Dear NPHC Leadership and Divine Nine Leaders:
On Tuesday, September 14, 2010, at around 6:00 p.m., I emailed the National Executive Directors of the National Pan-Hellenic Council, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., and Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. I did not email the National Executive Directors of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc., or Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Inc., because I could not locate their email addresses on their, respective, national websites. And experience has taught me that when the phones at the headquarters of the various Divine Nine organizations are answered—which is not all the time—requests for Executive Directors’ email addresses are not met (and probably for good reason). As such, I have typed this blog entry in the hopes that my initial message reaches you.
The email I sent asked if you would like to partner in an effort to find the best strategies for ending hazing within our organizations. But before I reiterate my proposal, let me take a step back and ask you a few questions: Do you want to stop hazing within black Greek-letter organizations (“BGLOs”)? Do you think that MIP has been the most effective strategy in ending hazing? I know. I’ve heard the argument, “If undergrads just obey the rules, then we would not have this problem.” But that’s like saying, “If people stopped robbing, and raping, and money laundering … we wouldn’t have any crime.” Such a statement is true, but it’s also naively simplistic and fails to consider the multitude of reasons why people commit crime, which also precludes an ability to figure out how to stop crime. Lastly, are you open to the possibility that a whole range of disciplines, and experts within those disciplines, might be able to help BGLOs solve this problem? If you don’t see hazing within BGLOs as a major issue, don’t read on. If you think MIP has largely solved the problem of hazing within BGLOs, don’t read on. And if you think that some narrow range of experts or concepts can solve the problem, please stop here.
For those of you who are left, my observation is that hazing is a major problem for BGLOs, with no end in sight. Further, MIP has not resolved the issue of hazing. As such, I believe that BGLOs have to radically rethink how they bring in new members. I was critiqued for this thinking, once, because it seemed as though I was solely focused on having a process, while BGLOs have more pressing issues—i.e., identity issues. I, however, don’t think about process apart from organizational identity—in that each BGLO must be firmly rooted in the most noble of their, respective, founding identities and then identify, select, and train members to be in accordance with those identities. It is the process where all of this takes place or should take place. And neither the old pledge process nor the current Membership Intake Process meet this standard. Furthermore, BGLOs reliance on what they believe, hope, and wish will work has failed to comport with broader bodies of knowledge out there.
So BGLOs might simply rely on theories and scholarship from student affairs, but such reliance is short-sighted, as student affairs likely provides only some answers and solutions to the problem at hand. But if BGLOs look to criminology, for example, they would gain a better understanding of how personality and belief structures drive antisocial behaviors, like hazing. They would gain greater insight into how punishment and sanctions may best be implemented to reduce hazing. If BGLOs looked to organizational behavior, they might become more sympathetic to the fact that within organizations, individuals can engage in prosocial deviant behavior when they believe that their behavior remains faithful to organizational ideals at the expense of everyday organizational rules. Such insight might be beneficial in determining how to better structure a process, or even the crafting of a process, such that more members believe that it enables, rather than undermines, organizational ideals. Organizational behavior research might also shed light on such things as team building, membership selection, membership retention, and contemplating broader organizational identity. Sociology might show how broader societal factors promote hazing within BGLOs. Medicine and clinical psychology could demonstrate the physical and psychological consequences of hazing. Communications might illuminate how BGLOs should go about educating their members more effectively on the perils of hazing and why a new course is needed. Work in social and cognitive psychology could be used to better understand how to facilitate bonds between individuals, what types of belief structures and thought processes underlie hazing, and how, as research actually demonstrates, severity of initiation predicts liking for an organization. And a more comprehensive analysis, rather than the seemingly piecemeal approach currently used, of the legal issues pertaining to hazing might make BGLOs think more systematically about the does and don’ts of any process they implement.
