Lost to hazing are many intangibles - brotherhood, trust, confidence, leadership and reputations. How can we allow hazing to go on killing these aspects of our cherished KA experience? Making better men is our business. Teaching men to achieve excellence is our purpose. When hazing gets in the way, we fail.
In 1903, Kappa Alpha Order printed in its constitution what may be the first policy written by a national fraternity against hazing: "Courtesy, personal dignity and self-respect being chivalrous virtues of the knight and gentleman which our ritual inculcates, members are forbidden to outrage the initiate by subjecting him to a humiliating physical ordeal known as hazing."
Today, our KA Laws define hazing for us in Title 9-261:
"The practice of hazing in any form is forbidden. Hazing is any conduct, activities or action by a member, by members of the Kappa Alpha Order or by an Active Chapter as a unit, performed or carried out on or off chapter premises which (a) causes, is likely to cause or is intended to cause physical or mental discomfort, chagrin, embarrassment, ridicule, or personal displeasure to another person upon imposed or (b) is otherwise prohibited by any applicable governmental or institutional law or regulation."
To define it further, the FIPG/Kappa Alpha Order Risk Management policy states:
"No chapter shall conduct hazing activities. Hazing activities are defined as: Any action taken or situation created, intentionally, whether on or off fraternity premises, to produce mental or physical discomfort, embarrassment, harassment or ridicule. Such activities may include, but are not limited to, the following: use of alcohol; paddling in any form; creation of excessive fatigue; physical and psychological shocks; quests, treasure hunts, scavenger hunts, road trips or any other such activities carried on, outside or inside the confines of the chapter house; wearing of public apparel which is conspicuous and not normally in good taste; engaging in public stunts and buffoonery; morally degrading or humiliating games and activities; and any other activities which are not consistent with fraternal law, ritual or policy or the regulations and policies of the educational institution."
Hazing can take on many forms. It is an abuse that ranges from subtle to fatal, it can be verbal, physical or mental, and it can be broken down into three distinct categories: subtle, harassment and dangerous.
Subtle hazing is often times harder to detect than physical hazing and usually results in ridicule or humiliation. Some examples of this type of hazing include lengthy telephone greetings, carrying pledge books or paddles at all times, using pledges as game pieces, not allowing the pledges to enter through the front door, personal servitude or house clean-ups. It essentially makes your new members feel and appear like second class citizens.
A KA chapter was heavily sanctioned recently and fined over $1,500 for this type of hazing. The officers were removed, the new member education program was overhauled, and the chapter was put on probation from all social activities for a year. The chapter had been conducting line ups, personal servitude, excessive house clean ups, and yelling at and harassing their new members.
It's easy to think that these activities are harmless and constitute no danger to pledges or associate members...but what's important to consider is the negative effect this type of hazing has on the new member's attitude toward the chapter. His eagerness to take part in a leadership role will ultimately wane. Loss of respect for active brothers is the only real outcome this and any type of hazing produces. Some also think these types of activities teach respect for the house and the chapter. Wrong again; it only causes the new member to become apathetic after he is initiated with an attitude of, "I'm an active now, so I don't have to do anything...make the pledges do it." Apathy, a direct result of hazing, destroys the life of a chapter quicker than anything. If you have apathy in your chapter, take a long hard look at your pledge program. Is it completely positive? Would you feel comfortable explaining the entire program (and any side activities) to the new members' parents? How about Robert E. Lee? Would he approve of the program?
Harassment hazing is found in activities that cause mental anguish, physical discomfort or create undue stress. Examples may include sleep deprivation, verbal abuse, requiring pledges to answer questions under pressure, performing lewd stunts, restricting personal hygiene or the covering of bodies with foreign substances.
Recently, a KA chapter was closed for three years for this type of hazing. New members were forced to do "bows and toes," were forced to consume alcohol, and feminine products soaked in tabasco sauce were forced into the new members' mouths.
A brother may think, "Pledges need to Ôearn' their membership by going through these experiences." Membership in the Order, however, is gained by exemplifying the qualities of gentility and modern chivalry, not enduring mental and physical anguish. Harassment hazing activities aren't always meant to cause harm, but when hazing gets out of hand, it does; many injuries, deaths and lawsuits have resulted.
Dangerous hazing can not only endanger the life of the uninitiated, but the life of the active member and the chapter as well. Dangerous hazing is any activity that has the potential to cause bodily harm or psychological damage. Dangerous hazing can take the form of lineups, kidnapping, forced drinking of alcohol, branding, forced eating, restricting body movement, intense calisthenics, dehydration or exposure to weather.
Since 1971, 65 people have been killed in hazing incidents. Of those, 41 were related to alcohol and the vast majority involved fraternities.
In the popular 1977 movie Fraternity Row, a blind-folded pledge chokes to death after being forced to eat raw liver. Even though this story was created by Hollywood, it does happen. In 1994, Michael Davis gave his life for his fraternity at Southeast Missouri State University. He was senselessly kicked and beaten to death by his brothers the night before he was to be initiated.
The Order is fortunate that it has never lost a life due to hazing, but several serious injuries have occurred at our chapters because of this type of behavior.
