OPINION
Hazing Is Inexcusable Rites of passage are a dangerous practice that should be stopped. BY TAYLOR PITZL WEB EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
When students are returning to school, trying out for sports teams, and joining clubs and organizations, they should be worried about homework and other distractions of youth. Not hazing. StopHazing.org defines hazing as “Any activity expected of someone joining or participating in a group that humiliates, degrades, abuses, or endangers them regardless of a person’s willingness to participate.” Hazing preys on vulnerable people to force them to embarrass or even harm themselves. The purpose of hazing is to put freshmen or new members “in their place” and to force them to prove themselves before joining
an organization, team or other group. The power dynamics at play with senior members preying on new recruits, puts members in a vulnerable position. Many people in this position feel unable or are scared to refuse to complete a task. This can easily turn disastrous. One of the most recent examples of hazing gone wrong is the death of a Penn State pledge at Beta Theta Pi fraternity last year. After excessive drinking forced, or at least encouraged, by his fellow fraternity members, he fell down a flight of stairs and hit his head. None of the boys sought help or called emergency services for the next 12 hours, according to The Atlantic. The tragedy at Penn State occurred in spite of bans on hazing both on campus and in the Beta Theta Pi fraternity. But this is not an isolated event. While many campuses, teams and organizations proclaim that they have bans on hazing, it is still
widespread. The main reason the bans are ineffective is that hazing events are rarely reported. Ninety-five percent of students who experience hazing do not report to campus officials, according to a study conducted by the University of Maine. Hazing is harmful to students involved. Some may justify hazing saying it helps bring the group together and makes teammates and members closer. However, there are safer and more enjoyable ways to bond that do not have negative consequences. Seventy-one percent of students who have been hazed have suffered negative consequences such as post traumatic stress disorder or emotional instability, according to HazingPrevention.org. The only guaranteed way to stop hazing is for senior members to take a stand and refuse to subject younger members to this practice.
Pennsylvania State Senate Majority Leader Jake Corman introduced an anti-hazing legislation after the death of Timothy Piazza on Friday, March 23. (Photo by MCT Campus)
In order to stop hazing, rules and laws must be strictly enforced and stiff penalties must be levied upon anyone who ignores them. Educational programs should teach students what hazing is and where they can report it. In addition, students, teammates, fraternities and sororities must take responsibility to stop hazing and to treat their younger counterparts with dignity and compassion. Only then will the cycle be broken.
Packing A Punch: Why Self-Defense Is Essential Educating girls about self-defense is needed as more young women are targets of violent crimes. BY JENNA BARACKMAN REPORTER
Violence and abuse are not abstract concepts or something that should be looked at with a ‘that won’t happen to me’ state of mind. Violence is real. In July, 20-year-old Mollie Tibbetts went missing while on her evening, routine jog. She was found with multiple stab wounds, her body buried in a corn field near the University of Iowa. In 2002, 19-year-old Ali Kemp was murdered at a local Leawood pool while working as a lifeguard. In 2007, 17-year old Kara Kopetsky and, in 2016, 21-year-old Jessica Runions were both murdered in Belton, Missouri after being tortured and killed by the same perpetrator. Women's self-defense education needs to be a priority, and the best place is in high schools across the country. High schoolers are preparing for college,
1 in 3
high schoolers will experience
sexual abuse or
physical assault
what’s commonly known as the “hunting ground,” where two-thirds of students experience sexual harassment according to the National Violence Research Center. Female college students, specifically ages 18-24, are also three times more likely to experience sexual violence, making young women the most vulnerable to sexual abuse than any other group of people. Self-defense is of the utmost importance. Self-defense classes offer more than just the physical skills necessary for defending oneself. Learning self-defense also boosts self-esteem and brings about an overall positive attitude, something that teenage girls often lack, according to a study done by Washington University. Classes like this can also significantly reduce anxiety in teenagers, according to Psychology Today. Not only does self-defense increase the physical capability of a victim, but it can also significantly reduce stress levels in all aspects of a student’s life. In addition, self-defense classes are also not too physically demanding and can be taken by almost anyone. In fact, lessons are offered to anyone from inexperienced to advanced skill sets and utilize
Every minute,
24 people
are physically or sexually
assaulted
small actions that don’t require much skill or strength. But these actions can create a huge amount of damage against an attacker. In 2014, The Ali Kemp Educational Foundation taught a self-defense course in the gym, charging $18-$20 per student, according to Principal Natalie McDonough. This needs to happen again. Time is not a concern. There is plenty of time for a self-defense class. We frequently host guest speakers who give presentations on topics like stress and sexual assault during class meetings, maison time and study halls. Some of this time could be used for self-defense training. It is also relevant to the curriculum and school because abuse can affect how a victim performs in school. High school students who have been physically hurt on purpose by their partner earned grades of C and D twice as often, according to Break the Cycle. So, really, self-defense has everything to do with academics and performance in school. And though class time is valuable, teaching skills that could potentially save a victim from an attacker is just as valuable.
120 million
girls worldwide will experience rape or sexual battery according to UN Women
according to the National Domestic Violence Hotline
according to Break the Cycle
SEPTEMBER 2018
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