In a sense, my colleagues—Drs. Tamara Brown (Delta) and Clarenda Phillips—and I have been doing this as we approach BGLOs and their issues more generally. So are my colleague—Dr. Matthew Hughey (Sigma)—and I, currently. In essence, we have been strong believers, and practitioners, in the idea that BGLOs deserve an interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary analysis, and such an analysis should not be mere Ivory Tower musings, but rather geared directly or indirectly toward addressing the problems that BGLOs face. With this in mind, our proposal is to turn this effort on one problem—hazing. But even more, as the examples I enumerated above should suggest, our thinking is about more how to stop hazing. It’s also about identifying, selecting, and training individuals in a manner that is consistent with our ideals—i.e., personal excellence, meaningful and life-long brotherhood/sisterhood, systematic engagement in an uplift agenda, and life-long involvement in our organizations.
With that said, Dr. Hughey and I plan to edit a multidisciplinary book, which would outline the theories and data on how to stop hazing while also selecting and training members in a way that meshes with our ideals and identity. Employing the best practices, we will propose a process that meets these myriad ends. It’s our hope that NPHC and each of the Divine Nine organizations will engage in a meaningful collaboration with us. I look forward to your response.
I commend you for the extensive research that has gone into this subject matter. We cannot find a viable solution until we fully dissect the problem and understand it’s core.
I am wondering about something that may add to the overall discussion. Has there been any deep research directed toward those individuals who have committed the hazing crimes that made national headlines? For example… John’ or Jane Doe of XYZ frat or sorority was suspended in 19XX from his/her org and expelled from college too. Where are these people now?
Where are they in terms of their lives, views on their actions that caused so much harm and their relationship with fellow greeks or greek life? Do they now see the mistakes that they made or are they so hardlined that they stand their ground and continue to justify their actions? I would really be curious about what these people have to say for themselves.
Keep up the good work!
Frater Parks,
I’m in. I will help you come up with something we all can live with. I don’t like the current state nor the current process. The military can but we can’t. Doesn’t make sense.
Alrick L. Banks
3-DG-96/Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.
Life Member
“love has to be a sacrifice, that is how it started”
Interesting. I dont think we will ever put an end to hazing. Why? Because it is banned… Anytime you tell people NOT to do something, they want to do it that much more, especially youngsters! Maybe if we allowed some things, or lightened up on the issue a little, so many people wouldnt be tempted to do things underground.
I agree 200%. Hazing will be the death of our organizations if we continue to allow it to happen. Hazing does not build up a person or promotes sister/brotherhood. I think instead, a potential member should be subject to organizating community and college and fundraising events as a part of the process. They should also learn how to better themselves and their community and be inspired to change what they don’t like in the world. Then we would get quality members and those who want only the glam associated with being Greek will quickly lose interest.
I think you hit the nail on the head when you said “I, however, don’t think about process apart from organizational identity—… select, and train members to be in accordance with those identities. It is the process where all of this takes place or should take place.”
The quality of orgs and our mark on society is not there. We as a whole, nationally are not at the forefromt of combatting issues that effect our communities. With the size of our memberships BGLO’s should be the leading organizations in education reform, soci-economic issues and the like. Instead we are trying to find our identity and the only that has consistently changed is the membership (i.e. the quality of our members). The names have remained the same, the colors are the same, our mission and pledge are the same….our membership however has changed. Intake is done almost every year and almost every year our relevance fades. And the only thing that affects the quality of the member is the content of our membership training/intake process.
ANS – Sigma Gamma Rho
What is hazing? Yelling at some one, saying something that an applicant doesn’t like, disliking an applicant, so many normal interactive transactions can be considered. I don’t condone physicality of any kind, but some of the things that I have seen considered as hazing ( singing a song, being stared at) are not what I consider to be hazing. I don’t like the current state or the current process.
Banning hazing and the MIP has not increased the quality of those coming into the organizations. MIP allows coverups of personality flaws, makes inapprorpriate intention look good and really doesn’t allow one to see the soul of the applicant. Social status, prestige, salary, car type and other surface characteristics seem to be the qualities looked at for potential members.