A KA chapter conducting dangerous hazing activities was recently closed for three years, while a large number of the chapter's brothers were expelled from the Order. In cold weather conditions, new members were forced to strip down to their boxers and keep their arms held up while holding ice in their hands. Cold beer was poured on them while smoke was blown in their face as they were yelled at for not knowing material from The Varlet. Pushups also ensued on the wet floor and the new members were eventually forced to hold a hanging squat position over a straightened coat hanger, threatening penetration if they didn't hold the squat. One of the new members coughed up blood and was later hospitalized with pneumonia and a blood clot in his leg.
Nine Common Myths about Hazing
- MYTH: "Hazing builds pledge class unity."
FACT: Unity may be created within the pledge class, but the pledges will be unified against the chapter. The end result is a number of segregated groups within one disunited chapter. There is no use or reason for pledge class unity. Why not focus on building chapter unity through retreats, social events and philanthropic service?
- MYTH: "The pledges want to be hazed."
FACT: If you believe this, why not publicize your chapter's planned hazing activities during rush, and then see how many pledges the chapter gets?
- MYTH: "We only haze a little bit. It's not really that bad."
FACT: That's like saying, "I only steal a little bit. I'm not really a thief." If you wouldn't do it in front of your mother, don't do it.
- MYTH: "If we eliminate hazing, KA will be just a social club instead of a fraternity. It will be a cakewalk to become a member."
FACT: Hazing is the spineless, easy way out. A truly well organized, positive, and educational program will require more time, dedication, and energy than a hazing program. The resulting difference will be initiates who are eager to work for and help the chapter, and who can better serve as leaders.
- MYTH: "The military thinks hazing is good, and they do it, so why can't we?"
FACT: The military does not, in fact, conduct hazing practices, but rather engages in a crucial, unique type of training and preparation for dangerous military operations. According to the Dept. of the Army's TRADOC Regulation 350-6: "Hazing is strictly prohibited" and is "an offense punishable under the Uniform Code of Military Justice." The unique training that is conducted is done by professionals to prepare soldiers and military personnel for unusual circumstances, a disciplined lifestyle, and to put their life on the line for our country. KA doesn't ask that of our members.
- MYTH: "If a pledge doesn't respect us or our principles, we'll haze him until he improves."
FACT: Hazing a new member who doesn't turn out to be worthy of membership makes the situation even worse. Just like other forms of victimization, hazing breeds mistrust, apathy and alienation, not respect. Simply terminate his pledgeship instead of endangering him and the chapter.
- MYTH: "If we eliminate hazing, the other fraternities on campus will no longer respect us."
FACT: A positive, educational program can only result in a much better all-around chapter. If the other groups condemn your chapter for improving and being number one on campus, who cares?
- MYTH: "Hazing activities are the only methods we have of disciplining the new members."
FACT: There are positive and negative methods of administering discipline. How does the chapter discipline an initiated member? Methods of discipline should be the same for new members and active brothers.
- MYTH: "I went through it, now the pledges have to go through it."
FACT: Would you go through it again? It only takes one class to break this so-called "tradition." Our founders and early members were not hazed, so why treat today's new members differently?
If you think hazing has anything to do with brotherhood or friendship, you're caught up in the myths about hazing. At its best, hazing builds resentment between new members and initiates. At its worst, people die.
Is it Hazing?
If you have to stop and ask yourself if an activity is hazing or not, it is. To further clarify though, here are six broad questions to ask yourself about an activity:
- Will the activity achieve one or more of the predetermined goals of the pledge program?
- Would you be willing to perform the activity in front of a university administrator?
- Would you feel comfortable if the new members' parents were present during the activity?
- Would you be prepared to go to court to defend the merit of this activity?
- Would you be willing to share a written description of this activity for other chapters and the national office to use?
- Would our founders or even Robert E. Lee approve of such an activity?
If the answer is "no" to any one of these questions, then it's hazing. Don't do it.
FAQs Regarding Hazing
- What if the person being hazed agrees to the activity or actually wants to be hazed?
Consent is never an excuse to conduct hazing activities, and does not hold up as a defense in a court of law. A person consenting or wanting to be hazed is simply uneducated about the realities of hazing, its dangers, and the negative effects it has on the fraternity experience. It is your job to educate a new member who is misinformed about hazing.
- What is the penalty if I'm found guilty of hazing?
If you are found guilty of hazing through a major offense trial held by your chapter, you could face fines of up to $300 and be suspended for no less than three months. You could also be expelled from the Order and be kicked out of school by your host institution. Depending on the severity of the activity, you could possibly face time in jail. Your personal record will be tarnished and the act will show up on background checks when applying for jobs, professional societies and everything else important to your career and future.
- Can I get into trouble for reporting hazing?
No. Any person who reports a specific hazing incident involving a member of Kappa Alpha to an appropriate member of the Order's national staff is protected from civil or criminal liability. It is important, however, that the report is made in good faith and without malice.
- How do I deal with an alumnus (or group of alumni) who wants to haze or bring back what they did in "the old days"?
