Hazing expert condemns rites that become wrongs

Early in his academic career, anti-hazing expert Hank Nuwer passed by a field where obviously intoxicated fraternity pledges were having whiskey poured down their throats. He did nothing at the time, but the incident ultimately led him to devote much of his energy to research and advocacy to end hazing rituals.

Nuwer, who has written four books on hazing, was on campus Feb. 3 to speak to a group of students in Rackham Auditorium. His presentation, "Hazing: When Rites Become Wrongs," provided a brief historical survey of hazing up to the present, and featured sometimes disturbing photographs of hazing incidents, including one of the ritual he had passed.

Nuwer said most hazing incidents involve friends hurting friends, but not intending to hurt each other. "These rituals are seen as traditions to be followed, rites of passage that one must go through to be accepted, and too often they become high-risk activities that can cause serious injury and sometimes death to the victims," he said.

Hazing is about the initiated exercising power over those who wish to join to gain a share of the power, Nuwer said, and it is not limited to colleges and fraternities. He pointed to recent news of out-of-control high school athletic team rituals involving sodomy and other sexual abuse.

"Hazing occurs in the military, among firemen, even in college marching bands, to cite other examples," he said. "Some hazers have ended up serving prison time, but it's unfair that those who hazed them are never prosecuted."

It is a myth, he said, that those being hazed are necessarily willing participants. "Since initiation is usually a litmus test for manhood, those being initiated feel they must show that they 'can take it.' There's a spirit of one-upmanship that comes into it that often leads to the most risky activities," Nuwer said.

He cited several fatal hazing or initiation incidents, including deaths in recent years of students at Ferris State and Michigan State universities. In a case involving the Sundowners Club at the University of Nevada, Reno, a student died when he and his fellow pledges had endured some 65 straight hours of drinking alcohol.

Given that fraternities and sororities do a lot of good things, especially community activities, Nuwer does not agree with colleges that have chosen to solve the problem by shutting down Greek organizations. He strongly recommends instead that Greeks substitute challenging but fun activities for hazing—activities for all of the members, such as a ropes course, that will bring them together in a positive way.

"Along with the positive alternatives—which could bring good media attention—there needs to be open discussion on campuses about the issue among Greek leaders, administrators and faculty members," Nuwer said.

More Stories

• President Coleman hosts historic diversity summit
• SAPAC restructures for better service
• Units strive to preserve academic core amid state funding cuts
• Hello, my name is ...
• ADVANCE grants designed to help recruit, retain women
• Task force makes changes to financial SPGs
• U-M leaders remind employees of severe weather policy
• U-M committed to excellence, Coleman tells D.C. audience
• 3 to receive Sarah Goddard Power Awards
• K-grams kids help lift gymnasts
• Spotlight: Librarian is alive with the sound of music
• Scott to chronicle paths from slavery to freedom
• Pay stub, vacation and sick balances on Web Feb. 10
• "Moon Over Buffalo"
• Don't Miss
• Hazing expert condemns rites that become wrongs
• JLB jocks join Read-in Chain
• Sculpted science