I have no answers, but am searching for solutions. I support research or anything else that will help us all.
Delta Sigma Theta Life Member
Excellent work Bro. Parks, best wishes for continued success and good health.
On the issue of hazing, I am slowly turning more and more pessimistic about a positive outcome, and about the future of BGLOs as the result of hazing’s degenerative effects. A couple of points for thought (not necessarily fact…just thoughts out loud).
1) What if…A culture of hazing and initatory brutality, and the pride associated with having endured such processes, is not the exception, but the norm in BGLOs? It’s obvious that those who do these acts espouse this culture. But, why don’t those alumni and college members who are (at least politically and during official conferences) anti-hazing forcefully speak out against hazing? Because, perhaps, we are secretly “in the closet” when it comes to hazing. Because we are proud to tell people that we pledged and were hazed. Because we are proud to say, even at 40 and 50 years of age, that we came through “Bloody” such and such chapter, or “Deadly” this and that. Because we are proud to declare that we were “made,” as if to say that more recent initiates somehow weren’t. Hazing runs deep, even when I ocassionally throw on my old line jacket, coded with red lettering, empty spaces for fallen line brothers, and the like.
2) You referenced organiztion studies…the notion of the formal vs. the informal organization has been discussed for nearly a century. I fear that, no matter what our formal organizations attempt, the informal organization which has harbored hazing and brutality (which I might add, at least for my organization, was not part of the original activities) will never be able to “shake” these traditions. This is in part because these traditions CAN exist informally. What do I mean? If the formal organization of Alpha went bankrupt and was dissolved, you can BEST BELIEVE that the traditions and practices of Alpha would live on informally across the nation and globe. This is the case RIGHT NOW! There are ghost chapters making ghost lines and ghost Alphas — completely equipping men of all ages with all the secrets needed to function as a real-life Alpha! BGLOs are, in many ways, victims of the strength of their own traditions and cultural systems. This is exacerbated by the fact that we don’t have any system of checks and balances when it comes to membership verification. If someone has on a shirt, can respond to a challenge or 2, and knows the grip, then they are greeted with brotherly love. We don’t care whether that Brother has been inactive for 30 years, or even whether he was ever legitimately made at all.
I could go on, but will stop here. Hope this all gets fixed, and will continue doing my part.
Bro. Sean Rogers
Life Member, Alpha Phi Alpha
Former District Director, Arizona, Nevada, and New Mexico
Greetings, Frater Parks.
I had the good fortune of meeting you and Soror Brown at a book signing event several years ago at Howard University’s bookstore. Like many who have already posted, I am deeply concerned about the future of the Divine Nine. Further, based on the literature that I have read thus far, I share the same sentiment that you have regarding the need to establish a different means of initiating new members that eliminates the probability of hazing yet, maintains the integrity and respect that has historically been associated with the former pledge process.
Let me be clear, while I do understand that pledging has been deemed another form of hazing as a result of the executive decision made back in spring 1990, it is nothing short of an open secret that undergraduates (especially) are still pledging (though underground) and have perpetrated some of the worst hazing (in my humble opinion) compared to that which occurred prior to the pledging ban.
MIP has been said to be a failure by numerous entities who are well-respected within the Greek Life community, yet, MIP continues to serve as the official means of membership into D9 organizations. Frankly, I have not been satisfied with the happenings under the MIP and decided to further my own efforts to affect change. Currently, I am in the dissertation proposal phase of my doctorate and I intend to conduct a comparative ethnographic study of D9 sororities and another closely-related population focusing on the hazing problem. As such, I would be delighted to assist your efforts.
Please contact me at your very earliest opportunity to discuss the matter further.
Very sisterly yours,
Alicia M. Jackson-Warren
3-PN-88 / Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc.
