Many of us deal with the snooty stuck up people who think they're better than everyone else. But for many away from home for the first time want to fit in. They turn to clubs, sports, and the sororities and fraternities. There's booze, parties, practices, and people. So there are people who turn to them in order to try and fit in. But what happens when impaired judgement and the hazing even pledging goes to far? Lawsuits and academic ramifications, amongst other things. In fact some colleges have made the news for hazing, from sports teams to Greek Life.
In fact an article from USAtoday.com on December 19, 2012 "Some members of a Northern Illinois University fraternity have turned themselves in on hazing-related charges in connection with the death of a freshman after a night of drinking. Those who surrendered to police this week will appear in court Jan. 8, Lt. Jason Leverton of the DeKalb, Ill., police department said.
Arrest warrants were issued Monday for 22 members of the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity. Five were charged with felony hazing, and 17 face misdemeanor charges.
The charges stem from the death of David Bogenberger, 19, a freshman who was found dead Nov. 2 with blood-alcohol content five times the legal limit for driving. The coroner said Bogenberger died as a result of cardiac arrhythmia, with alcohol intoxication as a contributing cause.
The night before, Bogenberger had participated in a non-sanctioned event called "parents' night" that involved fraternity pledges going from room to room, answering questions from fraternity members and being provided alcohol.
NIU spokesman Paul Palian said the fraternity and 31 of its members have been accused of violating the student code of conduct. Pi Kappa Alpha, known as PIKE, could forfeit its status as a student organization, and the students face penalties that could include expulsion. Pi Kappa Alpha International Fraternity Vice President Justin Buck says the DeKalb school's chapter has been administratively suspended. The 17 students facing misdemeanor charges face up to a year in jail and $10,000 fines, Leverton said. The five fraternity members charged with felonies could be sentenced to one to three years in jail and $25,000 fines." (http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2012/12/18/illinois-fraternity-hazing/1776939/)
In many places, Duke University made headlines for their hazing incident. According to WRAL.com on May 23, 2008 (and updated May 24, 2008):
"Student Daniel Klufas, of Easton, Conn., and his family have hired a lawyer and private investigator since the incident.
Klufas said brothers in Alpha Delta Phi, the fraternity he was pledging, made him take off his clothes while they threw cold water on him, according to attorney, Stephan E. Seeger of Stamford, Conn.Seeger said the combination of cold water followed by warm water meant Klufas had to be taken to the hospital. Seeger said that when Klufas tried to report the incident to Durham Police, officers told Klufas he stood to be arrested as well because a state statute says that anyone who engages in hazing can be charged.
A Duke spokesman said the university can’t comment on these types of situations due to federal law. In general, if a hazing complaint is filed, the university investigates and determines if students should be punished. Duke has a policy against hazing, with the maximum penalty being expulsion." (http://www.wral.com/news/local/story/2935181/)
These are two examples. Colleges and universities should crack down more on these hazing incidents. Hazing can be found anywhere. Greek Life, sports, clubs, etc. There are a lot of students who want to fit in, endure it just to have a friend or two.