2008 Woodie Awards
Greek hazing degrades values of philanthropic organizations
Andrew Beckman
Issue date: 8/22/08 Section: News
Value-based organizations are supposed to demonstrate such values of integrity, selflessness and honor. All Greeks are a part of a specific value- based organizations. As Greeks, we build this image with actions, not talk. Yet behind our philanthropy and community service lies a darker truth. How do we start acting right?
Let's begin with our new members. Every fraternity or sorority has a period of time following rush week that helps acquaint the new member with the values that define the organization and its other members. Moreover, the new member program should help teach the individual how to act in accordance with their specific values.
The basic goal of membership orientation programs should continue well past initiation. This is the best solution for sustainable success of a values based organization. What's the biggest obstacle presented to the organizations which want to be the catalyst for change-hazing? Hazing eventually leads to power issues. Power issues lead to drug and alcohol abuse. Drug and alcohol abuse lead to death.
Hazing is not simply about the particular activity, it is also about the power dynamics operating within the group or around the activity.
Beware of the ego.
Ego does help take personal ambition and create success, but it also fosters an atmosphere of power struggle. These power struggles are where hazing acts occur. Below are sample arguments I have heard in favor of activities that would be constituted as hazing.
•Hazing works. We can guarantee that they will be with us no matter what.
•We are building cowards.
•We must ensure the new members want to be in this organization, and therefore should earn the right to wear our letters.
•We had to do it, and we became great leaders, so why change something that works?
•We need to make them like a clenched fist, very close to each other.
Let's deconstruct the arguments.
First, simply because something works, or it is easy, does not mean it is right. What matters is how we educate. It will never matter if the associate answered his phone every time you called for a sober driver. What will matter is how we built them to be men/women of character. What and why questions should always be dictated by how.
Let's begin with our new members. Every fraternity or sorority has a period of time following rush week that helps acquaint the new member with the values that define the organization and its other members. Moreover, the new member program should help teach the individual how to act in accordance with their specific values.
The basic goal of membership orientation programs should continue well past initiation. This is the best solution for sustainable success of a values based organization. What's the biggest obstacle presented to the organizations which want to be the catalyst for change-hazing? Hazing eventually leads to power issues. Power issues lead to drug and alcohol abuse. Drug and alcohol abuse lead to death.
Hazing is not simply about the particular activity, it is also about the power dynamics operating within the group or around the activity.
Beware of the ego.
Ego does help take personal ambition and create success, but it also fosters an atmosphere of power struggle. These power struggles are where hazing acts occur. Below are sample arguments I have heard in favor of activities that would be constituted as hazing.
•Hazing works. We can guarantee that they will be with us no matter what.
•We are building cowards.
•We must ensure the new members want to be in this organization, and therefore should earn the right to wear our letters.
•We had to do it, and we became great leaders, so why change something that works?
•We need to make them like a clenched fist, very close to each other.
Let's deconstruct the arguments.
First, simply because something works, or it is easy, does not mean it is right. What matters is how we educate. It will never matter if the associate answered his phone every time you called for a sober driver. What will matter is how we built them to be men/women of character. What and why questions should always be dictated by how.
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