Would You Stop Hazing?

p1_hazing_0524.jpgUnfortunately, hazing and college go together almost as seamlessly as Solo cups and Natty Light. Fraternities and sororities get most of the attention, but hazing activities pop up all across campus. Sports teams, student groups… even student government hazes new members in some way.

According to StopHazing.org, hazing is defined as “any activity expected of someone joining a group (or to maintain full status in a group) that humiliates, degrades or risks emotional and/or physical harm, regardless of the person’s willingness to participate.” That can include everything from going to an event in costume to being thrown off a roof between two matresses (and yes, that did happen at my school).

In its original form, hazing was used to create a bond between a group of people. Basically, older members would put their new recruits through obstacles in attempts to force them to band together against their oppressors. And in theory it works – how many times during middle school did you and your classmates band together when faced with an evil teacher or, better, a sub?

The problem is that it has gone too far. Students are getting injured and sometimes even killed during acts of hazing. ABC recently did a study on this where they brought hazing out into the open to see if people would step up and stop the cruel acts. And what happened? Read More »

The Breakup I Didn’t Know About

crying_girl.jpgListen clearly: I don’t want this to discourage you girls in LDRs or in any relationship for that matter, but something happened to me that is absolutely mortifying and humiliating and just unbelievable.

I’m the girl that was in an on-and-off relationship with a guy for eight years. Eight years. Eight long years of ups and downs, break ups, makeup sex, happy times, sad times, etc. He was my best friend. This year things changed a bit; I started college and he moved across the country. But we knew we’d be ok; we lasted this long didn’t we?

Before I left for school I visited him for three wonderful weeks. It was all lovey dovey and perfect. He was constantly telling me tat he loved me like he has for eight years, and we were going to get married, and blah blah blah.

When I got to college (about a month ago), I realized how much I disliked the school and told him how I wanted to go to New York next semester. He was really supportive and reminded me I could always transfer out there. Awww.

And then I didn’t hear from him for a few days. And then a few more days went on without contact. So I started to freak out. When I finally got a hold of him he told me we were fine, he missed me and loved me, and not to worry. So I didn’t; I figured we were back to normal.

But apparently we weren’t. No phone calls, no texts. He didn’t answer my calls or my texts. I was being ignored. I sent a long text explaining that he should want to talk to me because I was his girlfriend, and we needed to talk things out. I told him how I wasn’t mad (even though I was furious), and I just wanted to talk to my boyfriend. No answer. I got drunk (great solution to everything, eh?) and ended up calling fifteen times and sending four texts (according to my call log). Again, no answer. Read More »

No Peeing On the Job (Unless It’s in a Bag)

4_2c_plastic.jpgLike your job doesn’t suck enough. Now they’re telling you you have to pee in a bag.

Okay, maybe not you, but these guys are being told by their company to pee in bags! Why? So the company saves time on bathroom breaks.

I can’t believe they’re seriously asking them to do this. Cutting back on cigarette breaks, I could see. But being asked to urinate in public in a bag given to you by your company? Totally humiliating.

On a slightly related note:

True story: I was once standing in a mall waiting for a friend. I was in a high-traffic area of said mall, with lots of people everywhere.

I notice this kid nearby tugging on his mom’s arm. She holds out a plastic bag…

…and he whips out his little kid weewee and pees in the bag.

I kid you not.

And THEN the mother took the bag and tied it up and just stood there, holding the kid’s urine.

I don’t know. Peeing in bags is nast.

But maybe it’s becoming mainstream (haha) and I’m just behind the trend.