Opinion

Opinion: What qualifies as hazing?

A group of men bound a young member of the FIJI fraternity with rope, put a bag over his head and threw him into a shower earlier this month.

A video taken of the event and published on social media clearly shows actions defined as hazing under the school’s Greek Life Policy.

Hazing is defined as: “Any action taken or situation created, intentionally, whether on or off fraternity premises, to produce mental or physical discomfort, embarrassment, harassment, or ridicule.”

“No chapter, colony, student, or alumnus shall conduct nor condone hazing activities.”

But officials who investigated the incident only saw a “juvenile prank.” A very extreme prank, indeed. One that was posted on social media for a reason.

The decision left many members of the Greek community confused, blurring the line between hazing and pranks. The video clearly shows acts of hazing: tied hands and feet, a pillowcase knotted around the person’s head and drenched in water.

What happened to zero-tolerance hazing policy on our campus? The official reaction leaves a negative impression not just in the Greek community, but within the extended community as well.

Phi Gamma Delta house at 527 N. Peachtree Ave. (Photo by Miranda Maynard)