In recent years, fraternities and sororities have been under the radar with extreme hazing rituals that ruin student's lives, their family's lives, and the lives of others whom are affected. Hazing portrays a domino effect, where if it affects one then it easily affects a whole group of individuals. Hazing promotes nothing but negativity, abuse, fear in the victim's eyes, and more power and control to the one performing the various hazing activities. Fraternities and sororities are meant to be a safe environment for students with similar interests to be encouraged to come together as a unit and raise money for a better cause such as "Make a Wish Foundation" or domestic violence awareness. However, these values have been overlooked and stomped on by the increase of hazing activities that threaten student's lives. With hazing comes along physical, emotional, and academic affects on the members of the fraternity or sorority. Therefore, hazing should be stopped and there are specifically six steps in doing so.

First and foremost, the definition of hazing must be addressed. The vagueness of the definition relates to the many myths that come along with hazing in general. The definition of hazing is explained as, "hazing is any action or situation, with or without the consent of the participants, which recklessly, intentionally, or unintentionally endanger the mental, physical, or academic health or safety of a student," (What is Hazing). Although other institutions and colleges may have miniscule differences in the word choice, it is obvious that the definition of hazing is extremely unclear and not well developed. This uncertainty leads to the myths of hazing introduced by Johanne Jensen and Zach Nicolazzo, whom are extremely important leaders at the University of Arizona. According to their research, members feel that they are doing nothing wrong if they are not involved in the hazing activity although one can be held accountable for not reporting a hazing incident (Breaking the Cycle of Hazing). In the definition of hazing mentioned above, there was no clarity on whether members who witness hazing but do not report it are held accountable or not. Clearly, the vagueness and unclear details in the definition of hazing leads to mistaken information to other individuals.

Since hazing seems to be a very serious issue, people take for granted how current this issue actually is. In fact, an incident occurred on February of 2016 that involved hazing at a very popular university. At the University of Michigan, the chapter Kappa Alpha Theta was officially kicked off of campus. Kappa Alpha Theta was the university's oldest sorority on Michigan University's campus (Brandon). This certain chapter was suspended the previous year for a hazing incident. However, this final hazing incident pulled the chapter over the edge resulting in complete expulsion of the chapter from Michigan's campus. Kappa Alpha Theta was caught forcing alcohol down sorority pledge's throats while having to perform sexual acts with other fraternity members (Brandon). All of this complete nonsense and cruelty was filmed and soon the video was spread to the whole entire Michigan University community. This vile hazing act, occurring so recently, expresses the reality of how much of an issue hazing is causing and continues to harm the lives of many individuals. Although hazing may seem like a not so popular issue, Kappa Alpha Theta has proved the entire world otherwise.

 When confronted with the word hazing, physical harm is one of the very first things that comes to mind. In recent years, most cases are surrounded by an abuse of alcohol and drugs. In fact, a study done by Cornell University found that 17% of people who were hazing said it involved a drinking game or contest (A Revealing Look at Hidden Rituals). The extremely popular hazing ritual includes heavy binge drinking, leading to the death of many young students in fraternities and sororities. Specifically, at Buffalo State college, a young male student, Bradley Doyley, died to an "unexplained illness" which was linked to hazing (Campbell). Doyley was an active member of Alpha Phi Alpha and his death was linked with binge drinking and the forcing of alcohol down the student's throat. In fact, the student was noted as, "throwing up blood" and then had to be, "take[n] into surgery and [doctors] cut open his stomach," (Campbell). Aside from this devastating and tragic incident, the chapter Alpha Phi Alpha had already been under investigation of hazing from previous allegations back in 2012 and 2014. Doyley's death is a prime example of how common the hazing activity, binge drinking, is directly linked to death. Since alcohol is so widely accepted and easily available to students at colleges, Doyley's death shows how alcohol is easily abused by minors. Clearly, binge drinking is a vivid and upsetting ritual that physically effects members of a fraternity or sorority.

Aside from binge drinking, there are other hazing rituals that are extremely common and physically effect a member of a fraternity or sorority. First of all, paddling is often associated with a hazing ritual used by many fraternities and sororities. Apparently, two Florida A&M fraternity members were sent to prison for two years after being caught beating another member with a paddle (Kana). Another hazing ritual that might seem uncommon but is more common than one would assume is an activity called "raped by a sharpie marker." This specific activity is extremely degrading, crude, and upsetting. The idea of the activity is to write all over a person's sensitive areas, and even circle areas of fat on another individual (Kana). This act could also be considered sexual assault under a university's definition. Lastly, branding, tattooing, and cigarette burns are also extreme rituals that leads to gigantic first, second, and third degree burns (Finkel). Therefore, paddling, sexual references, and branding are just a few of the physical aspects to hazing. 

