Fraternity Hazing

             From its start, mankind has tested the courage, strength and devotion of fellow man (Fraternal History 1). Modern day hazing practiced by fraternities has in a sense evolved from this, but how much should a person be subjected to in order to be accepted by a group. Fraternity hazing is something that occurs on college campuses nationwide, and has long since been a source of debate. It is something that is accepted by the pledges because after all, it has been a tradition since 1776, when the first fraternity was formed. Hazing has been portrayed in such movies as "Dazed and Confused" and most notably "Animal House". The question still remains; how much is too much, and who is to be held liable when serious injury or death is the result?
             The Asssociation of Fraternity Advisors defines hazing as "physical, psychological, or emotional testing of its potential members as a rite of passage to full membership" (Association 1). Activities generally understood to fall into this category are "requiring calisthenics or other exercise, making people dress in a degrading or revealing way, depriving people of sleep or meals, and forcing people to eat, take drugs or drink alcohol or other beverages" (James 2).
             Currently, forty-two states have anti-hazing laws. In most states it is considered a misdemeanor and punishable by a fine of $1000 and 90 days in jail (James 2). Universities themselves have anti-hazing laws, and most fraternities possess a zero-tolerance policy on hazing. Nonetheless, hazing incidents are still making headlines and stimulating public awareness. The University of Washington alone sanctions about two fraternities a year for hazing (Kelleher 1).
             Sanctions by the university may include warnings, temporary, or even permanent withdrawl of university recognition of the fraternity chapter. If a fraternity is banned temporarily, they lose any funding that they might have received from the university and also the a...

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Fraternity Hazing. (1969, December 31). In MegaEssays.com. Retrieved 06:45, March 29, 2024, from https://www.megaessays.com/viewpaper/14462.html