Hazing. It’s a touchy subject, and by “touchy” I mean one that we never want to touch on… or ever be a part of. I happen to come from a very anti-hazing chapter and university, both of which take ample precautions to eliminate hazing. Yet at colleges across the country, hazing still exists (and goes too far). And it exists in student groups and organizations that don’t have Greek letters in their names.

Why, then, are sorority and fraternity incidents the ones that are always making national news?

Most recently, two fraternities and one sorority at George Washington University were stripped of their houses on campus for hazing and underage drinking incidents. And of course, the story made it into the Washington Post. And this wasn’t the first time that’s happened.

In fact, it seems to me that the only time hazing stories get any media attention, they involve the Greek community. (It also seems that the only time the Greek community gets any media attention it’s for hazing, but that’s a whole different issue.) Should those who break the rules (and the law!) be punished for their actions? Absolutely. Should those who stand by and let it happen be punished too? Yes. But we all know that it’s not just the frat boys and sorority girls who partake in hazing rituals.

I’m not a finger-pointer, but I can’t ignore the severe hazing incidents that have nothing to do with fraternities and sororities. Why don’t we ever hear anything about high school and college sports teams that haze? And what are their punishments? Are entire teams getting suspended for entire seasons? Does the team get removed from the athletic roster like a fraternity or sorority gets kicked off campus?

And what about the other student groups? Oftentimes they too have strict rituals new students must partake in if they want to be a part of the group. But does anyone notice?

No and no.

I am not sitting here saying that many fraternities and sororities don’t haze. They do, as awful as that is, and that’s why there are strict no-hazing policies in place on most campuses. But the fact is, they’re not the only ones who do so and it’s unfair that we get all the negative (national) attention and repercussions when everyone else out there merely gets a slap on the wrist.

If hazing is such a big issue – and it is – then it’s time we treat everyone who does it the same whether they are a Greek house or a sports team that brings in millions of dollars for a university each year. Hazing is serious, it’s damaging and it needs to be stopped… no matter who is doing it.

And while we’re speaking Greek, maybe it’s time we start giving fraternities and sororities attention for the things they’re doing right; highlighting the chapters that don’t haze, the money Greek communities raise for charity, and all the other great things this large group of college students does every year.

Or is that just wishful thinking?

What do YOU think about the negative stigmas that are associated with Greeks? Do you think they’re treated unfairly? Sound off!

[Got a question for our sorority girl? Email her at submissions [at] collegecandy [dot] com. In the meantime, get the DL on Greek Life from the women who are living it right here.]

With the list of Razzie’s nominations coming out and celebrating the worst of the worst in Hollywood, we thought we’d award our own set of Razzies to some oh-so-deserving college students who have not been demonstrating the best college behavior this year. And by “not demonstrating the best” we we’re not talking about students who skipped a few classes or drunkenly fell off a few lofts. We’re talking bad. Really bad. The kind of stuff that keeps your mom up all night worrying that you might be this dumb and that maybe college isn’t for you and you should be home-schooled like that weird kid who picked his nose and wiped it on the swing set in your neighborhood growing up.

Yeah, that bad.

And the award goes to:

The award for disgusting behavior goes to the pledges and brothers of  the Delta Kappa Epsilon chapter at Yale University. The pledges were led to the freshman girls’ dorms while blindfolded and shouting “No means yes, yes means anal.” But it didn’t stop there. The pledges then began to shout about necrophilia, which is, as you know, having sex with corpses. Classy, Yale! Not only is this just disgusting and offensive, but don’t these guys have brains?! I understand that it was a pledge activity and yada, yada, yada, but did no one stop and think about how degrading or downright stupid that activity might have been?

The award for sloppiest partiers goes to the girls of Pi Beta Phi and Alpha Xi Delta from the Miami of Ohio chapters. In two days two sororities were suspended for wrecking the venues they rented out for their formals. Not only did the Pi Beta Phi girls arrive hammered to the event, but also stole booze and had sex in public. Of course, someone also dropped a shadoobie by the door on the way out! The next day, Alpha Xi Delta (the rival sorority) attempted to out-do the classy girls of Pi Beta Phi by also stealing alcohol and peeing all over the bathroom floor and on a museum exhibit. I’m all about drunken debauchery, but these ladies give sororities and college women a bad name.

The award for over sharing goes to Karen Owens, infamous author of the Duke F**K List. Not only did she have pictures of them (from their Facebook accounts), but she also gave detailed evaluations of their performances. And then she sent it out to her friends…who sent it on to their friends…. and the information that those jocks thought would be safe with Duke’s own Carrie Bradshaw wasn’t so safe after all. Looks like someone’s experiencing a dry spell!

The award for worst use of special privileges goes to Terrelle Pryor, Devier Posey, Solomon Thomas, Daniel “Boom” Herron, and Mike Adams, for using their status as Ohio State football players to get free tattoos in exchange for autographs. Standard, really. I mean, why not break the clearly stated rules for something as valuable as a barbed wire tat around your bulging bicep? Did you also offer up a signed football for a $5 foot-long at Subday? The five offenders will now be sitting out for the first five games of next season and each have to pay $2,5000 to a charity of their choice. No, the “OSU Tattoo Fund” does not count.

The award for the worst role models goes to the Columbia University Alpha Epsilon Pi, Pi Kappa Alpha, and Psi Upsilon fraternities. On a late Tuesday night several members of the fraternities were caught and arrested for allegedly selling drugs. Lots and lots of drugs. Not the smartest way to pay that Ivy League tuition, huh, boys?

