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Hazing at Harvard
Early hazing involved upperclassman making servants of the underclassman. Harvard actually established a law that freshman were to obey every upperclassman and not talk back (Sterner, 2008). Image retrieved from http://harvardnhd.weebly.com/history.html -
First Harvard Student Expelled for Hazing
Joseph Webb is expelled for hitting a freshman student who was Webb's servant. Webb later returned to Harvard after repenting of his crime. This was the beginning of Harvard students experiencing the "cycle of hazing, punishment, repentance, and re-admittance" (Sterner, 2008). Image retrieved from https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Old_drawing_of_Harvard_University,_Division_of_Chemistry.JPG -
First Hazing Related Death
Mortimer N. Leggett was being hazed by Kappa Alpha Society at Cornell University. Leggett was blindfolded and left in the dark by himself. Leggett ended up falling in a gorge and dying. The two Kappa Alpha Society members that committed the offense were never punished by Cornell University (Sterner, 2008). Image retrieved from https://ithacavoice.com/2017/04/cornell-capella-group-permanently-dismissed-dangerous-humiliating-hazing/ -
Another Hazing Death for Kappa Alpha Society
Kappa Alpha Society forced eight pledges to get off a train and walk back to Cornell University. Edward Fairchild ended up drowning in a canal (Sterner, 2008). Image retrieved from https://twitter.com/lehighka -
Creation of National Interfraternity Conference (NIC)
The National Interfratnerity Conference (NIC) was created to oversee fraternities by providing enrichment, advancement, and growth of the community. NIC was deemed ineffective at reducing hazing incidents in fraternities (Sterner, 2008). Image retrieved from https://twitter.com/nicfraternity?lang=en -
Scholastic Achievement of Fraternity Members
A researcher from North Carolina found that academic achievement "was lower among newly initiated Greeks than of non-fraternity men" (Sterner, 2008, p. 7). Administrators began to take a closer look at Greek organizations and wanted the system to end (Sterner, 2008). Image retrieved from http://www.aafillinois.com/blog/2016/7/25/power-of-the-greek-system-in-marketing -
Disturbing Death
Zeta Beta Tau of Monmouth College took pledges to the ocean and had them dig graves. One of the members died when the sand caved in on top of him and suffocated. There was not enough time for the others to dig him out (Sterner, 2008). Image retrieved from https://www.arizonazbt.org -
Texas Implements Anti-Hazing Law
Texas enacts legislation drawing the line on hazing activities. The Texas Anti-Hazing Law establishes "sanctions" if anyone is convicted of hazing (Hazing Memorandum, 2017). Image from http://thetexasrepublic.com -
National Pan-Hellenic Council Bans Hazing
The National Pan-Hellenic Council orders a ban on hazing and replaces it with a new intake method for new members. This ban did not stop hazing. Instead, hazing became more secret in these organizations (Sterner, 2008). Image retrieved from http://www.nphchq.org/quantum/ -
Texas Education Code Section 37.151
Texas defines hazing through the Texas Education Code. According to this statute, hazing is "any intentional, knowing, or reckless act, occurring on or off the campus of an educational institution, by one person alone or acting with others..." Image retrieved from http://www.rmfeducation.org/blog/hazing -
Texas Education Code 37.153
According to the Texas Education Code, "an organization commits an offense if the organization condones or encourages hazing or if an officer or any combination of members, pledges, or alumni of the organization commits or assists in the commission of hazing..." Image retrieved from http://www.democratandchronicle.com/story/sports/2014/01/11/hazing-continues-despite-efforts-to-change/4430677/ -
Texas Education Code 37.154
This section states "it is not a defense to prosecution of an offense under this subchapter that the person against whom the hazing was directed consented to or acquiesced in the hazing activity." Image retrieved from https://www.torgensonlaw.com/college-hazing-and-injuries/ -
Texas Education Code 37.155
The Texas Education Code provides for immunity from prosecution in section 37.155. Immunity will be granted to anyone who testifies for the prosecution. A person who reports hazing incidents to the appropriate official of the university will receive immunity from civil or criminal prosecution. Image retrieved from http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/us-hazing-rituals-spotlight-after-ohio-student-loses-testicle-1450692 -
