics, mandated uniforms, second-class citizenship, and

mental intimidation were included within his incident report (McAuliffe ,2017). Based on the law passed

in 2005, these events shouldve led to the prosecution of the 7 members whom were involved. However,

the only charges brought upon the 7 members were providing alcohol to minors. This type of charge is

only considered a misdemeanor in court. No charges of hazing were brought upon them.

Due to the fact that there was evidence to convict this fraternity of hazing and no charges were

brought upon them, fundamental questions on the moral and ethical reasoning of events that occur within

the Tallahassee area can be brought to light. The student who reported the fraternity did so due to the fact

that he was being physically and mentally harmed by individuals within the chapter. The reporting

websites and police investigation only got the victim so far. Why should this person even say anything if

hazing occurs again, if the legal actions that are supposed to be brought upon the antagonists are not?

Yes, the fraternity was suspended from campus. Yes, one charge was brought upon the 7 members.

However, the case was not labeled as hazing. This is alarming to the community, because this case

couldve been a model for the rest of the fraternities, showing what would happen if you commit heinous

crimes that are linked to hazing. There has been one death each year since 1985 due to hazing incidents

within universitys (Bennett, 2017). What this case does teach fraternities is that they will just get a slap

on the wrist and sent their way. It is essential for the community to learn that no organization is worth
going through physical and mental suffering. People who commit hazing crimes need to be prosecuted so

that others will learn that what they are doing to their brothers is in humane and morally inacceptable.

If actions dont take place, severe situations involving injury or even death can and will occur, not only

costing the organization its status and credibility, but also a human life.

Hazing is something that can be prevented. Universitys need to make students aware of the

situations that occur. Everybody knows that these events are happening, students see these events occur

every weekend, all they need to know is that it is okay for them to help someone else. It is okay for them

to help themselves. One way a university can limit and minimize hazing that occurs, is to allow

alternative methods to the overall goal of hazing. The overall goal when a veteran member is hazing a

pledge is to integrate the idea that they are older and respect must be shown to them. Activities such as

bonding trips, skiing and ziplining are suggested and proven to be excellent bonding skills for

organizations such as teams or work offices (Holman, 2015). These excursions can help potential

members get to know their predecessors, and allow the predecessors to get to know which pledges they

like or dont like in order to ensure the right people are becoming a part of their brother hood. This

simple method eliminates the need for any harm to occur.

Another way that Universities can prevent hazing, is to make the subject acceptable to talk about.

There is a social stigma surrounding hazing, that it shouldnt be talked about within groups of people. If

stories are told to students and criminal cases and the charges brought upon members who hazed another

person are shown to chapter members, hazing could be eliminated form college campuses overall. Greek

life is an important aspect of college for some students, due to the fact that it is a way to make the

transition from home to college easier. It allows young men to have brothers to look up to and aspire to

become in the future (Hebson, 1996). If these ideals are implemented within these societys, hazing will

be prevented and eliminated. No person should harm another in any way, thats a moral rule that all

human beings know and live by. However, it is a known fact that some dont abide by these rules. As
long as Universities across the country strictly implement laws that are in place to prevent hazing, the act

will be prevented as much as possible.

Greek life is and will be a prominent aspect within the social stratosphere of college towns for

years to come. These organizations allow students to bond together and form brotherhoods that last a life

time. Hazing does occur and will occur if members involved and the community are not educated

correctly on the ways to report crimes and to prevent crimes. If these matters involving hazing are not

resolved, the events that occur behind closed doors could lead to profound penalties for both the members

involved and the University itself. A moment of silence is necessary to remember the lives that were

taken due to hazing that was not prevented. Many lives could still be on this planet today if people were

educated on the consequences that hazing entitles. This will not be a change that happens overnight, nor

will it be one that occurs in the months to come. However, Tallahassee as a community can help prevent

any lives being lost. If you see someone harming another person, help them first. You could potentially

save the life of another human being. Also, if you see an action that could even possibly be hazing, report

it. You want to prevent the problem before it grows to something more. With these few solutions, Florida

State University and the police department will be able to take the necessary actions to prosecute those

who commit hazing crimes.

 Works Cited

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https://hazing.fsu.edu/ [Accessed 11 Oct. 2017].

Bennett, L. (2017). Florida State's ZBT fraternity suspended 6 years for hazing. [online] Wctv.tv. Available at:

http://www.wctv.tv/content/news/FSU-fraternity-ZBT-investigated-for-hazing-424444834.html

[Accessed 14 Oct. 2017].

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Education." Order No. 9633966 The University of Alabama, 1996. Ann Arbor: ProQuest. Web. 31 Oct.

2017.

Holman, M. Moving from Awareness Toward Prevention. Physical & Health Education Journal. 81, 2, 1-27,

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