Ok here is the deal. Pledging will never stop, simply as that. Why, because it never did. The problem was born when the whole MIP idea came around. MIP was not an idea brought out of leadership but out of panic. During the turn of the century, American skyscrapers were shooting up everywhere and getting bigger and bigger, workers started dying. They fell from the top they were crushed by new equipment etc. this came about from unsafe labor practices and bad leadership. Instead of saying screw it no more buildings are to be built because we cannot afford another death, they eliminated the unsafe practices that were hurting people as well as the companies. Thus, they like any intelligent system stopped the problem at the root without canceling the progress that skyscrapers made. Pledging was noth the problem. Water rituals, unsafe wood, Calisthenics without medical consent, stupidity brought about by lack of advising, these were the problems with pledging NOT pledging.
If advisors and members would have said listen I know this was done to me and what it symbolizes, but hell this part of the process rolls the dice on safety and should be eliminated because it is bottom line unsafe. And they take this to the chapters like any organization that has lawful physical accountability, then we’ve nipped it at the bud. But if you don’t, which we didnt, you now have a somewhat bastardized continuation of tradition that STILL mixes unsafe practices with valuable lessons. Lets be honest about 40% of chapters are still following there chapters’ process from years back to a tee. The rest are passing along falsified processes based on what they think is happening, and those are the chapters killing the future of America. I was made during the post MIP years I’ve been at SETS with chapters who follow safe tradition and chapters freestyling and both are rolling the safety dice. I remember playing football growing up. we had a dreal call the bull ring, and the suicide bull ring. Both now are banned in alot of states. Alot of kids were getting hurt. They did not hastly shut down football practice because of it. They rooted it out, modified it and moved on succesfully.
PLEDGING will not stop because it never has and the crux of why it was stopped was never properly dealt with. Just think about it, MIP was born and more and more people get hurt everyday so…….MIP, or an institution like MIP was and is not the answer. Any true leader should have been able to root that out by now. So what do we do…………
Well since we should all OBEY THE LAWS NO MATTER WHAT we have to send out task forces of advisors that explicitly teaches the dangers of Water rits, wood on kidneys etc. We are not dealing with brainless criminals, we are dealing with pragmatic college students and I gaurantee once pre med jimmy or pre law jane understands that this part of their tradition can kill someone even though it did not hurt them, they will pragmatically eliminate it. And then all you have is safe underground original rituals that can somehow eventually make their way above ground and under supervision again.
Well said, Frater Parks. I supported pledging but Never hazing. It seems the line between the two has become woefully indistinguishable. I am a former military man and while some similarities exist between the military and fraternal induction processes, basic trainig has a well concieved purpose and objective geared towards a positive outcome. Hazing bears non of these. No question the current process is failing and for many reasons (abscentee grad advisors/mentoring grad chapters, changes in required history, etc.), but I might add that the mentality of students entering college has changed from those attending college “back in the day”. The “gangsta mentality”seems ever prevalent on many college campuses now. I find it difficult distinguishing a Student on campus from a Thug on campus as both dress and act the same. In any event, I’ve taken it upon myself to do something about it. I eagerly await your book and will be one of the first in line to purchase it.
Thank You,
JKA / Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc.
