Sadly, hazing is getting worse and it shouldn’t be. The barbaric act of making pledges drink until they pass out or go walkabout in the bush naked are just some of the ridiculous things that social groups, military groups, fraternities and sororities continue to do.
According to the NMB Foundation, at least 18 pledges have been killed from incidents between 2010 and 2017. However, these are only the deaths that were reported by recognized fraternities. You can only imagine how many pledges got sick or died because the participated in the ritual.
How it All Started
College hazing started in the 1800s as a way for the 10th graders to push around the 9th graders. Thanks to the Civil war the barbaric act continued. College students learned what hazing was all about during wartime. Hazing actually increased after WWII with alcohol added to the mix.
21st Century Hazing is Brutal
According to the NMB foundation, the hazing traditions of old are only the tip of the iceberg in the 21st century. The media fails to report the real story instead focusing on more sensational hazing incidents such as the Wilmington College Gamma Phi Betas who participated or watched as the pledges were made to strip before being stuffed with Limburger cheese. The pledges were whipped and beaten so badly that one pledge had to have his testicle removed. Another pledge from the Pi Kappa Alpha almost died because he the fraternity brothers funneled alcohol into his rectum.
While most involve humiliation, alcohol consumption, isolation, sex acts and self other more sinister behaviors are being discovered.
Stop Hazing with the NMB Foundation
It takes education to stop this barbaric act. Unfortunately, most people believe it is a Rite of Passage and needs to continue, which is far from the truth.
If you would like to learn more about hazing education, call and talk to a team member from the NMB Foundation today.