Hazing

             How far would someone go to fit in? What is considered too far? In a lot of fraternities across the world, members don't know where to draw the line. Hazing is a practice that turns normal ideas of what is right and wrong, lawful and unlawful. The law states that holding a person against his or her own will is kidnapping. The law states that shoving someone is assault. So why is hazing an exception to the basic idea that people should not hurt others? Hazing should be banned from fraternities world-wide because not only is it damaging mentally, physically, and emotionally, but also lets the "bad apples" rule the bunch and teaches the wrong kind of behavior.
             Hazing is defined as making someone do hurtful or ridiculous things, often to be allowed into a group or organization, or to celebrate their joining. It dates back to the 1600's when Oxford University would put its freshman through what they called "salting and tucking." They would be forced to cut their chins with razors and gulp salt water. The salt burned their wounds as it trickled down their chins. Martin Luther even condoned hazing. Freshman who attended his school in Germany were forced to endure taunting from upperclassmen while wearing devil ears. For the taunting to end, they had to agree to be dunked in a barrel of wine. Hazing has become a custom worldwide. In France, it is called brimade; in Canada it is known as gummering; in England it has been called fagging.
             Hazing is damaging in every sense of the word. It is mentally, physically, and emotionally detrimental. Will Keim, Ph. D., stated, " 1. If you have to ask if it's hazing, it is. 2. If in doubt, call your advisor/coach/ national office. If you won't pick up the phone, you have your answer. Don't BS yourself. 3. If you haze, you have low self-esteem. 4. If you allow hazing to occur, you are a "hazing enabler." 5. Failure to stop hazing will result in death," in his article "The Power of Caring.