I think the issue of hazing goes so far back into the history of our organizations. I am a younger Greek member, came through SPR 06. My response is similar to a response that was posted earlier. As younger Greek members we hear so many stories about how older Greeks conducted their intake. Older Greek members take pride in what they went to get their letters and I think often younger Greek members feel they have to show their loyalty and feel like they have to measure up to their older Greek members. Its hard as a younger member to hear older Greek members opinions about hazing and how older greek members put the younger generation down when some still participate in hazing and is proud of their hazing process. It amazes me that older Greek members look down on the current intake procees but they one participated in hazing and is proud and always ready to tell the younger greek members about their journey to becoming part of their Greek organization. So I believe we have to look at when did hazing became our Greek organization, How do we encourage our older members to stop participating and allowing undergrads to haze, How do we get older members to take responsibility of the role they currently play in keeping hazing alive, How do we get younger and newier greek members to realize that hazing is wrong and does not show a persons loyalty to a organization, and yes older members brought hazing into our organizations but as hounger members we must change in order to keep our org alive basically getting back to the purpose of orgs…
I think the issue of hazing goes so far back into the history of our organizations. I am a younger Greek member, came through SPR 06. My response is similar to a response that was posted earlier. As younger Greek members we hear so many stories about how older Greeks conducted their intake. Older Greek members take pride in what they went to get their letters and I think often younger Greek members feel they have to show their loyalty and feel like they have to measure up to their older Greek members. Its hard as a younger member to hear older Greek members opinions about hazing and how older greek members put the younger generation down when some still participate in hazing and is proud of their hazing process. It amazes me that older Greek members look down on the current intake procees but they one participated in hazing and is proud and always ready to tell the younger greek members about their journey to becoming part of their Greek organization. So I believe we have to look at when did hazing became our Greek organization, How do we encourage our older members to stop participating and allowing undergrads to haze, How do we get older members to take responsibility of the role they currently play in keeping hazing alive, How do we get younger and newier greek members to realize that hazing is wrong and does not show a persons loyalty to a organization, and yes older members brought hazing into our organizations but as hounger members we must change in order to keep our org alive basically getting back to the purpose of orgs…from a proud Sigma Gamma Rho, SPR 06
You said a little knowledge is a dangerous thing, to which I agree. You want to use all of this research from sociology, psychology, criminology, etc. to make changes. One problem, who are the fathers and main contributors of these disciplines (i.e. the ones you learned from)? I made a plea to Kimbrough that made him pause for about 15 seconds, and then conceded. The solutions you seek will not work without the courage of members. The MIP can work, but GLO’s lack the moral integrity to do so.
6-90-II/Ex-Omega
I believe that hazing has become a major issue for all Greek organizations. I am part of a Latina organization and we are still faced with the same issues as divine 9. The definition of hazing that is currently being used has gone way to overboard. Minor activites and actions such as driving, internalising information, speaking with respect, simple traditions that make and represent our organisations now have to be changed because it’s hazing. I believe I was pledged the old school way, i appreciate my process and I turned out great. When something in my life hits me hard or is made difficult I know I can follow through with it because I pledged. Now I see members who are having a
hard time at chapter meeting and now want to become
inactive. I do not agree with hazing but working hard for
your letters is an important factor. We do not have to ban our processes but rather have to educate ourselves and have effective smart sisters and brothers educating our future.
“
I’ve been a Undergraduate Chapter Advisor for many years, so of course I have dealt with this issue first-hand several times. Given my experiences and after having tried everything possible, I have reached the conclusion that you cannot stop hazing as long as you give 19 and 20 year olds authority that they are simply too immature to handle. The down-side of being young and in-experienced is that you often don’t know where the limit is, and you go too far, or know when to stop. The only way to stop hazing is for the more mature brothers to be there all the time. There simply is no other way. I wish there were, but I’ve learned the hard way, that there isn’t. Expecting young people to act mature is a oxymoron, and a formula for disaster. Older brothers have to be on the scene the whole time, to set an example of how to behave and to stop any hazing. I wish there was a easier way, but there simply isn’t.
I certainly appreciate a more sociological theoretical approach to this. As a member of a BGLO, an educator, and someone with a BA in Sociology, I undersand/ recognize the historical, societal, and organizational influences of ‘hazing’ behavior (with historical and organizational being the most formidable influences).
I don’t support hazing at all. It is my belief that no one should die for a BGLO. Parents don’t invest in the financial and emotional sacrifice to send their children to school to die while being hazed. Because the undergraduate members have no idea of a ‘true’ pledge process, they begin to create these life threatening situations as a rites of passage and there begins the problem. There are no older members to supervise because its underground and many of the ‘older’ members have been pledged underground, so they support some of the physically abusive tactics that are used; it’s ridiculous.
