Hazing on College Campuses

Introduction

Hazing rituals of varying types and severity date to antiquity, but their practice has become institutionalized today to the extent that some fraternities continue to risk their charters by forcing applicants to engage in potentially lethal activities, most especially the overconsumption of alcohol. Nevertheless, hazing on college campuses is a longstanding tradition across America, but the practice has come under increasing scrutiny in recent years as young, aspiring fraternity pledges die as a result of extreme initiation rites.[footnoteRef:1] In fact, 44 states currently have some type of law that makes specifically defined hazing a criminal offense, but these laws frequently go unenforced. The purpose of this paper is to provide a review of the relevant literature to develop the argument that current criminal laws concerning hazing should be more rigorously enforced at all American colleges and universities, Following this review, the paper provides a summary of the research and an analysis of the implications of criminalizing hazing on American college and university campuses in the conclusion. [1: Dangers and impacts of college hazing: Research roundup The Journalists Resource at https://journalistsresource.org/politics-and-government/problems-college-hazing-research/]

Background and current state of college-based hazing in the U.S.

Hazing practices are not limited to educational settings only but they been historically pronounced in institutions of higher learning. Originally characterized as practical jokes played by unruly young men that injured and hazed the citizens who got in the way[footnoteRef:2] in the past, modern hazing practices are virtually ubiquitous on American college campuses today. While fraternities and sororities are frequently implicated in hazing, other college organizations also report significant hazing practices as well. For example, a study by Campo, Poulos, and Sipple (2005) found that, Greeks, males, varsity athletes, leaders, and upperclassmen were more likely to engage in hazing. Hazing is occurring on campus, although not always recognized as such by students.[footnoteRef:3] [2: Nuwer, H. (1999). Wrongs of passage: Fraternities, sororities, hazing, and binge drinking. Bloomington: Indiana University Press.] [3: Campo, Shelly, Gretchen Poulos, and John W. Sipple. Prevalence and Profiling: Hazing Among College Students and Points of Intervention. American Journal of Health Behavior 29, no. 2 (March 1, 2005): 149.]

Notwithstanding the latter assertion concerning a lack of recognition, it is reasonable to suggest that the countless victims of hazing recognize hazing for what it is and only those who never venture into the realms where it is routinely practiced remain unaware of its existence outside of high-profile media accounts.[footnoteRef:4] Indeed, extracurricular activities that involve some type of hierarchical superiority appear ready-made for hazing. For example, while varsity athletic teams and members of the Greek community are responsible for the largest amount of hazing on college campuses, performing arts organizations, sports clubs, recreation clubs, academic clubs and even honor...…around campus or cleaning up after social events to qualify for acceptance into campus-based organizations which are supported in part by educational institutions and American taxpayers. In far too many cases, hazing becomes criminal assault, kidnapping or even homicide. Further, bans and laws against hazing frequently go ignored or efforts are made to circumvent them by substituting one humiliation tactic or torture method for another. Finally, and more to the point, there is simply no place on American college campuses for hazing practices of any type, even if their proponents claim they are harmless and serve a valuable purpose.

Conclusion

Hazing is a slippery slope. Seemingly innocent and mildly embarrassing practices that were once deemed adequate may no longer satisfy the bloodlust that seems to characterize extreme hazing today. There are already sufficient existential threats in the early 21st century and American educational institutions do not need to add yet another to the death rolls by ignoring or underenforcing criminal laws against hazing. The research was consistent in showing that despite such criminal laws in the vast majority of states, hazing is still virtually ubiquitous throughout the American college landscape in a wide array of student organizations and it will remain so unless and until society gets serious about stopping it once and for all. College and university administrators must emphasize that there is zero tolerance for hazing at their institutions,…