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I've never understood the attraction of the Greek lifestyle for college students.
I've heard all the reasons from my best friends, girlfriends and others why pledging Q-Dog, Kappa or Alpha would have been a smart move during my college days. They talk about the sense of brotherhood, the lifetime friendships and the community service that pledging a frat can spawn.
I can't argue with any of the that. I guess that for some students, especially those who feel alienated and alone on their campuses, the sense of belonging provided by a brotherhood or sisterhood is a wonderful thing.
But one question I have never had answered to my satisfaction by fraternity supporters is why do you have to go through a beat down to join. If it's all about unity, why do you show it with hostility?
It's likely a question that former San Jose State University student Courtney Howard is asking herself now since filing a lawsuit against four Sigma Gamma Rho sorority members who were convicted of hazing her in 2008 during the pledge process.
Howard said she and other pledges were warned that "snitches get stitches" while they were punched, kicked and paddled during their initiation.
Sigma Gamma Rho sisters Princess Odom, Monique Hughes, Joslyn Beard and Nicole Remble (pictured above, clockwise from top-left) pleaded no contest earlier this year to misdemeanor hazing and were sentenced to 90 days in jail, two years probation and banned from associating with the sorority.
Part of me wants to say that Howard should have known what she was getting into; no frat or sorority hides the fact that pledging will take some mental and physical endurance.
But there's a thin line between tough pledging and abuse - and I don't expect a 17-year-old "Big Brother" or "Big Sister" to always know where that line is drawn.
I will concede that the San Jose State University Sigma Gamma Rho mess is an aberration when it comes to black Greek organizations, which do far more good than harm overall.
But as long as any frat or sorority allows hazing to be a part of their practice, the door is open to abuse, lawsuits and imprisonment.
Comments: (48)
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By: ____ on 9/07/2010 12:43PM
There is nothing wrong with Hazing. Being any a fraternity or sorority is not like most things in there world. It’s a extreme strain on a person mentally, physical, and socially. You have to fill so many roles that being weak in any will result and failure to self. Pleading strengthens those weaknesses so a person won’t have a break down very similar to the military. Abuse and pleading is something totally different from each other.
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By: R7Press on 9/07/2010 12:44PM
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By: Janice on 9/07/2010 6:23PM
After reading these misguided comments all I can say to Eric is:"Be careful your racism is showing."
The last time I checked white girls were buying butts like ours and trying to get tan and putting stuff in their lips too!!
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By: Eric on 9/08/2010 8:41PM
To: HoneyKone
You ask, "How do black women bust their butts trying to look like white women, but can't? Please, don't make me laugh! However, I'll sum it up for you quickly! BW have spent 1.3 billion dollars...yes "BILLION" dollars on fake hair trying to look like white woman, but fall way short! Black women are also "blond weaves and wigs, and wearing colored contact lens...mostly "blue", so tell me who are they trying to look like? Asians or Latinas? Wrong! Tell me what other race of women on the planet want to look like, or are trying to look like black women? The answer is simple...NONE!
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By: bmarcushook on 9/10/2010 8:02AM
There is a MAJOR PROBLEM.The Divine Nine need to go back to the drawing board.It's to many children hurt or killed to belong to a Society that most not all forgot the purpose Why They Exist.Charters are being snatched.Lastly how's the lawsuit going Some of the AKA's suing for a one million plus because one chapters president want a BUST made of her and she used alumns monies.IT'S BIGGER THAN HAZING. IT WILL FOLD FROM WITHIN.
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By: Sue on 9/27/2010 5:51PM
You know a few years back DC had to be placed under a Control Board due to irresponsibility of then Mayor-fo-life Barry and the city council. The City couldn't spend a dime or make any kind of move without the approval of this board. It was pretty harsh and times were tight for a time but DC is waaaay better for it and the control board was eventually dismissed.
I'm thinking the same tactic needs to be used for Greek orgs. The whole pledging process should be placed under strict observation by the Pan-Hellenic Council (sp?) like cops on a steak out. Since they want to act like criminals lets treat them as such. Violators should be banned for life and made finacially liable. I mean really, this is actually much cheaper than the loss of millions in lawsuits.
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By: Marcie Leathers on 9/20/2010 10:24AM
I cant believe what I just read...for the record I'm black and proud of it and I have never wanted to be white in any way. I dont know about any other black woman....But the true fact is that white women are always trying to be black!!! Always at a dam tanning booth trying to get color...as far as the brothers, I'm sick of black men and their BS!!
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By: divine9pearls on 12/08/2010 2:11PM
I am just sick and tired of people not taking responsibility for their actions. if it were that dam bad, she should have reported it. Hazing is hazing, and believe me they were hazing you well before the pattling began! Hazing will only end when the ones who subject themseleves to it speak up before they end up in the hospital, instead of going to court and getting some money out of it after the fact. sorry, but you are just as guilty! All parties involved in hazing, should get the same punishemnt, you are guilty by association!
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