On the other hand, MIP is quite ridiculous. While I don’t believe in hazing, I believe that there should be a real pledge process where people have to ‘work’ to gain entry. It can be done without physcial itimidation. I have met too many members of NPHC who know nothing about their own organizations, much less knowing anything about the other members of NPHC. Bringing someone in through MIP and hoping they will learn after they are members is ridiculous. It is my hope that we will begin to see that about 20 years subsequent to the ‘end’ of hazing, that our BGLO learders will realize that MIP is ineffective considering we still have major incidents of injuries and even death. MIP is the bandaid on a gun wound; it hasn’t solved anything.
There are other issues as active membership versus those who are hazed and become inactive, or ‘ghost’ members. We could go on and on. If we correct this issue, we could begin to see the reemergence of our organizatons.
Hello Dr. Parks,
I’m totally in agreement with you on this issue. I think a multidisciplinary approach is what is needed to look at this highly negative issue with fresh eyes and create prcatical and successful approaches to eradicating the problem. I was talking with my chapter president the other day about why we don’t often get the best and brightest to join our organizations. If I’m a young man or young lady with a gpa of 3.0-4.0 and already perform service within my community, why am I going to pay several hundred to a thousand dollars for somebody to put a foot in my behind and after its over tell me that they’re now my brother or sister. It’s not going to happen. So, when we get bypassed by those students we end up with students who just meet the basic requirements to join and are willing to take a licking and keep on ticking and more than likely will just be a t-shirt wearer or worse for their respective organization.
I do agree with the statement that Minister Hatchett made about the MIP. Although I think the MIP process was created out of panic and was a reactionary response to pressure put on BGLO leadership by university presidents, it could work if folks were willing to abide by it and have a zero tolerance policy when it isn’t upheld. If shutting down chapters as a result of non-compliance is what would occur then so be it because the conduct of one chapter or ten can potentially cause the destruction of an entire BGLO, which no one wants. I, like you, love my fraternity and want to see it continue to operate for any years to come, but in order to enable its continued existence we have to get back to the principles that our founders introduced and our national leaders need to gain the courage to take a zero tolerance approach toward hazing and if toes get stepped on, let it be. Because the members that want to uphold hazing are a cancer and nine times out of ten aren’t contributing financially or otherwise.
You have my support on this effort 1914% and let me know if there is anything that I can do to help. As always thanks for this pertinent information and for being a brother that truly cares about the Divine Nine and its future.
Yours in service,
DaJuane Harris
Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, INC.
I am fan of the process but with major elements of control! Hazing has been a problem for decades but now younger members of our organizations have taken it further, thus the issues. I grew up watching frat take BRICKS across a campus with determination and honor. It actually meant something. Now the process is a joke. The younger members virtually locked members that can bring a level of control to the process but many never even know when it happens. I am obviously someone who would like to see the process stay around. I believe we would have a harder time removing it than just making some major improvements. Making administrators aware of the process would be a start! Now everything is so secret that hell, most teachers, even those who are Greek, have no idea its happening! Make grades a priority, I know it sounds like “wow what a concept” but if the pledge-es do not make the required grades than the chapter and student take a hit! But I believe the biggie being that if teachers, counselors, and parents know and understand than if a pledge comes to class with discomfort or something noticeable, the chapter is sunk! I am not sure if that would be enough obviously but it is a start. Again someone mentioned how long we have been trying to stop hazing. I say make the process an above ground event like it use to be pre-90’s. At least than we can monitor all activities!
You make a very interesting point about this issue of hazing. For so long, many organizations have been blaming higher authorities of their lack of sanctions, when in actual fact they should also be looking at the recruitment process. There should be a dynamic presence of personality, rather than a standard or requirement that newcomers have to meet. It’s all about embracing individuality.