Hazing causes detrimental emotional effects on a member of a fraternity and sorority. Aside from the bruises and scars already left on their body from being beaten with paddles, there are emotional scars left in one's body that he or she will never be able to forget. These emotional effects include damage to one's personal reputation, a warped sense of leadership, feelings of guilt and shame, and relationship with friends or family that suffer (Consequences of Hazing). Also, hazing creates a world of loneliness. There's a huge difference between being perfectly content with one's self in order to live a life of solidarity and then purposely isolating one's self due to abusive hazing rituals done on members of a fraternity and sorority. According to Aldo Cimino in his journal, "The Evolution of Hazing: Motivational Mechanisms and the Abuse of Newcomers," hazing generates group solidarity (Cimino). Members that are hazed feel that they need to isolate themselves from the outside world in order to protect not only themselves but also their fraternity brothers or sorority sisters. To conclude, members not only have to go through physical abuse from people who are supposed to be their "brothers" or "sisters" but they also have to experience emotional scars that will forever affect their life and the choices they choose to make.

A specific hazing incident that coincides with the devastating emotional effects of hazing on a sorority girl was explained in detail by Cara Sprunk. Although Sprunk chose to leave the victim's identity anonymous, the compelling story of the girl strikes fear amongst a college community. This young senior attended an East Coast college, which has a small percentage of girls who decided to go Greek (Sprunk). Before the young woman even rushed for a sorority, there were an immense amount of pamphlets that explained the no tolerance policy for hazing and the strict consequences if caught hazing. Once she picked a sorority, the hazing incidents began to arise. First she was forced to wear certain clothes on certain days and then she was forced to greet another sister with a "standard greeting" (Sprunk). Then, more serious events began to arise such as "hell week" which required all pledges to do exactly what the sisters wanted whether it was go to the grocery store for them or put eggs on the pledge's hair before initiation (Sprunk). These various physical activities led to the senior's disapproval of hazing and how she decided to present herself later in life when the real world hits. An author of previous books, Alexandra Robbins, looks upon hazing as a tragedy to one's self. There are numerous women, "who are still haunted by their sorority hazing," and eventually this fear is brought out in one's working environment (Sprunk). Emotional aspects of hazing are often looked past if there is not a bruise or broken bone to prove that the incident did occur. What needs to be addressed is the fact that physical pain coincides with emotional pain when discussing hazing.

Aside from the physical and emotional effects, academics are a huge concern as well. With college comes new experiences, a completely different environment, a chance to succeed, and a chance to fail. College is really the first time a young adolescent is given the opportunity to experience a taste of the real world that lies ahead. With this new given freedom, students may choose to join a club, do various intramurals, or join Greek life. If one chooses to obtain membership in a Greek organization, academics need to continue to be a top priority. Unfortunately, many college students push academics to the side and focus on other activities that do not seem to matter in the midst of it all. After all, college is made to further a student's cognitive ability and enhance a student's interest in a certain career. 

A student's grade point average is supposed to be extremely important to a sorority. In fact, some sororities hand pick girls based on how well their grades are. This brings up the question: if fraternities and sororities seem to focus very hard on academics, why is hazing a reoccurring issue? Although the answer to the question might not be fully developed yet, Alan Reifman, writer of "How Fraternities and Sororities Impact Students (Or Do They)," studied specifically a student's grade point average when rushing a fraternity. Apparently, "members of Greek-letter organizations achieve somewhat higher grade point averages than unaffiliated students," (Reifman). Although Greek organizations hold a high standard on grades, cognitive ability seems to deteriorate. There was a test done that measured cognitive ability. This particular test's end result showed that fraternity and sorority members cognitive ability did worse than unaffiliated students during their first year of college (Reifman). When thinking of this fact, it is understandable that students who are too consumed in hazing activities, whether it be the victim or the person performing the hazing, are academically deteriorating. Cognitive ability can not keep up with constant physical and emotional abuse. Since the physical and emotional aspect of hazing coincide with each other, academics overall seem to be affected negatively.

