University of Virginia Library

Anti-Hazing

In all likelihood, pledge hazing at the
University of Maryland will rapidly fade from
the scene in the next few months. Last week,
the Maryland fraternities received the type of
shock that seems to be needed to make the
houses give up something like that. A pledge
died as a result of a heart attack suffered
during a shape-up session at one of the many
Maryland fraternities.

The rationale for physical hazing has
always eluded us. Simple work sessions at
least accomplish something constructive. But
physical hazing can only cater to the desires
of the fraternity members to assert themselves
over their pledges in a kind of ego
gratification that degrades the instigators
more than those who suffer its consequences. It
is, however, part of the traditional ritual, and
that seems to be one of the primary values of
the fraternity system.

Despite IFC pronouncements to the
contrary, most of the houses here still indulge
themselves in this type of exercise. Some of
the grossest practices have been eliminated
along with some of the physical severity of
the tasks the pledges must perform. This is
probably as much as the IFC can accomplish;
unless the individual houses experience some
sort of enlightenment, the practice of physical
hazing is likely to continue.

Eventually something like that is more
than likely going to happen here. It may not
be a death, but merely a loss of sight or some
other type of permanent injury that will
finally awaken the fraternities here to the
inanity and danger of the practice. Those
fraternities which intend to continue hazing
ought to familiarize themselves with the state
law forbidding hazing as well as the case of
the Maryland's fraternity, where it was only a
work session, "help week" in the vernacular,
and brothers insist that the exercises were
strictly voluntary and "if a guy can't do the
exercise or doesn't want to, he isn't forced."
He just died.