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Volume 100: Issue 13
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Letter from the editor PDF Print E-mail
By: Nadia Mahallati - Editor-in-Chief   
Tuesday, April 08, 2008
The March 20 editorial entitled “Axes, Roses & Cow Bones Oh My!” regarding hazing in professional fraternities has sparked much debate on campus, including a response from the Professional Fraternity Council Executive Board. I would like to personally address PFC’s concerns and defend the original editorial.

The PFC Executive Board claimed, “The standards we have set up are parallel to the hazing code of Pacific’s Tiger Lore.” I checked the Tiger Lore myself to see how these two standards of conduct compare. Section 12 of the Pacific Student Honor Code states: “The University will consider hazing to be any portion of the pledging and/or initiation process, whether on or off campus, which could cause discomfort, pain, fright, disgrace, embarrassment, injury or is personally degrading regardless of the intent or end result. Such activities may include but are not limited to the following: … wearing public apparel which is conspicuous and not normally in good taste.” The last time I checked, cow bones are not in good taste.

The Tiger Lore also says, “The fact that an activity is done with the consent of the persons involved does not exempt it from this policy.” Therefore, if an activity is considered hazing, it does not matter if pledges agree to participate- it is just as against the rules.

The PFC Board claimed “none of the activities that we do are frivolous.” I would like to know how carrying a paddle promotes professionalism and fraternalism. Why are pledges even carrying paddles? Whether the paddles were actually used is irrelevant; the fear of potentially being paddled is enough to be considered hazing.

As a Greek myself, I take offense to some professional fraternities blatant hazing on campus. While there are always rumors of hazing in social greek organizations, it is not paraded around campus for all to see. Professional fraternities seem to believe that they are above the law simply because they are professional organizations. However, nowhere in the Tiger Lore are professional organizations exempt from hazing laws. It is time for professional organizations to be held to the same standard as everyone else at this University.

Nadia Mahallati
Editor-In-Chief


Views: 490

Comments (5)
RSS comments
1. 03:20AM 04-10-2008
 
and a social sorority driving a van-load of blindfolded girls into the middle of stockton and dropping them off to have them get back to campus alone, at night is not hazing?  
hmm interesting take m'am. :roll
Guest
 
2. 12:23PM 04-10-2008
 
or what about telling every member in a house both initiated and pledging that they have to pay for a party when some can't afford it. is that not a form of hazing?  
 
or making a pledge do pushups at a big brothers whim. 
 
or attacking a group of girls while they "guard a rock" all night.
Guest
 
3. 12:49AM 04-11-2008
 
the difference is that social greek organizations actually GET IN TROUBLE for hazing, unlike the professional organizations. 
 
and i'd have to disagree that requiring money from members is "hazing"...greek organizations are expensive, and i don't think any house tries to hide the costs of membership, if so, maybe you should have asked more questions regarding financing during recruitment.
Guest
 
4. 01:13PM 04-12-2008
 
i never joined a greek house nor professional organization. however, I agree that carrying around a paddle to show that you're "committed" to a group is horse shit. It just drops you down to the scum of the earth, able to do whatever others say to do, no matter how retarded it may seem.  
 
As for paying money to pay for parties, where all you are doing is getting underage girls drunk and then maybe "taking advantage" of said situation... i wag my finger at you.
Guest
 
5. 04:40PM 04-14-2008
 
Says a girl pledging theta. I hope you get the "clown will". Maybe alcohol poisoning will give you some perspective.
Guest
 

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