Fraternities and Why They are Misunderstood

Fraternities and Why They are Misunderstood

Fraternities have been a major part of student life at universities all over the world since the beginning of the 20th century. For many students they have offered an improvement in social life, more friends, opportunities for athletics, and a great sense of brotherhood. Unfortunately, since their beginning fraternities have been questioned about their activities. Many people today think that they subject their members to harmful acts better known as "hazing." Massachusetts General law defines hazing as:

[A]ny conduct or method of initiation into any student organization, whether on public or private property, which willfully or recklessly endangers the physical or mental health of any student or other person"(Anti- Hazing Policy).

Specific examples of hazing include: whipping, beating, branding, forced calisthenics, exposure to weather, forced consumption of any food, liquor, beverage, drug or other substance, mental stress, deprivation of sleep, extended isolation, and any activity which seriously affects the health and well-being of an individual. Over the past thirty years there have been many fraternity hazing incidents, which now appear on the web.

In one incident at S.M.S.U. Edith Davis, a pledge at Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity was beaten to death in February of 1994. One brother, Keith Allen was sentenced to 18 months in prison for hazing. Keith claimed that the law against hazing was unconstitutional since it was unclear. Even worse is that the case has been appealed numerous times which has caused the victims family's grief to get worse each time. The family asked "what does he expect, does he want the gentleman to go free or what? Does he think he didn't do anythin...

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...wego.edu/~milano/. (23 March 1997).

Phi Kappa Phi Fraternity. "Chapters In Virginia". http://www.pagelink.com/pi_kappa_phi/index.html. (24 March 1997).

News Center Online. "Westminster Fraternities Facing Hazing Issues". http://www.missouri.edu/~joursww/sep01.html. (1 April 1997).

The College Reporter. "Student Hospitalized After Day of Pledging Activities". http://www.tandm.edu/CampusLife/Organiza...legeReporter/04-09- 96/NEWS/KappaSig.html. (5 April 1997).

The Vermilion. "UP Arrest Three, Seek On in Hazing Case". http://www.usl.edu/Publications/Vermilion/96_03_29/page_01.html. (9 April 1997).

The Brothers of the Manitoba Chapter Delta Upsilon. "What is a Fraternity?". http://www.umanitoba.ca/student/groups/DeltaUpsilon/duinfo.html. (10 April 1997).

Crouch, Elisa. "Hazing Law Upheld". http://www.mdn.org/1995/STORIES/HAZE.HTM. (20 April 1997).