The University of North Georgia prides itself on in being an open campus. We are committed to intramural sports and having a strong camaraderie among the students at school. Clubs and groups that are exclusive seem to break this principle of companionship. That includes fraternities and sororities.
When a club makes people who want to join engage in risky behavior, it’s called hazing. Earlier this year, the Sigma Nu Fraternity Kappa Chapter at the University of North Georgia was suspended for a profane use of alcohol and hazing.
In 2012, Zeta Beta Tau at the University of Albany lost a member to alcohol poisoning due to hazing rituals. His name was Trevor Duffy; his hazing protocol was to consume a 60-ounce bottle of Belvedere vodka. He left with a blood alcohol level of 0.58. Somehow, this was OK. Isn't the whole point that the program chose that person among many to join? Why on earth would the program then push them to the limits, to where they could die? That is a major problem, because there’s the fraternity trying to keep its traditions, and the school trying to keep its merit. Most students do not speak up about hazing because they would be looked down upon by other members.
Aside from that, not many in the fraternity see it as an issue. A lot of members protest that hazing brings them together or that it’s a tradition. Traditions are meant to be broken, especially if laws are being broken, and safety is up for discussion.
Let’s be honest: making underage pledges drink until they black out probably is not a good tradition. Some schools’ fraternities go as far as branding their pledges like cattle, also not a good tradition. This builds as much brotherhood as a fly getting stuck in a spider’s web.
One thing to note about the Sigma Nu Fraternity, in particular, is that laid out in their guidelines, it reads, “The chapter does not conduct hazing.” It also has disciplinary codes to follow this. How did it get this far, when the ethical code that they stand for is an anti-hazing policy?
Sororities and fraternities are supposed to be about sister/brotherhood. They are supposed to create a fun-loving environment for students. A lot of the time they volunteer, and host lots of events. They were invented for a good cause, and the acceptance should not force people to sacrifice their moral ground.
No one is trying to put down these organizations. They were made for a wonderful cause, but the things that they do behind closed doors is concerning. There are better ways to induct people into your program without hurting them. Aren't you selling brother/sisterhood here?
Let people apply for membership, interview, and accept. That’s all that needs to be going on. As a sorority and fraternity, you are a prestigious club on campus. Have a little-big dinner, and stop humiliating people. Do not exploit people for the simple fact that they wish to be a part of your organization. Our university is better than this.
