By: Jasmyn Elliott / Columnist
In 2008, the Chad Meredith Act made hazing a felony in Florida in hopes that organizations, Greek or non-Greek, would stop this dangerous practice. However, the brutal death of Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University drum major Robert Champion reignited a heated discussion on the merits and dangers of hazing. In the midst of this discussion, I truly hope our University is never on the darker side of it.
According to a hazingstudy.org survey of over 11,000 students, 55 percent of college students in an organization, Greek or non-Greek, have experienced some form of hazing.
The most popular form of hazing is binge drinking, which can cause fatal alcohol poisoning. Chad Meredith, the University of Miami student for which Florida’s anti-hazing policy is named, died in 2002 when he, after getting drunk in a hazing exercise, drowned in a lake on campus. In addition to binge drinking, beatings and other injurious methods also caused deaths.
Even after this incident, as a student at the University I have heard the arguments in favor of hazing: “It is tradition,” “It builds character,” “It shows just how far you’re willing to go for your letters,” and other nonsensical reasons behind putting new members through humiliating, if not life-threatening, ordeals for the sake of joining a prestigious national organization.
As a member of a Greek organization, I can proudly say that my sorority has faithfully upheld the zero-tolerance hazing policy as outlined by the University and the state. I can only hope that this is the case for all student organizations on campus.
Greek organization or not, every one of us profess to uphold high standards of conduct. In one way or another, honor and friendship make up the core of our values. As a human being and as a sorority member, I cannot see the honor or the friendship in beating someone with a paddle, coercing a new member into binge drinking or putting a new member through any other mortifying or painful ordeal to join an organization.
Even if a practice doesn’t result in death or serious injury, by hazing we dishonor and show ourselves undeserving to belong to the organization we claim to represent.
According to the aforementioned survey by hazingstudy.org, nine out of 10 student that have experienced hazing did not perceive that they were hazed, which I attribute to initiated members down playing the practice by using the empty excuses I mentioned above, and then some.
Just because “everyone else had to do it” doesn’t mean you have to; any so-called “tradition” that makes you uncomfortable, causes physical or emotional injury, embarrasses you or could endanger your life is not worth enduring.
Joining an organization should build character and make college life more fun, not break you down and cause you pain. After all, there is no point to submitting to hazing if, especially in the case of Meredith and Champion, you don’t even live to see the other side.
For more on how to prevent hazing on campus, contact the Student Conduct and Conflict Resolution Office at (305) 348-3939.
“Class Dismissed” is a biweekly column critiquing education in America. Email jasmyn.elliott@fiusm.com
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