Just Another Unhappy Ending
Maxwell Gruver, a LSU freshman and Phi Delta Theta pledge, receives a text to come to “Bible Study”, stops what he is going and races to take part in a hazing initiation. When he gets there, he is forced to consume large amounts of alcohol as a consequence of answering asked questions wrong. In result, he falls unconscious and chokes on his own vomit. At the time of death, Gruver has a alcohol level of .495 and had consumed about 10-14 pulls of diesel. A final report states that he died from alcohol poisoning and aspiration, and his parents have to live with the painful reminder that their son was taken away because of someone else's actions and insecurities. (Toohey, Allen, Discher) (WGNO)
What is hazing? Hazing is a situation that happens with or without consent of those involved. Such situation endangers the participants mental, physical health and safety. In many cases, students' grades drop, they murder their relationships with family and friends, and even can damage their personal reputation. Actions could also risk injury, embarrassment, harassment, degradation and humiliation. Every year, since 1970, at least one student has lost their life due to hazing, while 1.5 million students are hazed, in general, each year (College of St. Benedict’s). New York was the fist state to force an anti-hazing law due to an incident that occurred on the campus of Cornell University (Sheffer). What does it look like? People who are normally pulled into the hazing cycle, usually want to be apart of an organization. In the greek life, it is important to keep the fact that you are pledging as a secret, so the hazing is also kept as a secret. Hazing is used for initiation, so by the time a person "crosses" or joins a greek, it is be too late. Though it may seem to be only associated with only greek life, but that is a myth. Hazing can happen in high school, sports teams, and also in cheerleading associations. Hazing is bullying. It is belittling someone’s confidence in order to feel powerful. During some rituals, participants may be forced to do things such as specials tasks for higher ranked individuals, required to attend late night work sessions and may also be force to physical abuse, such as paddling and mental decapitation, due to drugs and alcohol use.
Hazing in universities is looked at as a norm. There are many misconceptions on the topic of hazing in the attempt of making it seem to be "okay". To some, hazing seems to build unity. This is a myth because it builds a false relationship between the victims and hazers. They are forced to be picked and pushed on in order to be seen as acceptable to be in organizations. Hazing is also said to hold "tradition"(Babson). This is a common idea because hazers are continuing a cycle of abuse. They went through hazing so it is only right that the new members should endure the same treatment. In most cases, the hazers did not have it as bad as the new recruits would get it. If the idea of hazing is to pick out the weak, those individuals should not risk their stability on acceptance. Yes, you might complete the process, but problems will surface relating to health, later in life. When hazing cases come to court, a victim’s consent can not be used as a defense. Such consent could shadow the fact that they are probably giving it only to show loyalty to the group.
Government should have stricter punishments for hazers. Hazing is not looked at as a serious offense to the government. If someone is not hurt, the hazer is charged with a misdemeanor. This entails that the offender will be faced with a small punishment, in most cases are fines. If someone is killed, and they are responsible, that is when it becomes a felony. This should not be the case. This could be a reason why hazing continues to pop up in high schools and universities. If offenders see that the punishment they will receive is mild, they will continue the cycle. In the story of Maxwell Gruver, eleven people were charged. Ten of the eleven people, were ruled to have acted in regulations of a misdemeanor of hazing, and were forced to pay a fine. One of the eleven, received a charge of negligent homicide, and is facing jail time. Though the government has charged the offenders, to universities, at the time, did not do much but make a statement and apologize to the victim’s family. LSU is a state university that is funded by the government, and should be forced to do more about the recent hazing incident. In this cases, none of the boys got expelled, and were given the option the leave, but it was not forced. This can be compared to when a young child does something wrong. This child does something to receive punishment, he is slightly scolded and then allowed to do the punishment again. Offenders act and are punished in a similar way. They act, then will take their punishment and then enter back into the cycle, risking more people's lives. The President of LSU, F. King Alexander, mad the statement, ""Hazing is dangerous, irresponsible and unacceptable," (Toohey) If hazing is dangerous, why are not there that many precautions to keep campus activities and social events safe? Why is it that someone has to die to finally bring up the idea that hazing is a bad habit, that universities have failed to break? Though none of them did not expelled or punished, the university enforced an alcohol ban and put all greek activities on hold, which stood for two weeks, then was taken away due to complaints from parents and greek organizations.
Universities should be aware of everything that is occurring on campus. If 2/5 students know that hazing is happening on their campus, why are president an advisors not aware of the growing epidemic? From those 2/5 students who are aware of hazing happening, 36% say that would not report it (University of Michigan). This only makes things harder to be stopped. If only there was a way that students could anonymously report hazing, without receiving any back lash. Rituals are normally masked by fake sessions, in this case "Bible Study". In this case, the participants was notified in a group message, at around 10 pm., that they had to meet for "Bible study". If a school because aware of the late session, the name would swerve them away from investigating further into what would be going on. During the session, "crossers" are flooded with question that asked about the history and facts about the fraternity. If more questions answer incorrectly, the more alcohol consumed. This is where Gruver put acceptance over health.
Now that it has been almost two months since his death, Gruver should be used as a wake up call along with the others and their stories that fall victim to other people's insecurities. It is sad to have to try to grasp around the idea that a fraternity or sorority is that serious to the point that a life is taken. Gruver loved watching sports and planned on being a sports reporter. Sadly, that will never happen. Gruver's father made the statement, "I cannot understand the hazing. He was so happy that he was going to school at LSU." (Toohey) Any parent would hate to have to bury their child, especially when they have seen no signs that something was happening, but are still stood with grief and emptiness they must take on now