Americans are known for going all out with alcohol when partying, and constantly pushing things overboard. It is no secret that it usually starts with college, maybe even high school students, but what most people refuse to acknowledge is the negative things that can come with fraternities and sororities hazing the incoming pledges. It has gotten out of hand in multpile circumstances around the country and needs to be noticed.

    Hazing on college campuses dates back to ancient greece, where philosopher Plato opened his own school, and soon after, hazing or “Pennalism” had taken place. Hazing has been around forever, and it has been harmful and cruel ever since it started. Over the years, the amount as well as severity of hazing incidents has increased dramatically. According to stophazing.org, around 55 percent of all student groups experience hazing at some point. Since 2017, schools such as Texas State and Florida State have suspended all greek life activities due to a death resulting from rushing, or when students participate in activities and then decide which fraternity or sorority to join.

Hazing can be a very generalized term that scares people and makes them think of the darkness of greek life, but it is much more than that. Hazing can be the leaders on a sports team making the underclassmen take care of equipment or do the things the leaders are unwilling to do. Hazing should be a way to build character and learn discipline. It does not always have to be violent, life threatening behavior. When it gets to a point of taking young lives of promising students, that is where it needs to stop.

    “If it gets to a point where it affects someone’s health and well-being, it needs to stop. I am all for having fun but I hate to see good people get hurt,” senior Kavion Autrey said. To expand on this topic, having an environment that encourages violent, reckless behavior could lead to a rise in individuals sexually assaulting or harassing others at fraternity parties or on college campuses in general. At a more local level, Michigan State  fraternities have been reported of at least 20 cases of sexual assault or misconduct in the last 7 years, none of which so far have resulted in a court case or prosecution. A lot of students do not realize how serious of an issue this is and this message needs to get out.

   Fraternities and sororities are meant to be a safe and fun environment where students can have a sense of belonging and family while off at school, but the bad apples just keep spoiling the bunch. Never be afraid to speak up about hazing or sexual assault, there are others and those things need to be reported.