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Hazing is a ritualistic practice that is widely known and heavily associated with initiation rites for primarily fraternities, and some sororities as well. Even extending to some sports teams and social organizations, hazing has been a controversial topic for as long as it has existed. While some may see it as a fun and harmless rite of passage, hazing is a seriously damaging tradition that can hurt someone not only physically but psychologically. Regardless of the efforts to curb its popularity, this practice continues to claim lives, torment individuals, and leave psychological scars to last a lifetime.
Hazing originates as early as 387 B.C., in tandem with the founding of Plato’s Academy. However, these practices in origin were intended to strengthen members' bonds or physically symbolize their new transition into academia. In modern organizations, hazing is characterized by dangerous and potentially fatal levels of drinking, physical exertion, and mental torture. In some cases, the hazing acts are unorthodox to the point where some feel that they cannot take the scenarios seriously.
On January 7, 2025, four San Diego State University fraternity members were sentenced to felony charges related to a skit performed at a frat party. This skit resulted in Christopher Serrano, a pledge at the time, being set on fire and receiving third-degree burns on 16 percent of his body. Serrano was part of the skit planning and was not coerced, but one can imagine the duress he may have felt as an inductee who needed to prove himself. Even beyond the horrific situation descriptions, I saw the video of what occurred. A young man in a tiger costume stood in the center of a crowd, and I watched in horror as they lit his tail on fire and he became slowly engulfed in flames. I was speechless; I thought I was about to watch this man die. Thankfully, he survived. But I noticed the people I was surrounded by were cackling like hyenas. They thought it was hilarious, and didn’t for a second even consider the implications of this situation. What struck the hardest was that they didn’t realize they were pushing the narrative that hazing is amusing and acceptable by not considering the severity of the situation.
In cases such as Timothy Piazza’s, he was coerced to consume lethal amounts of alcohol and was left to suffer in silence after falling down the stairs of Penn State’s Beta Theta Phi fraternity house. Unfortunately, Timothy passed that night as a result of a fractured skull and a lacerated spleen, which serves as a reminder of why it is essential to inform others of the realistic dangers of hazing practices. After Piazza’s death, a new law was even enacted in the U.S. called the Timothy Piazza Antihazing Law. The law serves not only as a reminder of his life and impact but also mandates stricter penalties for hazing-related deaths and injuries.
As a senior, I feel it is vital to spread awareness of hazing practices and to consider the long-term consequences that may result from them. In the coming months, I will be watching friends and peers make their way through the college experience, and it would be heartbreaking to watch someone I care about fall victim to hazing. While countless institutions have made efforts to cut down on this harmful tradition, it still exists in many places. By spreading awareness and personal stories about the dangers of hazing, we can potentially mitigate hazing’s nasty impact and protect future generations of college students.
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