You might be wondering what this article is all about. Well then, please continue reading for this might get interesting to you and to all other people who may be able to relate themselves. And did I mention highly debatable.
The Doomed Recruits
Definitions:
Fraternities/Sororities - A body of people associated for a common purpose or interest, such as a guild.
Hazing - 1. To persecute or harass with meaningless, difficult, or humiliating tasks.
2. To initiate, as into a college fraternity, by exacting humiliating performances from or playing rough practical jokes upon.
Rush Week - "formal recruitment" period which usually consists of events and activities designed for members and potential members to learn about each other and the organization.
Source: The Free Dictionary
Let's start!
What comes into your mind when you first hear the words "Fraternity & Sorority"?
Most definitely, you will think of young people being recruited in a so-called "organization" by some other people most probably having the same age at the same year level of studies in the same campus or university.
True.
While some of these so-called "fraternities" are very beneficial to students, almost all of them are not. This context is neither about being against any or all "fraternities" out there nor being pro it. You must understand that!
A Social Club formed in a campus that is authorized by a school is one thing but a "fraternity" is another. This isn't anything like a social club. This involves young people being recruited into a certain organization that goes through a "rush week" in order to be formally recruited. But in most cases, instead of a "rush week", they give the new recruits hazing - ritualistic harassment, abuse, or persecution of individuals in a group.
What are considered to be hazing?
1. Burning
2. Sexual favors
3. Drugs
4. Kidnapping
5. Branding
6. Bribes
Source: Hank Nuwer author of Wrongs of Passage: Fraternities, Sororities, Hazing, and Binge Drinking
Get to the point!
What is wrong with "Fraternities/Sororities"?
Nothing.
There's completely nothing wrong with it. But what makes people look at it in a negative way is the way these fraternity people treat their new recruits. They do hazings which is wrong and unnecessary.
Some of these young recruits who go through hazing die because their body just couldn't take the act of violence being done to them by their so-called "brothers".
LoL!
What a lame excuse for people to call you a "brother"!
And what do you get after being able to pass a hazing?
Nothing.
You will be joined by your so-called "brothers" at the side of the street, sitting down smoking, drinking and hitting some drugs while they talk about what violent acts they can do to prove their existence in the society and maybe prove how brave and manly they are.
What a joke!
No one is against any fraternity for it is a great idea to socialize but for goodness sake, the way new recruits are being recruited is really not a good thing.
There are many ways to do recruitment and killing your future brother is highly not advisable.
Lots of people now aim to stop hazing because of the tragedy it brings to the family who lose their loved ones. The "false knowledge" about joining a fraternity brings a lot of young people to their demise.
But what motivates them from joining?
Most of the people who join such organization are in need to feel that they "belong". They want to feel safe & secure knowing that their so-called "brothers" will always back them up in times of need. If these new recruits only knew the danger that they are about to face, maybe they would think twice. Some of these people also want to feel manly. They think that being a member or a certain fraternity boost their sex appeal especially when they smoke, drink and hit some drugs. They think girls dig hardcore (which is true in most cases, LoL).
But what these new recruits don't know is that they are about to experience pain and suffering for nothing. That they are joining an organization with these worthless people who only know how to do violence to others. That they are about to become what the law persecutes. And that they are about to become wrong-doers!
It's not unknown to all of us that these fraternities do some other activities and one of the most popular is a "Fraternity War". There's no need to define what "Fraternity War" is for it's self-explanatory.
This kind of war is pointless. You don't get anything and you don't get to prove anything and that is a fact!
Whether most of these fraternities want to prove their supremacy in a certain domain or some member has a crush on a girlfriend of another member of the opposing party, it doesn't matter to them. They love fighting and they love hurting each other. It's their way to prove to themselves and to others that they are strong, very manly and supreme.
The law stops hazing from taking place and it's a very good way of preventing more young people from dying. Some of these young people who died were about to graduate and make their dreams come true. Some others will become the breadwinner of their families. But all of these things faded away in one night of hazing.
Conclusion:
Not all fraternities are the same. Not all of them are wrong-doers. Like what have been stated in the very beginning of this article, some fraternities are beneficial. In fact some fraternities even help the community they are at out by volunteering in a community program set forth by community officials. These kind of fraternities are the ones you would want to be.
Don't think that joining a fraternity is a necessity at your young age for IT IS NOT. You can continue with your studies and finish your secondary or tertiary school without even joining a single group. Hence, you can even get yourself a very nice girl to be your girlfriend without even drinking, smoking or hitting some drugs. It's all about the attitude.
If you are about to join a fraternity, nobody can stop you. Not even your parents can stop you for you and you alone have the power to decide for yourself. If your parents try to stop you, you will just sneak out anyway so it's pointless. It's up to you. But be very smart in choosing the fraternity you are about to join and the brothers you are about to have for you might just meet your death at your very young age and you will regret it.
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Contributor's Note
This article is aimed to the young people who are thinking of joining fraternities. Please be mindful of what you are about to do. Think first and get a second opinion especially from the people you trust such as your parents. It's not wise to let others torture you just to be called a "brother/sister". Remember, we are all brothers and sisters and that is all you have to think about. Meeting some new people and making friends with them might just save your life from the danger you are about to face with hazing. Take precautions and BE SMART. It's all about the ATTITUDE dude!
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