Hazing Should Be Outlawed Due to the Deaths It Caused

Hazing Essay

Hazing is the act of abusing authority in a way that places individuals in situations that can cause harm, violence, or injury. Tasks needed to be done for hazing are usually physical and humiliating. The purpose of hazing is to test an individual’s breaking point in order to see how serious they are about becoming part of a fraternity, sorority, a team, or another group. Tony Dokoupil and Steve Politi discuss a specific hazing scandal which took place in Sayreville High School and as a result had their football season cancelled.

The articles are titled, “Sayreville hazing scandal: Time passes, but wounds for bullying victims remain” and “Sayreville Hazing Scandal Leaves Football Town Divided”. Even though hazing is considered a rite of passage, it should be outlawed because of the amount of deaths caused from it, because there are less destructive and harmful alternatives to hazing, and because of hazing people have lost touch of what a team or frat is really about.

Hazing should be outlawed because of the amount of deaths caused from it. People try out for some kind of group in order to find support, strong relationships, and to make a difference in some way.

If people are dying as a result of participating in activities that can have negative effects in order to join a group, then the group needs to reevaluate what their morals are and need to test individuals in other ways. When parents think of the possibility of their child joining a frat, sorority, team, or other group, they would support that possibility in order for their child so they can make friends and enjoy themselves.

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Parents don’t expect the possibility that in the process they might die. Since the mid 1800s, people have died from hazing. In this case, Sayreville’s football season died due to, “amid allegations of a hazing ritual that involved digital penetration” (Dokoupil 1).

Hazing should be outlawed because there are less destructive and harmful activities that individuals can participate in which they would probably be more willing to partake in. If an individual’s physical strength must be tested however, it can be done in a way that decreases the risk of death and being put in a hospital significantly. One example of this is making someone run instead of seeing how they can handle finishing a bottle of alcohol. This seems more beneficial and safe. In Sayreville, “”A freshman football player would be pinned to the locker room floor, his arms and feet held down by multiple upperclassmen” (Dokoupil 1). If the upperclassmen really felt compelled to test this underclassman’s strength, they could’ve done it in a less harmful and inappropriate way. Hazing should be outlawed because people have lost touch of what a team or fraternity/sorority is really about.

Being part of a team or frat is about friendship and accomplishing goals as one. Instead, because of hazing, people feel being part of a team or frat is about whether or not you could be broken through various embarrassing and excessive tasks. If this idea about hazing could change then there would be less negative effects and hazing scandals. Unfortunately, the Sayreville football team lost sight of what it means to be part of a team and lost their season. Now the victim has to live with this negative experience of being bullied by his teammates, “This is more than the physical pain, which is temporary. This is emotional pain, deep and awful and maybe in the case of some – forever” (Politi 1).

Even though hazing is considered a rite of passage, it should be outlawed because of the amount of deaths caused from it, because there are less destructive and harmful alternatives to hazing, and because of hazing people have lost touch of what a team or frat is really about. To have someone’s life taken in order to be part of a group is unjust and disgusting. Hazing can be viewed as a form of bullying regardless of whether or not is voluntary. People’s strength and physical endurance can be tested in ways where harm isn’t inflicted on themselves or others. If people were to start realizing what being part of a group or team is really about, then they wouldn’t want to haze those who want to be part of that group or team.

Citations:

1. Dokoupil, Tony. Sayreville Hazing Scandal Leaves Football Town Divided – NBC News.” NBC News. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Feb. 2016.
2. Politi, Steve. Steve Politi | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com. “Sayreville Hazing Scandal:Time Passes, but Wounds for Bullying Victims Remain | Politi.” N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Feb. 2016.