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Greeks
keep hazing under control
By
Starr T. Balmer
Online Forty-Niner
Staff Writer
Hazing
stands as a major issue in Greek organizations
at all college campuses, but Cal State Long
Beach has it under control and keeps students
aware.
According
to the Fraternity and Sorority Code of Conduct,
hazing is "any action taken or situation
created which, regardless of location, intent
or consent of the participants, produces,
or is reasonably likely to produce, bodily
harm or danger, mental or physical discomfort,
embarrassment, harassment, fright, humiliation,
intimidation, degradation, or ridicule,
or otherwise compromises the dignity of
an individual."
The
code also states that hazing "compels
an individual to participate in any activity
which is unlawful, perverse, publicly indecent,
contrary to the rules, policies and regulations
of the university, or which is known by
the compelling person to be contrary to
the individual's genuine moral or religious
beliefs." Impairment of a student's
academic abilities are impaired, that is
considered hazing as well.
"Most
students are aware that hazing is wrong
and illegal," Greek Adviser Sam Lingrosso
said. "They take great lengths to try
to cover it up."
But
there are dangers in hazing. College students
have died because of hazing practices.
Recently,
the Contra Costa Times reported that a Chico
State student who was pledging to join Chi
Tau fraternity died after being forced to
drink a substantial amount of water while
doing push-ups and calisthenics.
At
CSULB in 2001, a student pledging to join
Delta Sigma Chi was hazed, by being beaten
with a three-foot long, six-inch thick,
wooden paddle and later forced to eat off
of the floor, reported in the Online Forty-Niner.
If
students are caught hazing, the Education
Code for the California Hazing Law stated
that "the violation of this section
is a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of
not less than $100, nor more than $5,000,
or imprisonment in the county jail for not
more than one year, or both."
But
in Florida, the Daytona Beach News Journal
reported that the state plans to make a
stricter hazing law. Florida lawmakers plan
to charge students with a first-degree misdemeanor
if students pledging are at risk of being
injured or killed. A student could face
a third-degree felony if the student dies.
"I
think there should be stricter laws,"
Lingrosso said.
The
university informs students about hazing
and discourages them from participating
in illegal practices. Lingrosso and other
Greek advisers give workshops for new fraternity
and sorority members to discuss how hazing
is defined its dangerous consequences.
Hazing
does not only occur in Greek organizations,
but in organizations with membership-type
recruitment, which includes athletics as
well, Lingrosso said.
In
fact, student athletes are very aware of
hazing practices in sports.
"We
are in the process of revising the hazing
contract that explains how they should act,"
Candice P. Chick, the assistant to the senior
associate athletic director at CSLB. "Hazing
is not common here, but predominately seen
at other schools that are larger and schools
that have football teams."
Some
students who participate in Greek organizations
have not seen or experienced hazing.
"It's
more of a mutual selection," business
major and Delta Zeta member Dawn Kleinfelter
said. "They see if you can get along
with everyone."
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