Despite crackdown, fraternity hazing still occurs on college campuses nationwide

By CARRIE DZWIL
and TRACY WILSON
Collegian Staff Writer

Fraternities have been making national headlines recently after a wave of hazing reports has resulted in the suspension or closing of certain chapters at Lincoln University, Rutgers University and Southwest Texas State University.

Lincoln University is considering abolishing the greek system altogether after the incident.

"Hazing and alcohol abuse are the main issues greek organizations continue to struggle with," said Andrea Gaspardino, director of Penn State's greek and community life.

Hazing is defined as "any action or situation which recklessly or intentionally endangers the mental or physical health or safety of a student," according to the Anti-Hazing Law of Pennsylvania.

Two hazing cases have been reported in the past three years at Penn State, and one Penn State fraternity has been under investigation for hazing since the fall, Gaspardino said. Because it is under investigation, Gaspardino could not comment further about the case.

But Mike Ling, Interfraternity Council president, said hazing is not a concern at Penn State.

"We don't in any way support hazing," Ling said. "We don't tolerate it at all. People don't put up with it; they shun it."

Gaspardino, however, acknowledges hazing is more prevalent than the numbers reflect.

"It most definitely goes on more than it's reported," she said. "(What's reported) is only the tip of the iceberg because it goes on so much more than we can get to."

Hazing incidents are reported at about 10 to 15 percent of fraternities nationally every year, said Hank Nuwer, author of Wrongs of Passage. Hazing incidents are reported less at sororities, he said.

"That means most of the activity is done out of sight and rarely punished, or punished quietly by greek affairs without getting into the public eye and press," Nuwer said in an e-mail.

Penn State's IFC sponsors an all-day retreat each semester to educate new members on how to troubleshoot potential hazing cases, Gaspardino said.

"I imagine that there are activities going on that could be perceived as hazing, but we do a good job of educating our community on this issue," she said.

Potential consequences for chapters caught hazing can include suspension, social probation and loss of its charter or prospective member class, Gaspardino said.

"We would need to look at a lot of factors before shutting down a fraternity," she said. "They would have to have a history of problems where education didn't work."