Questions from peers;
1. “Did you see it as a problem while you were hazed?”
Me referencing my own experiences with a fraternity were to combine personal experience with the issue. Obviously, being IN SUPPORT of my own fraternity, I haven’t been the victim of hazing. However, this question brought up a good point. I should definitely make the clear distinction between productive fraternity pledging and hazing. I am in support of a pledge process that makes friends of the pledge class and introduces the new members to the traditions and goals of the frat. This does not have to involve any acts of hazing.
2. “Do you believe anti-hazing seminars hold any effect on the fraternities?”
This is definitely something that could be analyzed by statistical measures (hazing related incidents,” as well as first hand interviews with alumni of different fraternities around the country. I know first hand we had alumni weekend at my house last weekend, and I was very curious to the conditions of pledging many decades ago. I was told by brothers that graduated in the early 80’s that when they joined the fraternity the school had no restrictions or punishments for hazing related incidents. In my own personal opinion, Syracuse University has taken huge strides in minimizing hazing as best they can. The establishment of the Intra Fraternity Council alone has providing a sort of “policing” system for every fraternity on campus.
I think if I can combine my own thoughts with questions that people asked, it is very possible for clearing up any confusion people have with my essay. I must make it clear my essay has nothing to do with comparing a “slave’s life” with a “pledge process”. Instead, I am going to investigate the mental nature of masters compared to slaves, in comparison to pledging in fraternities. I want to truly understand why people have an obsession with dominance over others. Why are there so many examples of master and slave type circumstances in the world today? Will it ever end?
When people simply post on my wall that “people are dicks”, it does not help me in any way.
2 comments:
I agree with the pledge process where everything that happen is for a purpose. However, overtime some of the necessary traditions are altered; usually molded into hazing. The pledge process is to turn a group of friends, into a group of brothers. Look into the original fraternities' pledge process and compare it to modern ones.
Posting "people are dicks"? Stupid. Sorry that happened.
Yes, your intro that you left on the clas blog shows great potential.
A clear definition of dominion and authority will be key. The Smith quote and linearity of the writing shows verve and a concentrated focus: you've obviously thought about this. Clear, clean writing (my op, and since I'm the paid guy for writ, hopefully it counts for something--ha).
Perhaps the nuance left here is that hazing is somehow a premordial part of man: isn't some of the movie 300 hinting at how we like spartan, even harsh treatment as men. Think Navy Seals getting pelted in an ice cold shower, huddled, shivering together. Key word: together.
Something military is what I'm thinking; something in a certain male view of survival that drives us to want aceticism and extreme testing.
Then there's the cruelty factor.
Try a psych source for a theory/study on this?
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