Aside from the physical, emotional, and academic aspects of hazing, there are many opposing views from former Greek individuals who promote hazing. Although it seems absolutely absurd that an individual would even dare to promote such hatred, negativity, and abuse, more often than not the people who have done the hazing believe that it is a necessity to his or her chapter. Alexandra Robbins explains that, "when pledging is over and [one] become[s] a sister, [one] understand[s] why [he or she] had to do some of this," which shows that individuals truly believe they are doing the right thing for their pledges and soon to be brothers or sisters (Sprunk). The belief behind hazing is that one day the victim will feel as if he or she has done their duty to their chapter and feel a sense of relief. However, this "relief" is not healthy and leads to many life threatening activities that one day might actually cause a horrifying tragedy. 

Bonding is a well known goal for becoming part of a fraternity or sorority. The type of bond that is trying to be achieved hopefully is wanting to get to know one's brothers or sisters on a deeper level by uniting in similar interests that do not include harming one another. However, recently, "bonding" has been affiliated with hazing rituals. According to Alexandra Robbins once again, "there's a psychological phenomenon by which people who suffer through something like hazing together think they feel bonded because of it ...  but it's a false bond," (Sprunk). Men or women involved in hazing receive a false sense of bonding by being brain washed into an activity that brings nothing but awful possibilities. Instead of abuse, there are many other ways that "brothers" could bond. Bonding could take place while watching television, listening to music, playing a sport, or even talking about similar interests. Hazing coinciding with bonding creates a distorted view on what the meaning of joining a fraternity meant in the first place.

 Now that physical, emotional, and academic aspects of hazing have been addressed, there are steps that one could take in order to prevent hazing at one's university. Although these steps might not completely avoid hazing, these steps can hopefully prevent one from getting hung up in the midst of hazing rituals and help an individual have an idea of what hazing portrays when it comes to noticing and reporting hazing activities. According to Jeff Jansen, the author of "Six Steps You Must Take to Prevent Hazing at Your School," these six steps can come in handy when entering the college world and Greek life for the first time. First and foremost, one must develop strong, positive, and responsible leaders that will, "invest the time to develop strong step up and [to] speak out against hazing," (Janssen). This could mean getting together in small groups with people who are trustworthy leaders that will guide one in the right direction. Next, one must provide a positive alternative to hazing (Janssen). For example, instead of forcing someone to wear blue on Friday's, the person will tell an individual to wear whatever expresses him or herself. Then, meet with one's leaders and team to discuss your views and policy on hazing (Janssen). For instance, having weekly meetings to discuss what is going on in the certain Greek organization and how each individual could better the chapter without having to haze. Fourthly, one must cite examples of initiations gone bad (Janssen). Then, install a buddy system, where one already has another person to cling onto if worse case scenario hazing incidents occur. Lastly, encourage one's newcomers to report any anticipated or actual hazing; this way the men or women rushing for their certain chapter feel comfortable enough to speak out against hazing when one becomes a witness to such negativity. All in all, these six steps to prevent hazing by Jeff Jansen go into detail about ways to make Greek life an enjoyable, positive, and reassuring experience for all participants.

Physical, emotional, and academic effects of hazing have brought researchers closer to the root of the problem but there still seems to be distance towards an overall abandonment of hazing in general. Hazing is known to ruin lives, tear families apart, ruin friendships, and destroy an individual to the point of self destruction. It has been made known that hazing has been around in previous decades and in today's world. The vague definition of hazing has led to diverse myths lingering around. Kappa Alpha Theta at the University of Michigan served as a prime example of how recent hazing incidents have occurred and how real of a problem hazing appears to be. Physical wounds include bruises, brand marks, cigarette burns, and bruises from constant paddling. Emotions that arise during hazing rituals include making an individual feel a sense of abandonment, loneliness, and eventually he or she is left with zero self esteem. Academic effects have shown to decrease cognitive ability in students who are affiliated with Greek life versus unaffiliated students. Although these three very prominent points about hazing seem to be overlooked by individuals who believe hazing creates a bond, which turns out to be a false bond. After intense research on the abuse of hazing, the six steps to hopefully prevent hazing at a university creates some sort of plan to try to minimize as much hazing as possible. Hazing needs to be stopped in order for the next generation to enjoy their Greek life experience and create a safe environment where harm is not involved. Hazing's effects on individuals can be summed up in three words: mind, body, and soul. 

