There is no denying that for some students, a major reason to attend college is to become a member of a Greek organization. Students join these organizations for various reasons like family legacies, as well as the desire to develop long lasting brotherhood/sisterhood. For some students there is no mountain high enough to keep them from attaining certain letters. For these students, hazing may not be an issue. However, because of hazing, Greek organizations are being frowned upon, and gradually losing their essence in the black community.Hazing is defined by askjeeves.com as: a broad term encompassing any action or activity which does not contribute to the positive development of a person. Hazing can also be defined as any action or situation which intentionally or unintentionally endangers a student to gain admission into an affiliation with any student organization.
In recent times, hazing has become a serious issue on college campuses across the nation. Students have been severely injured, and even killed for the right to wear letters across their chests. As a result many organizations have been sued as well as banned from certain universities. Many may wonder when Greek life became a matter of life or death.
Calvin E. Dutton, a member of Kappa Alpha Psi, feels that, “Hazing causes students to lose focus on the organization’s primary purpose. It may also cause an organization to lose the trust of its school and community.”
For some Greeks, hazing is a matter of gaining respect from other organizations. Among black universities the term “paper” is used for those organizations who are assumed to have done nothing more than sign a piece of paper to earn their letters. How do these organizations attain respect while not crossing the line when it comes to the membership intake process? In the opinion of certain member of Alpha Phi Alpha, “There is a difference between hazing and pledging.”
Black Greek organizations were founded by those who wanted to have a positive impact in the black community. However, brotherhood/sisterhood was also a factor, and many black Greeks believe that some sort of pledging is necessary to build bonds that are long lasting and true. Pledging does not involve any type of physical or mental harm to individuals, which is what differentiates it from hazing.
Pledging is a commitment made by a candidate for membership, and yes, Greek organizations want their members to be worthy of wearing their letters. Resorting to hazing reveals the unworthiness of the organization as opposed to the candidate, and also causes the black Greek community to gradually lose its significance in black college life.