How many roads must a man walk down
Before you call him a man?

Every neophyte has to walk down many roads before he can be called Brod(short for Brother). The roads vary from fraternity to fraternity but generally, they include the following:

• Shock hazing - arranging experiences whereby a neophyte will be startled, frightened, or appalled
• Test hazing - subjecting a neophyte to a situation from which he or she must extricate himself or herself
• Hazing by omission - not providing a newcomer with all the steps necessary to complete a task
• Barbarous hazing - harsh or cruel practices intended to cause physical discomfort or pain

They say that the purpose of hazing is to test the determination of each applicant and to make sure that he is worthy enough to belong and to be accepted in the group as a “brod.” Is it really worth it?

Yes, ‘n’ how many seas must a white dove sail
Before she sleeps in the sand?

On Friday, the 7th of September, 13 fraternities of the University of the Philippines signed a covenant called The Multilateral Declaration Against Institutional Campus Violence in the University of the Philippines. I hope that this is one of many steps that educational administrators in high schools and colleges all over the Philippines will take to ensure that school-wide policies are implemented to eliminate hazing and other fraternity-related violence.

About three years ago I read about Bill Stanley, a teacher in Illinois who developed an anti-hazing policy with the help of his students at West Aurora High. For reference, I have included a copy of the anti-hazing policy at the end of my entry so that school leaders can use it as a model.

Yes, ‘n’ how many times must the cannon balls fly
Before they’re forever banned?

On Monday, 4 September, Sen. Miriam Defensor called for a comprehensive review of Republic Act No. 8049, or the “Anti-Hazing Law.” We are counting on the lawmakers to put in place measures that will promote the welfare of the students rather than protect the interests of the fraternities and their members. It’s common knowledge that many high-ranking officials are members of high-profile fraternities. Also, I compared our anti-hazing law to the laws in other countries and I was surprised at how limited our definition of hazing is in RA 8049. Other states have about 4 or 5 paragraphs describing the different forms of hazing that they want to eradicate.

The answer, my friend, is blowin’ in the wind,
The answer is blowin’ in the wind.

How many times must a man look up
Before he can see the sky?

Some fraternity members would argue that hazing is part of the organization’s customs and traditions. They would insist that hazing instills humility in the neophytes, fosters unity and esprit-de-corps among them, and boosts the self-confidence of the successful initiate. The rites of passage are passed on from one batch of initiates to the next and this consistency gives all members of the fraternity their common link. It is clear then that for the calls for reform to succeed, they must come from the senior alumni of the fraternities. They must realize that they were the ones who perpetuated this problem and they should initiate the solution. It might be a good idea for them to contact the incumbent officers of their fraternities and set-up initiation rituals that are safer and less harmful. I hope that it is clear to everyone that inflicting physical pain may no longer be the most effective way to test the loyalty, the determination, and the abilities of the applicants.

I found this nice website, www.stophazing.org and it aims to eliminate hazing through education and information campaign.

Yes, ‘n’ how many ears must one man have
Before he can hear people cry?

Justice is blind so that her judgment cannot be influenced by wealth and power. However, she is not deaf so that she may hear the cries for justice of the families and friends of the victims of fraternity-related violence. Also, she is not mute because we need to send out a strong message to all the fraternities in the Philippines that hazing is illegal and that it should stop.

Yes, ‘n’ how many deaths will it take till he knows
That too many people have died?

My condolences to the family and friends of Cris Anthony Mendez.

Let’s make sure that Mendez does not become another statistic. I call upon the youth to push for reforms in their universities so that the school administrators would have more effective measures against hazing and other fraternity-related violence. We need to write our lawmakers and law enforcers and tell them that enough is enough!. In memory of Cris Mendez, we demand real and lasting change.

The answer, my friend, is blowin’ in the wind,
The answer is blowin’ in the wind.

How many years can a mountain exist
Before it’s washed to the sea?

Hazing has been accepted as a legitimate rite of passage by many fraternities since their days of inception. Their rituals, customs, and traditions are firmly in place. May this terrible incident shake the foundations of these institutions. May Cris’s death bring on a storm that will change the traditions and attitudes of the fraternities.

Yes, ‘n’ how many years can some people exist
Before they’re allowed to be free?

A lot of high school and university students are tied to the chains of brotherhood imposed upon by fraternities. Many of them joined a fraternity just to be part of the group, to belong, to be in. Most of them don’t realize that after being initiated, there are more responsibilities involved. Not to mention, the pakikisama (forced consents) that you have to do for your so-called brods in the fraternity. In the end, you don’t have any control of your time because you’re always doing something with your “Brods” in the fraternity.

Yes, ‘n’ how many times can a man turn his head,
Pretending he just doesn’t see?

GMA News published a list of victims of fraternity-related violence in the University of the Philippines. I hope they can follow it up with a comprehensive list of victims of fraternity-related violence in the Philippines.

Let’s make Cris Anthony Mendez’ death a significant one. Huwag na po tayong magbulag-bulagan. (Let’s open our eyes to the truth.) I think it’s time we recognize the problem and make sure that we put a stop to this very violent practice of hazing. Now that someone has turned our heads in the right direction, let’s take the steps necessary to make the country, hazing-free!

