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05/07/2008: "Boys Behaving Badly"

Let me preface this entry with a little history. In November, 1980, I was initiated into the Fraternity of Phi Gamma Delta at UC Riverside. I spent three years as an undergraduate officer of that chapter, and later spent 5 years as a graduate advisor to our chapter at Long Beach State. I have a deep understanding of the Greek lifestyle, and all the advantages and challenges that come along with it.

That said, nothing makes me more angry - or disappointed - than reading of fraternity chapters that, in the year 2008, still think that there is a place for hazing in the initiation of pledges. Earlier this week, the story broke of a hazing incident at Tulane. In this case, pledges of the school's Pi Kappa Alpha chapter were hospitalized for burns suffered after boiling water, vinegar and cayenne pepper were used during a hazing ritual. Being Louisiana, apparently these geniuses decided the appropriate way to inspire their pledges was to treat them as if they were crawfish being prepared for the dinner gumbo. As you might guess, the chapter has been suspended by Tulane, the police are involved and charges are pending.

My undergraduate days were in the immediate aftermath of the movie "Animal House" - a time when fraternities felt obligated to live up to the "standard" the movie represented. I was fortunate enough to have joined an international fraternity with an aggressive anti-hazing policy, so my initiation was pretty tame. Like PGD, the Pikes are an international fraternity with a long and distinguished history, and a solid record on combating hazing. Often, stories like this occur to the so-called "local" fraternities, individual groups with no guidance. But when it happens to a chapter of a prominent organization like this, it shows that it can happen anywhere - and every fraternity chapter, no matter their affiliation, must constantly be on guard against backsliding to such unacceptable behavior.

Of course, as frightening as it is to imagine, it could be worse ...