The award for the worst college scam goes to Adam Wheeler, who tried to fake his way into Harvard. After lying on a scholarship application as well as plagiarizing a Professor’s (who actually worked at Harvard) work, Wheeler was thrown out of Harvard and is now being ordered to repay Harvard $46,000. Had he not been dumb enough to rip off someone’s work, Wheeler just might have graduated without being caught. Now I think we all know why the kid couldn’t get in on his own merit. Moron.

The award for most disgusting college behavior goes to the brothers of the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity from the University of California, San Diego chapter.  During a reunion of black alumni of UC San Diego the brothers allegedly hosted a “Compton Cookout” where attendees were encouraged to dress and act “ghetto.” Not only was this party offensive to the African-American community, but students of color felt threatened and unsafe on campus. Because of the uproar against the party, a broadcast from the campus TV station was aired in defense of it, calling critics of the party ungrateful and also used the n-word. Instead of ending the parties, the brothers allegedly scheduled another one a couple of months later. And for that combination of hatred, racism, stupidity and entitlement, I have no words. I am utterly disgusted.

So let this be a lesson: don’t lie, steal, cheat, act like Ke$ha, or waste your time creating detailed Power Point presentations about the guys you lured into your bed. Thank you.

Photo and girls involved totally unrelated to story.

What is the meaning of a sorority exactly?

As an outsider, a self proclaimed anti-sorostitute, I’ve never really understood the purpose.  It’s a “special bond” they tell me.  A “sisterhood” they say.  Here is what I know:  I have a sister, and I have never struck her with a paddle 201 times in one week.  She has never been at the hospital with blood clots and welts on her ass that somehow symbolize our “loyalty” to each other.  I have not forced her to endure this pain to prove to me that she is worthy of being my sister.

Unfortunately, an anonymous Sigma Gamma Rho pledge at Rutgers University cannot say the same.  When she began to pledge the sorority, she was told that they do not condone hazing.  It took her one whole week, until she couldn’t even sit down, to finally go to the hospital and turn in the girls who had been beating her endlessly during the duration of her “non-hazing.”  Six girls were arrested and charged with aggravated hazing.

We are all thinking the same thing: how could these girls do this to her and the other pledges? It is cruel, evil, and outrageous.  But here is the bigger question: how could the pledges allow this happen to themselves? Joining a sorority is an elective activity.  No one forced these girls to pledge.  It was their choice.  Even though they were told that hazing was not condoned, why didn’t they opt to leave once they saw a paddle?  And even if they were too afraid to leave, why the hell did they go back for day two, three, four, etc? 

I understand the feeling of wanting to belong to a group, of having instant friends, and wanting to be a part of something.  However, if I were in a situation where girls were going to physically harm me in order for me to be a part of this group, my response would most likely be “you’re out of your f**king mind.”  I’d be out of that room so fast and the door would not hit my untouched ass on the way out.  The concept is really bizarre to me.  They allow themselves to be hazed, beaten, humiliated, and whatever it takes to be accepted into this so-called “sisterhood,” and then one month later they’re supposed to be BFFs with the people who tortured them. “Hey! Remember that time I beat your ass with a paddle and you couldn’t even walk? HAHA GOOD TIMES GIRL!”

Yeah….sounds like it?

I know that it is important for hazing rules and regulations to be implemented within the Greek system, but I truly feel that hazing will continue as long as there are people who are willing to be hazed.  Think about it:  Sororities and Fraternities haze because they know that there are so many Greek hopefuls who will do whatever it takes to be in that certain house.  If a couple dropout, there will always be more, and the select few will make it until the end.  But what if there were no willing participants?  What if every desperate freshman decided to suddenly respect themselves and not take part in anything so outrageous?  It would have to end, wouldn’t it?

So, ask yourself: how far would YOU go to fit in?

Y’all are great neighbors, you really are. I enjoy your Solo-cup adorned front lawn. I love your broken air conditioner sitting out back. I enjoy your creative use of Keystones as decorations. But we really must talk about your noise levels.

Now, I’m a college kid too and I also quite enjoy partying from time to time. Thursday night? Yes. Friday night? Sure. Saturday night? Count me in. Monday night at 4am? Not so much.

You guys seem to want to party at all hours, everyday. I might be OK with that if there weren’t all those other problems. I mean, you guys are loud all. the. time. Like that weekend you had music blasting for 72 hours in a row – I’m pretty positive you just let your speakers run for 3 days straight. 3am Wednesday night listening to The Beach Boys? I don’t think you’re having a rager… And, umm, it’s about negative 6 degrees out…do you really find The Beach Boys appropriate?

And what are you thinking playing “Let’s Get It On” at a speaker-breaking volume level? I don’t think any of you are actually getting it on. In fact, I’m pretty sure this would send any girl running, even a highly intoxicated one. So why oh why must the music be on? Doesn’t it annoy you?

I know it annoys me. I also know I have a test in the morning.

And on another note, it’s great that you are so, umm, invested in your brotherhood that you haze until the wee hours of the morning. But when I’m trying to sleep I don’t want to hear your pledges yelling: “We’re here, we’re queer, get used to it!” I don’t want to get used to it. I want to sleep. My window is closed, my head is buried under a pillow and I can still hear your pledges crying.

Please, I beg of you dear neighbors, calm down a little bit. Maybe bring your volume down to like a 2? Or a 4? I’d even take a volume level of 5.6. Please my fratty friends, help me get a complete night of sleep, and maybe you can get some rest too! Win-win situation!

Love,

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