Is hazing is part of initiation into Greek life?
Hazing is the most publicly feared concept associated with Greek life today. Although many people automatically associate the term “hazing” with the idea of mistreating or abusing pledges or new members, any member can actually be a victim of hazing. Hazing can be defined as singling out an individual or group of people and forcing them to do something that is psychologically, physically, or emotionally harmful or damaging. While safe induction/initiation practices (often called “rituals”) provide a way for Greeks to bond with fellow members through common experience, hazing is easily the most dangerous and destructive practice that an organization can take part in. Fraternity and sorority members realize that hazing does not help bond members of an organization and, on the contrary, jeopardizes the existence of organizations. For this reason, Greek organizations nationwide have striven to eliminate hazing from their cultures through proactive approaches and strict enforcement of anti-
