Hazing...growing into a nationwide dilemma. The pros and the cons to convince you that hazing is not right in our society.

Essay by ntjacks21High School, 12th gradeA, May 2004

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Over the years, hazing has grown into a nationwide dilemma. There are numerous people, now, struggling over the issue of whether it's right or wrong. The million dollar question has become "to haze, or not to haze." To set the record straight, hazing is very destructive to the victim and his or her character. There is no place in our society, today, for such a detrimental and disparaging act of heartlessness and spite that is hazing.

Many people have become confused about the definition of hazing is. Alfred University researchers defined hazing as, "Any activity expected of someone joining the group that humiliates, degrades, abuses or endangers, regardless of the person's willingness to participate. This does not include activities such as rookies carrying the balls, team parties with community games, or going out with your teammates, unless an atmosphere of humiliation, abuse, or danger arises" ( Farrey 2 ). Lycoming College is one of the fifty oldest institutions of higher teaching in the United States. The college has released an anti-hazing statement, in which it outlines the meaning of hazing. It says that hazing is "any action taken or situation created which recklessly or intentionally endangers the mental or physical health or safety of any person or which willfully destroys or removes public or private property for the purpose of initiation or admission into or affiliation with or as a condition for continued membership in any organization" ( "Anti-Hazing Information" 1 ).

Hazing comes in a variety of different forms. In their anti-hazing statement, Lycoming College believes,

...hazing shall include, but is not limited to, any brutality of a physical nature, such as whipping, beating, branding, forced calisthenics, exposure to the elements, forced consumption of any food, liquor, drug or other substance, or any other forced activity which could...