ColinHien

Eversince1776,whenPhiBetaKappa,thefirstfraternityever,wasfoundedtherehas
beenhazinginfraternities.Forthenext217yearsithasbeenatraditionthroughmostall
fraternitiestohazepledgestobuildcharacter,strengthenrelationshipsbetweenpledgebrothers,
andtestthepledgestoseeiftheyaregoodenoughtobecomealifetimememberoftheir
organization.Intheyear1993hazingwasmadeillegalafterrecentinjuriesandevendeaths
occurringinsomefraternities.ThatLawhasbeenverydifficulttoenforceduetothefactthat
fraternitycouncilsatschoolsaremadeupofbrothersinthefraternitiesoncampusandiftheyare
forhazing,theycanveryeasilyturnablindeyeonthesituation.Anotherreasonthatitisvery
difficulttoenforceisbecausenobodywantstotellontheirbestfriendsandgetthemintrouble.
Believeitornot,hazingbringspledgesextremelyclosetogetherandformsalifelongbond
betweenagroupofmenwhowoulddoanythingforeachother.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.Thesearenotjusttraditions,theyare
ritualsthatnearlythesameastheyhavebeensincethefraternitywasfoundedaskingthemto
stopthisisaskingthemtostoptheirrituals.Atthesametime,toomuch,ortooextreme
hazingcancausephysicalharm,ruinfriendships,andinsomeextremesituationsevencause
death.Hazingneedstobeconstructiveandhelpthenewmembersbuildfriendships.When
hazingistakentoofar,itcancausemanyissues,suchas
riskofinjuryoveralldiscomfort,
brokenfriendships,decreaseingrades,depression,suicide,ordeath.Thereisnoneedto
physicallyharmanybodytoprovethattheyareworthbeinginyourorganization.Mostofthe
hazingstoriesthatmakethenewshavesomesortofphysicalabuseinthem,whichiswhy
theyareonthenews.Thisiswhytherestillneedstoberulesandsafetyregulationswhenit
comestohazing.Physicalabuse,suchas
contactofanotherpersonintendedtocausephysical
pain,injury,orotherphysicalsufferingorbodilyharm,doesnothingconstructiveatall,it
establishesfearandhatredinsteadofrespectandfriendshipliketruehazingshould.

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.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.Aperfectexampletoshowthebondscreatedaftergoingthroughthe
extensivebootcampwithextremeamountsofhazingisthestoryofMarcusLuttrell.Inmy
opinion,MarcusLuttrellisoneofthegreatestAmericanheroesofalltime,andheoncesaidthis,
Thetruesoldierfightsnotbecausehehateswhatisinfrontofhim,butbecauseheloveswhatis
behindhim.ThismanwashazedunmercilesslywhilegoingthroughtheNavySEALStraining
camptopreparehimforwarandtoformthestrongestbrotherhoodandlovepossiblebetween

himandhisfellowsoldiers,hisbrothers,hisfamily.Thehazingworked.Beforebootcamphe
wasarodeostarwanttobeoutofTexas,buthesoonmetagroupofcompletestrangerswho
endedupbeingapartofSEALteam10andhecametoloveeverysingleoneofthemthrough
thebondsthatwerecreatedfromhazing.LTMichaelP.Murphy,MatthewAxelson,andDanny
DietzwentthroughthesamehazingandinitiationasMarcusdid.Theylovedeachothermore
thananythingintheworldandthosefourmenprovedtheirloveforeachotherontopofa
mountaininIraqwithhundredsofenemysoldiersstandinginfrontofthem.Thosethreemen
diedprotectingMarcusastheyallfleddownthesideofamountaininIraqfrominvading
soldiers.Theywouldntletanybodybehindnomatterhowbaditgottheygavetheirlivesfor
theirbrothers,theonesthattheymetforthefirsttimeinbootcamp,theonesthattheywere
hazedalongside,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.Ilove

thisquotebecauseitappliesalottoafraternity.Wewillbebyeachothernomatterwhat
happensbecauseweareafamilyandthroughlifeanddeath,wearestillalwaysbrothers.Life
longbondsareformedthroughthepledgingprocessandbeingabrother,butinordertobecome
abrotheryoushouldhavetoearnitandonewaythatisdoneisbykeepingtwohundredyearold
traditionsalive,butstillbeingsafeaboutit.