The answer, my friend, is blowin’ in the wind,
The answer is blowin’ in the wind.

=======
References:

Hazing Prevention Deserves Attention, Too. Douglas E. Fierberg. School Administrator. Volume: 57. Issue: 9. October 2000. COPYRIGHT 2000 American Association of School Administrators.

A Model Policy to End Hazing. Curriculum Review. Volume: 43. Issue: 4. December 2003. COPYRIGHT 2003 PaperClip Communications.

The Psychology of Group Aggression. Arnold P. Goldstein. Publisher: Wiley. Place of Publication: New York. Publication Year: 2002.

College Life and the Mores. Janet Agnes Kelley. New York. Publication Year: 1949

======
Appendix:

A Model Policy to End Hazing

Under the leadership of Illinois teacher Bill Stanley, who lost a friend to hazing when he was a teen, the students of West Aurora High’s Business Law II class recently developed an anti-hazing policy they hope will become a model for schools nationwide. Here, published for the first time outside the district, is the draft policy crafted by the West Aurora students. To learn how they did it, check out this month’s Q&A with Stanley.

West High Hazing Policy

The purpose of this policy is to maintain a safe learning environment for students and staff that is free from hazing. Hazing activities of any type are inconsistent with the educational goals of School District 129 and are prohibited at all times.

General Statement

A. No student, teacher, administrator, volunteer, contractor or other employee of the School District 129 shall plan, direct, encourage, aid or engage in hazing.
B. No teacher, administrator, volunteer, contractor or other employee of School District 129 shall permit, condone or tolerate hazing.
C. Apparent permission or consent by a person being hazed does not lessen the prohibitions contained in this policy.
D. This policy applies to behavior that occurs on or off school property and during and after school hours.
E. A person who engages in an act that violates school policy or law in order to be initiated into or affiliated with any group, club, athletic team, grade level, activity or student organization shall be subject to discipline for that act.
F. School District 129 will act to investigate all complaints of hazing and will discipline or take appropriate action against any student, teacher, administrator, volunteer, contractor or other employee of the school district who is found to have violated this policy.

Definitions

A. “Hazing” means when an act is committed against a student or a student is coerced into committing an act that creates a substantial risk of harm to the student or to any third party in order for the student to be initiated into or affiliated with any group, club, athletic team, grade level, activity or organization. Hazing includes, but is not limited to:

1. Any type of physical brutality such as whiping, beating, striking, branding, electronic shocking or placing a harmful substance on the body.
2. Any type of physical activity such as sleep deprivation, exposure to weather, confinement in a restricted area, calisthenics or other activity that subjects the student to an unreasonable risk of harm or that adversely affects the mental or physical health or safety of the student
3. Any activity involving the consumption of any alcoholic beverage, drug, tobacco product or any other food, liquid, or substance that subjects the student to an unreasonable risk of harm or that adversely affects the mental or physical health or safety of the student.
4. Any activity that intimidates or threatens the student with ostracism, that subjects the student to extreme mental stress, embarrassment, shame or humiliation, that adversely affects the mental health or dignity of the student or discourages the student from remaining in school.
5. Any activity involving any violation of federal, state or local law or any violation of school districts policies and regulations. Students should report all forms of such actions to the appropriate school staff member. Police investigation will be included if threats originate or continue outside of the school day. The school will participate in charging students with criminal acts if warranted.

Reporting Procedures

A. Any person who believes he or she has been the victim or any person with knowledge or belief of conduct, which may constitute hazing, shall report the alleged acts immediately to an appropriate school district official designated by this policy.
B. The building principal is the person responsible for receiving reports of hazing at the building level. Any person may report hazing directly to a school district human resource official or to the superintendent.
C. Teachers, administration volunteers, contractors and other employees of School District 129 shall be particularly alert to possible situations, circumstances or events, which might include hazing. Any such person who receive a report of, observes, or has others knowledge or beliefs of conduct which may constitute hazing shall inform the building administrator immediately.
D. Submission of a good faith complaint or report of hazing will not affect the complainant or reporter’s future employment, grades or work assignments.

School District Action

A. Upon receipt of a complaint or report of hazing, the school district shall undertake or authorize an investigation by school district officials or a third party designated by the school district.
B. The school district may take immediate steps, at its discretion, to protect the complainant, report, students or other pending completion of an investigation of hazing.
C. Upon completion of the investigation, the school district will take appropriate action. Such action may include, but is not limited to, warning, suspension, exclusion, expulsion, transfer, remediation, termination or discharge. Disciplinary consequences will be sufficiently severe to deter violations and to appropriately discipline prohibited behavior.

Reprisal

School District 129 will discipline or take appropriate action against any student, teacher, administrator, volunteer, contractor or other employee of School District 129 who retaliates against any person who makes a good faith report of alleged hazing or against any person who testifies, assists or participates in an investigation, or against any person who testifies, assists or participates in a proceeding or hearing relating to such hazing. Retaliation includes, but is not limited to, any form of intimidation, reprisal or harassment.

Source: A Model Policy to End Hazing. Curriculum Review. Volume: 43. Issue: 4. December 2003. COPYRIGHT 2003 PaperClip Communications.

 Email This Post        Print This Post