Dangerous College Hazing

Brenden Duncombe-Smith

In recent years, hazing at universities has received a lot of public attention. However, as recently as 2008 the University of Maine conducted a study at 53 institutions and found that the majority of varsity athletes, members of Greek life, and members of performing arts organizations were hazed. Though the most frightening statistic is the fact that 90 percent of students who underwent treatment defined as hazing did not think that they had been hazed.

The problem is not just that hazing exists, but also how dangerous it can be. There are numerous reported cases of students dying from hazing related drinking. Not to mention the vast number of cases of hazing related physical injury including broken bones. Although more disturbing, is the fact that these hazing related injuries and deaths were common knowledge, and yet hazing still continues to happen. In 2000, President Charles Vest of Massachusetts Institute of Technology took responsibility for the alcohol related hazing death of a student.

However, enforcing hazing laws is a very difficult process that usually ends in failure. Mainly because students don't realize that they are being hazed or that it is against the law. Some students actually protect the organizations by saying the they voluntarily participated in the activities.

Bottom line hazing is a very serious and deadly problem on many college campuses. Many laws have been passed to prevent hazing but they are hard to enforce. Overall there needs to be more awareness, and more preventive action taken by universities and students alike, in order to make sure that there are no more deaths from hazing.