When Fraternity Goes Wrong

Being a fraternity pledge can be deadly. A Morehouse College student collapsed and died of a heart attack last October after a five-hour fraternity ritual. Now, leaders of all eight national black fraternities and sororities have recommended banning the pledging process in order to stop all hazing. They deserve applause for taking the lead in a movement that should be joined by all campus sororities and fraternities.

More than 40 students have died and hundreds have been injured in hazing-related incidents during the past decade, according to the National Interfraternity Conference, which represents 59 fraternities with 5,200 chapters on 900 campuses in the United States and Canada.

These tragedies have prompted fraternal bans on excessive drinking, physical abuse, depriving pledges of sleep, verbal humiliation and other harassment during the probation period, a time that typically stretches over one semester. Yet despite such bans, state laws and college regulations, the dangerous behavior has continued.

Now Greek-letter organizations are taking the ultimate step necessary to stop the abuses. Zeta Beta Tau, a predominantly white fraternity, was the first to institute a no-pledge policy last September. Potential members still meet fraternity brothers during rush week, but freshmen are initiated within 72 hours after being accepted. The new brothers learn history, tradition and ritual in an appropriate post-initiation educational process.

The historically black organizations, which claim nearly 800,000 active undergraduate and alumni members, emphasize a lifelong commitment to philanthropic service and leadership. The fraternities proudly boast of members such as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Jesse Jackson, Virginia’s Gov. Doug Wilder and Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley.

By denouncing pledging, the National Pan-Hellenic Conference can continue the legacy of leadership, and save lives.