Explain to the alumnus/alumni that times and tolerances have changed since they were in college. Try and help them understand that the Order and the university/college have a zero tolerance policy for hazing activities. Invite them, rather, to take part in the chapter's positive experiences that may involve philanthropy and recruitment events, sporting events or brotherhood retreats. If this doesn't work, contact your alumnus advisor, province commander, Greek advisor, or a member of the Order's national staff for help.
How to Stop it
Stand tall and do the right thing. We are all responsible for putting an end to hazing. If it is to be stopped, it must be attacked by a unilateral force of undergraduates, alumni, universities and national officers. If hazing is going on in your chapter, confront it head on and help other brothers understand that there are much better ways to educate.
If a member witnesses an act of hazing and does nothing, he is condoning the act and enabling the disease to grow. You may also be found guilty by association if you do not report the incident. Contact your Number I, alumnus advisor, province commander, Greek advisor, or a KA national staff member to assist you in stopping it. Education and understanding are key to solving the problem. Educate your brothers on the negative effects of hazing and realign the chapter with Kappa Alpha's zero tolerance policy.
Retool your new member education program to be a positive one, utilizing the numerous resources available from your Greek advisor or Educational and Leadership Consultant. Ask yourself, "What characteristics do we want our new members to have?" Then, plan activities that will enable the new members to experience and learn these traits each week.
Do away with pledge books/interviews, which are easy vehicles for hazing. Who asked who to join? It's the active member's responsibility to get to know the new members. Do you make initiated transfers do pledge books/interviews? Probably not...because getting to know someone through active involvement in an organization is human nature!
Worthwhile alternatives to hazing are available and brothers are strongly encouraged to seek them out. Please call the director of educational programming at the National Administrative Office for help. We will be glad to assist.
Stopping hazing in your chapter comes down to a simple decision between mediocrity and excellence. Which do you prefer?
The Consequences
Hazing has only negative results. From resentments, to injury, to wrongful death, all forms of hazing hurt. It not only injures the individual, but also the chapter, the fraternity, and the Greek system.
Hazing, in any form, is outlawed across the nation in all but seven states. It is also a felony in many states. Are you willing to go to jail in the name of hazing? Do you realize that by taking part in hazing activities you are ultimately gambling with your parent's golden years? Is it worth it to you to risk your parent's wealth, not to mention the possibility of having your wages garnished? It has happened before, and sadly may happen again. And good luck getting a job. Just ask a Texas brother who was involved in a serious hazing incident in 1996. His career is tarnished...his application to take the bar exam was challenged because of this mark on his record. He is also responsible for part of the 1.4 million dollar lawsuit...creating a lifetime of payments.
By taking part in hazing activities, you are also diluting the KA experience for the rest of the Order's members. Consider the incalculable amount of income lost for the Order in non-initiations, those that de-pledge or never join because of hazing, chapter closings, and of course, lawsuits. The chance of being sued for hazing is one reason Greek organizations have been forced to pass the high cost of insurance along to their undergraduate members. The Order's undergraduates each pay a figure that has more than doubled in the past six years, largely because of an increase in the costs associated with litigation and settlement. In fact, insurance alone costs our active brothers over $400,000 annually.
Twenty five years ago, before lawsuits became commonplace, our undergraduate brothers paid nothing. The annual cost of insurance was roughly $30,000 and was covered by the national organization. What an incredible, unnecessary waste. Imagine what positive programs and benefits could be implemented with over $400,000 every year. NLI could be less expensive to attend, more professional speakers could be brought in, province councils could be larger and include more activities and programming, your dues would be lower...the wish list goes on.
The Reality of Hazing is Black and White
Hazing is ego driven. If you haze, you have low self-esteem. Hazing is carried on by members who don't feel confident enough in themselves and therefore feel the need to degrade others. Brothers who are concerned about gaining respect from new members need to take a look in the mirror...are they even worthy of respect from the new members? Remember that most vocal proponents of any hazing are usually the worst examples of brotherhood. Brothers earn the right to wear our badge of membership everyday by the lives they live. If in doubt about a brother's intentions, ask yourself if he is remaining true to our values.
As a great national fraternity, we have accomplished too much good and have helped shape the lives of too many men to be marred by behavior so contrary to our noble principles. The reality is if we haze, we are hypocrites.
Hazing, an issue that is shielded in secrecy, is somewhat accepted because it is seen as fraternities' dirty little secret - something you endure, participate in and don't talk about. It is for this reason that hazing is often viewed in shades of gray. But, when you step back, look at the issue and compare it to the values and principles that Kappa Alpha Order stands for, it is an issue that is simply black and white. If you care about brotherhood, modern day chivalry, integrity, and being a leader, be the better man and STOP IT.
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Heavily based on the 1997 Kappa Alpha Journal article, "Cain Slew Able - Hazing: The fratricide of brotherhood" by Darron E. Franta, this brochure aims to further educate the members of Kappa Alpha Order on the tragedy of hazing, the negative effects it has on the fraternity experience, and ultimately, how to stop it.
"Hazing: The Fratricide of Brotherhood" was written by Matt V. Bonner, former Director of Communications, Kappa Alpha Order.
The photos used were taken for the express purpose of illustrating the topic. No hazing occurred.
