“Breathe, Nolan, breathe.”
Those words echoed in a video of Nolan Burch’s final moments after a fraternity hazing ritual left him unconscious. Burch, a freshman at West Virginia University, died just hours later after members of an unrecognized fraternity carried out the ritual at a house in Morgantown. He was one of several students in recent years whose lives were lost in the name of tradition.
Hazing is often seen as a tradition tied to joining clubs, sports teams, Greek life and other campus organizations; a so-called rite of passage. Many who experience hazing are sworn to secrecy, “making it difficult for individuals to recognize and report abusive behaviors,” according to StopHazing.org.
While some students endure the trials of hazing required to join a group, others are not as fortunate.
Hazing involves “any activity expected of someone joining or participating in a group that humiliates, degrades, abuses or endangers them, regardless of a person’s willingness to participate,” according to a PBS documentary “Hazing: It Could’ve Been Any of Us.”
While some see the acts as harmless fun, pledges often endure grueling and unnecessary trials just to earn acceptance. The purpose and value of hazing rituals are increasingly being questioned.
Hazing creates a culture where new, often younger students face dangerous, humiliating tasks including drinking excessive alcohol or using illegal drugs, according to hazing prevention organizations and reports.
Penn State student Timothy Piazza died after drinking large amounts of liquor, falling and suffering fatal injuries. Other students across the country have lost their lives under similar circumstances, highlighting the risks associated with hazing.
Michelle Lockett, who serves as vice president of student success and dean of students, said students should understand what constitutes hazing and recognize warning signs. “By promoting inclusion, kindness and mutual respect within social groups, students can help create an environment where hazing is not tolerated,” she said.
She also said that peer pressure can influence hazing, making students feel unable to voice concerns. She encouraged any student who feels uncomfortable with others’ behavior to speak up and reminded students to think about their academic and professional futures.
Many campuses enforce zero-tolerance hazing policies, including ours. National efforts, such as the proposed Stop Campus Hazing Act, aim to further strengthen hazing prevention.
Students can also protect themselves by researching the group they want to join. HazingInfo.com offers a searchable database of reported hazing incidents.
Any incidents of hazing should be reported to deanofstudents@highlands.edu, through the college’s CARE ticket form or to campus security.
