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Georgia Tech Kappa Alpha pledge breaks a leg: The GT Tecnique

Excerpt from commentary:

In the case of KA, a pledge broke his leg, but the fraternity only received a disciplinary suspension, which still allows them meet and recruit. By subjugating hazing to very different ranks it implies that “lesser” hazing  forms may not be punished and are therefore not wrong.

Additionally, Tech’s first and foremost goal should be to ensure the safety of the students, not listen to the opinions of the alumni.  Some alumni may object to their former chapter’s punishment or removal, but injuries from hazing will only continue if appropriate punishment is not given.

The frightening part about this is rising trend that is appearing. The past four suspensions included no repeat offenders, implying an issue in Greek culture, not in individual organizations. It is time for Tech to review their policies and intervene before more, preventable injuries ensue.

By Hank Nuwer

Journalist Hank Nuwer tracks hazing deaths in fraternities and schools. Nuwer is the Alaska author of Hazing: Destroying Young Lives; Broken Pledges: The Deadly Rite of Hazing, High School Hazing, Wrongs of Passage and The Hazing Reader. In April of 2024, the Alaska Press Club awarded him first place in the Best Columnist division and Best Humorist, second place.

He has written articles or columns on hazing for the Sunday Times of India, Toronto Globe & Mail, Harper's Magazine, Orlando Sentinel, The Chronicle of Higher Education and the New York Times Sunday Magazine. His current book is Hazing: Destroying Young Lives from Indiana University Press. He is married to Malgorzata Wroblewska Nuwer of Warsaw, Poland and Fairbanks, Alaska. Nuwer is a former columnist for the Greenville (Ohio)Early Bird and former managing editor of the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner in Alaska.
Nuwer was named the Ohio Society of Professional Journalists columnist of the year in 2021 for his “After Darke” column in the Early Bird. He also won third place for the column in 2022 from the Indiana chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists. He and his wife Gosia, recently of Union City, Ind., have owned 20 acres in Alaska for many years. “The move is a sort-of coming home for us,” said Nuwer. As a journalist, he’s written about the Alaskan Iditarod sled-dog race and other Alaska topics. Read his musings in his blog at Real Alaska Daily--http://realalaskadaily.com and in his weekly column "Far from Randolph" in the Winchester Star-Gazette of Randolph County, Indiana.

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