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Nov

21

Just one reason I chose a college that didn’t have a Greek life


This is like thinking that Hit a Jew Day was okay except for the Jew part.

Nuh-uh.  It’s the hit part and the Jew part.  There’s nothing about hitting that makes it okay as a spirit week activity for a middle school.

Frankly, I cannot get inside the head of a parent who thinks it’s okay for their son or daughter to subject other children – junior varsity cheerleaders – to hazing activities, let alone physical hazing activities like binding and blindfolding the girls then pushing them into a swimming pool.

Defend hazing all you want. It’s another one of those things I’m just going to be standing out here saying no no no no no.  There are plenty of healthy ways to initiate and welcome people into a group.  Subjecting them to physical restraints and scaring them aren’t on the list.

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By Jill Miller Zimon at 11:49 pm November 21st, 2008 in Culture, Debates, Education, Ethics, Parenting, Social Issues, Youth 

Comments

8 Responses to “Just one reason I chose a college that didn’t have a Greek life”

  1. 1 Jeff Hess on November 22nd, 2008 9:23 am

    Shabbat shalom Jill,

    First, you’re right. What happened here was wrong.

    Second, I think hazing in general is a response to our society’s abandonment of meaningful rites of passage.

    There was a time when we organized community events that involved real trials to serve as rites of passage for the transition from childhood to adulthood. (I think that the recent introduction of the artificial period of adolescence is a mistake.)

    We no longer provide our children with a clear marker: b’nai mitzvah at 13, driver’s license at 16, marriage, military service, voting and cigarettes at 18, alcohol at 21; when does a person get to say I am a man or a woman?

    I don’t think banning/criminalizing these behaviors is the answer. I think we need to engage in the process and start acting like adults by making a decision here.

    B’shalom,

    Jeff

  2. 2 The Reverend on November 22nd, 2008 10:42 am

    I’m with Jill here. I don’t care what persuasion is being considered…..hazing has no other credible purpose….none….except for the cruelty that is expressed.

    “when does a person get to say I am a man or a woman?”

    To be sure….symbolic gestures, in my opinion, have nothing to do with answering the question “when”.

  3. 3 JoeR on November 22nd, 2008 6:01 pm

    I don’t disagree with your take on hazing one bit. I do however find the title of your post offensive. The reality is most national fraternitys and sororitys banned hazing years ago. In fact the fraternity I was part of in the late 70’s the national office closed one of the local chapters for breaking that rule.

    Am I being naive that there are those that still break the rules, of course not. But to assume all “greek” organizations allow hazing is unfair.

    Fraternities and sororities have many positives. Things like scholorships, school spirit, charity work, educational tools and encouragement, networking and a sense of honor and responsiblity is often instilled within those organizations.

  4. 4 Have Coffee Will Write » Blog Archive » MY COMMENTS… on November 22nd, 2008 6:03 pm

    [...] Just one reason I chose a college that didn’t have a Greek life Posted in [...]

  5. 5 Jeff Hess on November 23rd, 2008 4:07 pm

    Shalom JoeR,

    Since national fraternities (not all, Joe? And not regional or local fraternities — if such exist?) banned hazing years ago, why is that not a year goes by that we don’t hear of a new case on some campus in the United States?

    I don’t buy the bad apple theory.

    Nationals, as a matter of policy, must erect firewalls against hazing or face the destructive force of lawsuits that would wipe the stain of the greek system off the face of academia.

    We’ve seen the very worst of the greek system in the highest office in our nation for the past four years and the terrible toll it has exacted from both our economy and our collective honor.

    B’shalom,

    Jeff

  6. 6 Have Coffee Will Write » Blog Archive » MY COMMENTS… on November 23rd, 2008 4:16 pm

    [...] 1507: Just one reason I chose a college that didn’t have a Greek life [...]

  7. 7 Jeff Hess on November 24th, 2008 11:42 am

    Shalom Reverend,

    I don’t think we’re in disagreement.

    You’re right, symbolic gestures are not what is missing here; our society is filled with such events.

    What is missing is the meaningful and legal recognition of the passage from child to adult.

    B’shalom,

    Jeff

  8. 8 Have Coffee Will Write » Blog Archive » MY COMMENTS… on November 24th, 2008 11:44 am

    [...] 1042: Just one reason I chose a college that didn’t have a Greek life [...]

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