Fraternity Hazing is the practice of rituals, challenges, and other activities that include harassment, abuse or humiliation. It is used as a way of inducting a person into a group, a new fraternity, sorority, team, or club. Some types of fraternity hazing include:
Subtle Hazing
Subtle hazing is so termed because it is accepted as harmless or meaningless. Subtle hazing usually involves activities that ridicule, embarrass or humiliate new members. New members often feel the need to tolerate subtle hazing so they feel like they are a part of the organization. Some examples of subtle hazing include:
- Deception
- Deprivation of privileges granted to other members
- Requiring new members to perform duties not assigned to other members
- Line-ups and tests on information or meaningless information
- Socially isolating new members
- Name calling
- Requiring new members to refer to other members with titles
- Expecting certain objects to always be in a new member’s possession, or taking possession of his/ her items without asking for permission
- Expecting new members not to maintain their normal class study or schedule
Harassment Hazing
Harassment hazing includes behaviours that can cause emotional distress or physical discomfort to the new member. Some types of harassment hazing can include:
- Verbal abuse, including criticising individuals
- Threats
- Asking new members to wear embarrassing or humiliating attire
- Performing stunts that are degrading, crude, or humiliating
- Expecting new members to perform personal service to other members such as carrying their books, running errands for them, cooking, cleaning, and other tasks
- Sleep deprivation
- Sexual stimulation
- Expecting new members to be deprived of maintaining their normal hygiene routine
- Expecting new members to harass others
Violent Hazing
Violent hazing includes behaviour that can cause physical, emotional or psychological harm to the new member. Some examples of violent hazing include:
- Forced alcohol or drug consumption
- Beating, assault or blunt-force trauma by striking with fists or other objects
- Forced ingestion of vile substances
- Burning
- Over-consumption of food, water or other substance
- Expecting new members to abuse animals
- Public nudity
- Expecting activities that would be illegal, unlawful or morally offensive to new members such as shop lifting
- Forced conduct that would embarrass the new member
- Bondage
- Abductions, kidnapping or holding the new member against his/her will
- Forced exposure to cold weather or extreme heat without appropriate protection
Get in touch with the fraternity hazing lawyers at The Reinken Law Firm
The lawyers at The Reinken Law Firm are dedicated to obtaining justice for students that are injured or killed as the result of the negligence or intentional activities of fraternities or sororities. If a family member or loved one has suffered a loss as the result of hazing or other activities at a fraternity or sorority house, our legal team is here to assist you in obtaining justice and a fair monetary award. Please contact one of our attorneys to confidentially discuss the legal rights available to you and your family. We have more than two decades of experience. Call 203-541-0090, 203-491-4404, 203-418-7037 or 203-489-2825.