Alcohol and Hazing in College Fraternities: A Deadly Mixture

Fraternities and sororities are a staple of the American university nearly as old as the institution itself. Greek life on college campuses from Harvard to University of California in San Francisco boasts a number of esteemed alumni amongst its ranks: Jon Stewart, Condoleezza Rice, Steven Spielberg, Michael Jordan and former President George W. Bush, to name a few. 

But the once-venerated institution these days finds itself plagued by a disturbing trend—a series of incidents have left pledges with broken bones, visits to rehab centers and worst-case scenario, the morgue. And it all begins with hazing.

While hazing is illegal in 44 out of 50 states and forbidden at universities from the East Coast to San Francisco, its prevalence is shocking. A 2008 study from the University of Maine found that 55 percent of students who join fraternities or sororities experience hazing. Since 2005, 59 students have died in incidents involving fraternities, nearly half of which were alcohol-related.

At the same time fraternity membership is climbing, with membership up 25 percent since 2007. As increasing numbers of students get involved with Greek life, they stand to become unwilling participants in the drug and alcohol abuse rampant on college campuses, visiting the ER and drug and alcohol rehab centers.

Members should count themselves lucky if the only consequence of fraternity-imposed alcohol abuse on campus lands them with state-sanctioned enrollment in alcohol rehab centers. Hazing horror stories involving alcohol abound: pledges have been kidnapped, forced to drink incredible amounts of alcohol and then left unsupervised, their bodies only discovered the next day.

In the case of a freshman at California Polytechnic State University, located between Los Angeles and San Francisco, 18 year-old Carson Starkey was forced to quickly drink large quantities of liquor during a hazing event, allegedly told by fraternity members to “puke and rally.” Starkey later passed out, and never woke up. His blood alcohol level was .40, five times higher than the legal driving limit.

In another event at the San Francisco Bay-area University of California, Berkeley, a freshman girl was forced to stand for hours, drink large quantities of alcohol and act as a human garbage can for other pledges. The emotional and physical trauma caused her to visit rehab centers and eventually leave the school.

While hazing in fraternities is often swept under the rug and covered up, alcohol abuse is much more out in the open. Findings from a 2000 Harvard study indicate that four-out-of-five fraternity and sorority members are binge drinkers, and those numbers have likely only increased since.

Alcohol abuse in college can lead to higher rates of alcoholism and higher enrollment in alcohol rehab centers, from the Midwest to San Francisco. The fact that Greek life regards such dangerous, abusive behaviors as the norm is troubling to say the least. If the institution of Greek life seeks to save itself—and its pledges—it will have to take a good, hard look at alcohol and hazing practices and make some serious changes.

Natalie Benoy is a health writer reporter for Fusion 360, an SEO and content marketing agency. Information provided by Miramar Recovery Center. Follow on Twitter