Why Fraternity Hazing

Fraternity Hazing Compare and Contrast In Katie Reilly’s “College Students Keep dying Because of Fraternity Hazing. Why Is It So Hard to Stop?” and David Burkman’s “Why frat boys like hazing, if they live through it” both authors discuss the topic of Fraternity hazing. This topic is worthy of discussion because “Greek Life” is very accustomed in universities, and as a young adolescent joining college for the first time, education about hazing needs to be required. In Katie Reilly’s article “College Students Keep dying Because of Fraternity Hazing. Why Is It So Hard to Stop?” fraternity hazing and the fight to stop it is discussed. Reilly goes in-depth with the dangers and deaths of hazing cause in fraternities all across America’s colleges.

First, Burkman stresses the fact that pledges engage in hazing rituals because they feel that they have to belong. The author explains this idea by saying that as humans we need to feel the sensation of “fight-or-flight” (Burkman). But the fact that we live so privileged we rarely feel it. The idea of sororities and fraternities is to shrink our world to a small group, that way we feel a part of something more than ourselves. These invented groups are filled with secrets, rituals, symbols, chants, and cheers, all built to say that “This is my village, and where I belong” (Burkman). Pledges engage in hazing rituals to feel a part of something, to have a sense of belonging, and the only way for them to feel that is when they jump in the rain and face the storm. Furthermore, Burkman emphasizes that once pledges have surpassed the hazing rituals, they feel a sense of accomplishment. Burkman works in his own experience of hazing stating that he endured military-style lineups, dangerous levels of starvation, sleep deprivation, and physical endurance tests and at times forced to consume extreme amounts of alcohol. The author also implies that hazing is enjoyment for the ones doing it and the ones being hazed. Burkman states that being a part of a group means more when achievement has been reached. That even heroes in mythology and

Both authors use Tim Piazza as an example of how hazing can have fatal consequences. Reilly goes in-depth with the Tim Piazza case stating how he was forced to consume an obscene amount of alcohol in a hazing ritual which then lead to Tim repeatedly falling causing head trauma and spleen injuries, and his death the following morning. While Burkman on the other hand agrees with the statement saying that hazing is torturous, while giving his own experience of it. He also mentions that at times he was forced to consume a toxic amount of alcohol “it’s a wonder anyone survived” (Burkman). The two authors also agree that hazing won’t stop. One writer points out that hazing is a need and it serves a purpose but it won’t end unless a meaningful alternative is found (Burkman). While the other writer asserts that greek alumni are to embedded in powerful institutions and they don’t wish to change anything from the greek traditions from which they were brought up in (Reilly). Although both authors have similar ideas and examples dealing with the severity of hazing on college campuses, their perspectives and focus points are far from the same. Reilly is completely oblivious to the severity of hazing, her article is basically filled with facts and evidence she gathered from reliable sources. While Burkman has first-hand