A Closer Look: Campus Hazing

It baffles me. How can someone think that because it was done to them, it is OK to do it to another? The CIA torture handbook is not a pledge manual. One thing to keep in mind: Hazing is best known with Greek organizations, but is not something that is limited to them. You have to be mindful of it in all student groups.

In a past column I wrote about hazing and what it means. I have heard that ____ used my words to justify their practices. For this I must apologize to the entire NEIU community. In my defense, in that same column I warned that "you shouldn't do anything that hurts you." I wonder if they blacked that part out. In that column I said that "NEIU doesn't have any major problems with hazing." I now stand corrected.

If you are pledging a fraternity or sorority and you have any questions about anything you are told you "have to do" you should talk with someone from Student Activities. They are not the enemy; they are there to help.

If something doesn't seem right, it probably isn't. You always have the right to say "no." Stand up for yourself by taking proper action in resolving problems. That may mean contacting the school or national offices.

If you are in a Greek organization, using the Blagojevich argument for hazing, "that everyone is doing it," is far off the mark. You saw how far that went for Blagojevich.

Hazing, by definition, encompasses a lot of things. Some, like mandatory study sessions, can be positive for the group if done properly. Embarrassing stunts, endurance tests and other Bully tactics are not. They are harmful to the person you are trying to empower.

If you're a Greek organization that is practicing less than desirable hazing tactics, STOP! It may seem like you are putting one over on everybody, but sooner or later your luck will run out. When that happens, it's nothing more than a really serious and embarrassing situation.

Your organization should be striving to improve the experience of your new recruits, not making it more miserable. If you didn't like doing something as a pledge, chances are the next class won't either. It's not about revenge, it's about empowering.

Greek letter organizations boast about compassion, and doing good things. That should not just be a front, but something that encompasses the whole organization in all you do.

Good luck to the remaining members of ____ in creating a tradition the entire NEIU community can be proud of.