The Orbis

"No way!" she squealed. "They can't really do something that disgusting. I mean, we go to Vanderbilt, after all."

"Well, I heard that they did. And I heard that this other frat was worse...they blindfolded their pledges and made them all take laxatives. Then they drove them to the woods and left them overnight!"

"Frats are gross, but I heard some stories about sororities, too. This one house makes all the new girls strip one by one on bid day. Each one has to take a turn standing naked on the washing machine while the sisters circle everything that jiggles..."

Stories like these and many, many others run wild on campus at this time of year. Now that both fraternities and sororities have new member classes, it seems natural to wonder if Greek life in fact bears any resemblance to what is shown in movies. Could these things really be happening here?

In reality, although Vanderbilt has a zero-tolerance hazing policy, it is very difficult to catch a Greek organization doing so unless a member comes forward to complain. One hopes that such things do not occur here, but it is impossible to halt something that is kept secret by both perpetrators and victims. Vanderbilt relies on the honesty of its students in its fight against hazing.

The university does support several organizations and programs to help stop hazing. For example, the Students Halt Hazing Committee works closely with new member educators of Greek organizations to prevent hazing incidents. All new members of Greek organizations are required to attend Greek Training Camp, a day intended to help create a feeling of community in the Greek world as well as educate all new members about hazing. Most fraternities and sororities also include sections on hazing in their respective new member education programs.

Hazing is not only against university policy, but also against Tennessee state law. According to this law, hazing is defined as follows: "any intentional or reckless act in Tennessee on or off the property of any higher education institution by one student acting alone or with others which is directed against any other student, that endangers the mental or physical health or safety of that student, or which induces or coerces a student to endanger such student's mental or physical health or safety." All colleges and universities are required to adopt anti-hazing policies.

Illegal and malicious though it may be, hazing is still widespread in the United States. The only way to truly fight against it is by speaking out. If you have information regarding hazing activities at Vanderbilt in a fraternity or sorority, you should contact that organization's national headquarters, the chapter/regional advisor to the chapter, the IFC judicial officers, the Director of the Office of Student Conduct and Academic Integrity and the Office of Greek Life. No matter what anyone tells you, hazing is a big deal and you have the responsibility (both to yourself and to your new brothers or sisters) to do something about it.

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