Texas Education Code 37.156
Texas Education Code section 37.156 states that this law does not "affect or repeal any penal law" of Texas. Texas educational facilities can still enforce its own punishments for hazing incidents. Image retrieved from https://imgix.ranker.com/list_og_img/16/302049/original/the-14-most-brutal-college-hazing-rituals-u4?w=817&h=427&fm=jpg&q=50&fit=crop -
Texas Education Code 37.157
This section requires any medical provider to report any suspected hazing of patients they treat to police or any law enforcement agents. The physicians are immune from any liability they might incur as a result of reporting the incident. Image retrieved from https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2015/09/20/disruptive-doctors-rattle-nurses-increase-safety-risks/71706858/ -
Jack L. Ivey dies
Jack L. Ivey of Phi Kappa Sigma at University of Texas died from an alcohol related death (Nuwer, 2017). Image retrieved from https://plexuss.com/college/the-university-of-texas-at-austin/ -
Survey
Undergraduate students took a survey regarding hazing. It was reported that 6.7% said they hazed others and 12.4% said they were hazed (Sterner, 2008). Image retrieved from https://zinaknight.wordpress.com/2015/04/19/hate-hazing/ -
Phantom "Jack" Phoummarath dies
Phoummarath was a pledge of Lambda Phi Epsilon at the University of Texas. He died from acute alcohol intoxication (Nuwer, 2017). Image retrieved from http://www.hanknuwer.com/hazing-deaths/ -
Tyler Cross
Tyler Cross was a pledge of Sigma Alpha Epsilon at the University of Texas. Cross died from a fall while intoxicated (Nuwer, 2017). Image retrieved from http://www.hanknuwer.com/hazing-deaths/ -
Nikolas Gallegos dies
Gallegos was a member of Tau Kappa Epsilon at Stephen F. Austin University. His death was ruled in violation of the school's hazing code (Nuwer, 2017). Image retrieved from http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/hazing-when-rites-of-passage-go-wrong-8200084.html -
Donnie Wade Jr. dies
Wade was a member of Phi Beta Sigma at Prairie View A & M University. His death was a result of alleged hazing. Wade died from overexertion and physical abuse (Nuwer, 2017). Image retrieved from http://www.hanknuwer.com/hazing-deaths/ -
Dalton Debrick dies
Debrick was a pledge of Alpha Sigma Phi at Texas Tech University. His death was due to alcohol poisoning (Nuwer, 2017). Image retrieved from https://dailyillini.com/special-sections/2016/02/29/be-safe-know-the-symptoms-of-alcohol-poisoning/ -
Texas Education Code 37.152
Texas amended 37.152 on Personal Hazing Offense which describes what constitutes a hazing offense. "A person commits an offense if the person: (1) engages in hazing; (2) solicits, encourages, directs, aids, or attempts to aid another in engaging in hazing; (3) recklessly commits hazing to occur; or (4) has firsthand knowledge...." Image retrieved from https://www.units.miamioh.edu/psybersite/groups/hazing.shtml -
Future of Hazing - Students
It has been suggested that the future of hazing can depend on the students. Students may be looking to belong to organizations that display the importance of academic and civic responsibilities (Sterner, 2008). Image retrieved from http://www.tamuk.edu/greeks/ -
Future of Hazing - Educational Institutions
Educational institutions may be held more accountable for hazing incidents. If these institutions are held more accountable, we will see harsher guidelines set forth to student organizations (Sterner, 2008). Image retrieved from http://hazingprevention.org/home/about/media-press-kit/print-media/ -
Reference
Hazing Memorandum. (2017, March 06). Retrieved September 13, 2017, from http://www.dos.txstate.edu/hazing.html -
Reference
Klinger, G. (2017, March 09). Hazing: Its beginning and evolution throughout history. Retrieved September 11, 2017, from https://medium.com/@gavinklinger57/hazing-its-beginning-and-evolution-throughout-history-fee3cd68ca06 -
Reference
Nuwer, H. (2017, September 17). Hazing Deaths: Breaking News. New research by Hank Nuwer shows at least one death a year in U.S. schools from 1961-2017. Copyright: Thestatehousefile.com. Retrieved September 17, 2017, from http://www.hanknuwer.com/hazing-deaths/ -
Reference
Sterner, R. (2008). The history of hazing in American higher education. 1-19. Retrieved September 14, 2017, from https://ruthsterner.files.wordpress.com/2008/05/histpdf.pdf -
Reference
Tex. Educ. Code Ann. § 37.151-37.157 (West 2017)
