Hazing Has a Disturbing History and Must Be Stopped

Becoming one of a specific group, fraternity, or force shouldn’t depend on life-threatening activities, but it does, and it still goes on.

Photo by Sticker Mule on Unsplash

Traditions may be fine and may forge the bonds needed for groups to remain vital and cohesive, but one of the traditions, hazing, remains a serious concern. The media has carried articles about the sudden deaths of pledges to fraternities and, as a result, universities have outlawed much of this activity. What’s more, legal action and lawsuits may be brought against the groups or individuals involved. But there are places where it is still acceptable behavior—one is law enforcement, and another is military service.

There was a great deal of attention paid to the stunts shown on various video platforms when kids were attempting to perform stunts or eat incredibly spicy hot peppers. The stunts may have played a role in some aspects of hazing. YouTube has now banned dangerous stunts, but hazing with deadly effects still persists. No, hazing doesn’t appear in these videos, but who knows if groups don’t video their victims for future “enjoyment.”

I was once in a group therapy class during my doctoral studies where a young woman had recently joined the police force. Her fellow officers decided she needed to know her place. One day, into her first week, she opened her locker…