The average story about hazing involves some parade of horribles eagerly repeated by local media looking for a good lede. How refreshing to read a story taking a wholly different tack out of California Polytechnic State University at San Luis Obispo, the same place that so recently had a sensible-seeming conference in the wake of a hazing death. Only days after the summit, Colorado-based HazingPrevention.Org awarded three Cal Poly students, Daniel Kim, Jacob Lopez and Andrew Righter, its highest honor for taking a stand against hazing in their fraternities, Delta Chi and Tau Kappa Epsilon.
All three avowedly underwent hazing when they joined the organization. Often hazing persists because memory of the indignities fade with time and brothers view through rose-colored lenses as an element of unity or tradition. But Messrs Kim, Lopez and Righter knew better. Kim evidently thought of simply leaving Delta Chi, but wisely opted to try to effect change from within; Lopez actually did quit Teke before returning to try to repair instead of jettison the organization; while Righter stepped up as a freshman to lead Teke after his predecessor was removed from office for suborning hazing.
All three are assuredly credits to their organizations, institution, and the greek system as a whole. But the problem is hardly confined to a few rogue groups: The San Luis Obispo Tribune cites statistics showing that over half of greeks and student athletes are subjected to hazing. Obviously, much work remains to be done, and more bold souls like Messers Kim, Lopez and Righter will be needed to take a stand against entrenched custom.
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