Hazing has been around for centuries, and if you have been following the NMB Foundation Blog, you will know how long. In this week’s blog, we continue with the history of this age old practice.

The Vietnam War and Hazing

It seems as if war has a history of stopping hazing, for a short time anyway. The Vietnam War was a war of protest and unrest, unlike any other in modern times. The protest led to college kids thinking about issues that are more important. Thankfully, the practice wasn’t one of them.

Although it may have declined during the Vietnam War, it was still around. Alcohol became a dangerous ingredient to the practice and would change it forever.

Alcohol and Hazing

When alcohol got involved, everything changed. Eating raw eggs and liver was tame compared to drinking as much gin, vodka, whiskey or bourbon as you could in an hour and a half. From humiliation to life threatening servitude, fraternities seemed to turn things up a notch when alcohol and the practice co mingled.

Watching the Fraternities

With organizations such as the NMB Foundation, fraternities are being punished for the act of hazing. In 2017, 8 of the 18 members who participated in the death of a 19 year old after being made to play, “The Gauntlet,” were charged with involuntary manslaughter along with aggravated assault, hazing, evidence tampering, and providing alcohol to people under the age limit.

“The Gauntlet,” is an event that forces pledges to consume as much alcohol as they can from a number of alcohol stations. Some pledges reported 6 to 7 drinks consumed within minutes at each station. The young pledge died after the fraternity waited 14 hours to take him to the ER. He passed away the next day.

A Problem Solved with the NMB Foundation

According to the NMB Foundation, hazing is more than the popular film, Animal House. A major problem needs to be addressed to prevent unnecessary deaths occurring because of hazing.

If you would like to learn more about educating young people, schools and organizations about the dangers of hazing, contact the NMB Foundation today.