This research question is particularly interesting because many people would scoff at the seriousness of it.  Given the negative connotation surrounding the word, the inclusion of it in the title may automatically turn readers off.  With many presumed opinions, persuading the audience will be challenging.   However, further investigation and a broad spectrum view of hazing may change some peoples usual hard set opposition.  This research question could affect my values if I was involved in hazing.  The process of hazing, forcing new members (pledges) to obey commands given by active members, could put them into a position where their morals could be compromised.  In my personal experience, I was not hazed so I was never put into the position of compromising my personal morals.  For those that have been hazed/will be hazed, this possible scenario could come up as a factor against the given research question.  I am qualified to write about this research topic because I am a current member of Greek life.  Though I was not hazed, I have friends that were and would be good primary sources.  Additionally, as I was debating whether or not to join Greek life I heard many stories of the dangers of hazing.  Finding them not to be true led me to wonder how many other hazing stories are false.  This paper allows me to satisfy my own curiosity and properly inform the public as well.

This article states that the hunt for manliness by young fraternity men contributes to their actions of hazing.  Hazing, historically, has been about boys completing a rite of passage that brings them into the world of men.  Additionally, it exists to continue the upbringing of the young pledges.  Hazing encourages the new members to pledge themselves to the fraternity and by doing so give up their selfish ways and mindset and think of the organization which is bigger than just themselves.  The article then continues to talk about the hazing issues of too much or inappropriate hazing methods.  Its major point is that inappropriate hazing methods stem from the skewed image of manliness present in todays society.  Instead of valuing destructive and aggressive behavior young men should strive for selflessness and drinking in moderation. The author Emily Esfahani Smith studied at both Dartmouth and University of Pennsylvania.  These schools give credibility to her personal interaction with Greek life as Dartmouth was one of the colleges under investigation for hazing.  In addition to her degrees advocating for her writing and researching ability, Emily Esfahani Smith has also been employed at the Wall Street Journal, Hoover Institution, and the New Criterion.  Her writing stems around psychology, culture and relationships, two of which are played off of in her fraternity manliness article.  However, all of the fraternities Emily mentions are male fraternities so she would not be a primary source for their cases.  Additionally, it is not mentioned if she was in a social sorority while in attendance of Dartmouth or University of Pennsylvania so she may have little personal experience with Greek life.

The second article is one outlining the details surrounding the death of Tucker Hipps.  Tucker Hipps was pledging Sigma Phi Epsilon (Sig Ep) at Clemson University.  While on a pledge run, Hipps fell from a bridge into shallow water and died as a result of his injuries.  His parents sued three brothers, Sig Ep, and the university as a result.  They blamed all three harshly for hazing and denial of such actions following the incident.  This article shows the extremes of hazing, in this case resulting in the death of a pledge.  Additionally, the article lists other pledge duties that Hipps performed including those of personal servitude.  While those are usual pledge activities the events on the bridge the morning of Tucker Hipp's death are an example where a normal situation can easily escalate to a dangerous one.  The interest at stake would be the lack of supervision for the majority of hazing and pledge activities.  Dan Berrett is a well educated writer having received his master's degree from Columbia University School of Journalism.  He has also been employed at notable literary institutions including the New York Times.  With no record of any Greek affiliation, Berrett seems to be an outsider looking in.  His bias falls against Greek life shown in the way he speaks of the University's neglect and the fraternity's immaturity.  He seems saddened by Tucker Hipp's death and was sure to include heart wrenching details of Hipp's positive personality and bright future.  From this it is concluded that Berrett feels strongly against Greek life, especially hazing. 

The final article blames alcohol presence and abuse for hazing.  It mentions that at least one pledge of the Greek life community has died every year since 1970.  It then continues to mention that many fraternities are student run and unsupervised. This combined with an ample supply of alcohol only makes it a matter of time before something goes wrong.  Additionally, it compares fraternity success rates to sororities deducing that sororities thrive in alcohol-free housing.  This article seems to value alcohol consumption in moderation or not at all.  It states that undergraduates that are under age often are in charge of the alcohol consumption at fraternity parties.  However, the younger members are often the pledges.  This considered, the article then continues describing excessive drinking behavior not linked to hazing.  The author, Douglas E. Fierberg, is cited as a lawyer that specializes in student misconduct.  His bias is relevant from both the article and his title.  Douglas E. Fierberg feels as though the alcohol on campus and at parties contributes to hazing of pledges though he fails to mentioned specific cases.  

This research question is arguable because many people disagree on the correct method of hazing if any.  There are many articles vouching for both sides and many specific cases that can be cited.  All articles tend to agree that hazing serves as rite of passage for many young men.  However, the degree to which hazing is enforced can effect pledges negatively and in extreme cases death.  The dispute for the need for hazing is also based off of the popular question: what is the purpose of social fraternities on campus?  This tends to be the disagreement for many sources.  These many different sources have broadened my view of hazing.  Most often hearing the extreme cases I was initially adamantly against hazing. However, knowing more about the situation has altered my view.  My question could be revised into a more open statement that invites readers to come in with an open mind rather than a presumed opinion. 
