In my opinion, the fall of 2024 shows a rash of incidents in higher education institutions & high school athletics that should concern all. To wit a sampling:
- University of Virginia Theta Chi brothers compelled pledges to eat a “heinous” concoction that included habanero peppers, causing some to vomit. The university ordered the fraternity to cease all functions until 2028-29; the prohibition extended to organizing an “underground” fraternity or even an informal group of former Theta Chi brothers. Additionally, according to the hazing report, individual students accused of trying to obstruct the investigation would be referred to the University Judiciary Committee and the Honor Committee “as appropriate.”
- Three Greek chapters at Marshall University have been suspended amid a hazing investigation, according to university officials. Officials confirmed on Tuesday that two fraternities and one sorority have been issued cease and desist letters pending an internal investigation.The fraternities were identified by university officials as Alpha Sigma Phi and Alpha Tau Omega, and the sorority is Alpha Xi Delta.
- Horrific hazing and a suspended football season over a broomstick assault in Maine: https://wgme.com/news/local/lisbon-community-shocked-by-report-detailing-hazing-culture-on-high-school-football-team-greyhounds-maine-broomstick-assault-chain-door-cage (Some parents in angry denial).
- Football coach in Illinois gets off easy: https://www.pjstar.com/story/sports/high-school/football/2024/10/28/illinois-football-coach-suspended-ahead-of-ihsa-playoffs-2024/75889960007/
- Penn State’s memory is short, it seems: https://www.statecollege.com/articles/psu-news/penn-state-sees-surge-in-hazing-reports/
- Santa Fe high school tantamount to rape and sodomy alleged. https://www.koat.com/article/santa-fe-high-hazing-investigation/62755040
- Rochester unsupervised activity: football again https://newschannel20.com/news/local/ihsa-will-not-be-involved-in-rochester-football-team-hazing-and-bullying-allegations
- Michigan State lawsuit, Lambda Phi Epsilon https://statenews.com/article/2024/10/former-msu-student-sues-fraternity-for-injuries-from-hazing?ct=content_open&cv=cbox_latest
- Farmersville sports hazing alleged: https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/9-farmersville-students-charged-hazing-incidents/3679999/
- Texas A & M cadet suit continues https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/education/article/texas-am-hazing-lawsuit-cadets-18550232.php
- Syracuse Phi Kappa Psi https://www.foxnews.com/us/syracuse-university-suspends-fraternity-after-repugnant-hazing-video-surfaces-online
- Santa Margarita Catholic football assault alleged
https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2024-10-30/football-player-alleges-he-was-assaulted-by-teammates-at-santa-margarita-catholic-high-school
Deadline approaches for Hank Nuwer Hazing Prevention Award https://www.ngla.org/individual-awards/
We have wonderful advocates educating the public on hazing, as well as journalists exposing hazing, and researchers providing new insights.
My job as a historian of hazing is to keep an eye out for developments.
Like the Hollywood version of fraternity life: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-V-3qoUrjo
And a crime podcast: https://www.foxnews.com/us/syracuse-university-suspends-fraternity-after-repugnant-hazing-video-surfaces-online
And the federal bill before Congress: https://edworkforce.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=411976
Thanks for reading, friends and family. Hank