Campus activities were suspended indefinitely at Southern University while the university investigates the death of a student last week that occurred as the student was taking part in an off-campus fraternity initiation ritual. The tragedy raised widespread alarms about hazing and the safety of student organizations, leading to demands for greater reforms.
Death of Southern University Student Sends Shockwaves Across Campus
Southern University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, is reeling from the news that a student died after a fraternity ritual off-campus. While it wasn’t immediately clear if what happened just a few days before was officially reported to the university, the incident has drawn immediate attention to the ongoing problem of hazing and caused the school to respond quickly. The student has not been officially identified, but the news has left the campus community in mourning.
The historically Black university said that it would suspend all extracurricular activities on campus, including those of fraternities and sororities, as the investigation into the circumstances of the death continues. Students, faculty, and alumni have reacted with outrage and calls for change.
The Hazing Crisis at the Center of a Reckoning in College Greek Life
Hazing — the practice of forcing new group members into abusive or humiliating rituals — has long plagued college campuses across the United States. Although many universities have adopted anti-hazing policies, many of these practices are still found in student organizations, particularly in Greek life.
What’s Behind Persistent Hazing?
Despite major efforts to eradicate hazing, it continues to be deeply entrenched in some corners of college culture. Belonging to an organization and placing oneself in unwanted peer pressure for a misguided sense of tradition regularly nudges students into dangerous initiation rituals.
- Peer pressure: New members can feel pressured to participate in humiliating or dangerous activities to “earn” their place in the group.
- Lack of enforcement: University policies are often not strictly enforced, and students fear retaliation if they report hazing.
- Misplaced traditions: Some fraternities and sororities still defend harmful rituals as “traditions” that help build camaraderie.
Hazing Statistics: The Pervasiveness of the Problem
- More than 50 percent of college students involved in fraternities or sororities say they have been hazed, according to the National Study of Student Hazing.
- A 2022 study from the Anti-Hazing Coalition said there have been at least 200 hazing-related deaths in the U.S. since 1838.
- More than 60 college students died in hazing-related incidents between 2010 and 2020.
These numbers stress the deadly and sometimes fatal impact of hazing and the current need for reforms and accountability under the law.
What We Know About the Southern University Incident
Although details are still being reported, early accounts indicate that the student died following an off-campus initiation event at the fraternity. It was said that the ritual included physical challenges and the consumption of alcohol, both of which are typical components of hazing incidents.
How Did the Tragedy Unfold?
The student allegedly showed signs of physical distress after finishing the ceremony and was transferred to a local hospital, reports track to the fit. Tragically, the student did not survive the journey to the hospital and died, leaving family, friends, and the university community heartbroken.
University officials have not released specific information on the fraternity involved or whether hazing was formally connected to the student’s death. But the university and law enforcement agencies were working together to investigate the incident.
The Southern-Biomed, a partnership between the university and the former Brown Institute, was formed in 2019 and has since received over half a million dollars in funding for ownership training, as well as more than 200 vocational training grants totaling over $500,000.
Southern University’s Response
Southern University responded immediately, suspending all campus activities as well as events involving Greek life. Ray L. Belton, the president of Southern University, said in a public statement on Friday that his heart was heavy, offering thoughts and prayers to the grieving family, adding that the university would assist in the investigation.
“We are heartbroken by the tragic loss of one of our students,” Dr. Belton said. “The university is determined to ensure the safety of all of its students, and we are working with law enforcement and we want to find out what occurred in this incident.”
No Campus Activities on Suspension
Along with suspending extracurricular activities, the university said it would review its policies on fraternities and sororities, including its anti-hazing rules. The university’s Greek life organizations are facing greater scrutiny as school officials try to figure out how the tragedy could have been avoided.
All campus events organized by student organizations, athletic team gatherings, and fraternity-related functions are suspended, creating uncertainty for students around the future of their social calendars.
A Larger Discussion About Campus Safety and Greek Life
The death of this student has led to more extensive discussion about the safety of Greek life organizations and their role on university campuses. As universities nationwide try to root out hazing, some are starting to reassess the benefit of Greek organizations.
Is There a Place for Greek Life Without Hazing?
The Greek system has deadlines such as one for filling it out, which has existed for decades as one of the first rites of passage for college students in America, letting students create a sense of community, participate in group leadership roles, and have high-profile social networks. But, as we now see in this case, the tragic and disgraceful recurrence of deaths and abuse in connection with hazing gives us pause as to whether these organizations should be able to exist at all without a complete restructuring.
- Reform and regulation: Universities must take a more active role in regulating fraternity and sorority activities, enforcing strict anti-hazing policies and holding students accountable as necessary for any violations.
- Alternatives to Greek life: Some schools, the University of California, Berkeley, for instance, have suspended Greek life altogether after decades of hazing and misconduct.
Calls for Greek Life Reform
This most recent incident at Southern University comes as part of a larger national dialogue on the future of Greek life on college campuses. Many are calling for:
- More robust accountability measures around student organizations affiliated with hazing.
- Required anti-hazing education for every incoming student.
- Fraternity and sorority activity transparency including, but not limited to, publicly available reporting of adherence to university regulations.
Why Is It Important to Report Hazing?
However, a culture of silence persists, especially as students fear retaliation for reporting incidents. Often, students will not come forward because they are afraid of hurting their reputation or are uncertain of a university response.
To begin addressing this issue, universities must:
- Encourage reporting by establishing anonymous reporting systems for students to report hazing incidents without fear of consequences.
- Be supportive of anyone who reports hazing and make sure they are protected and safe from retaliation.
Moving Forward: What Needs to Change?
The death of a Southern University student serves as a sobering reminder of the dangers of hazing. As the university looks into the incident, there is no doubt that this tragedy should be a springboard for larger changes across college campuses that can tend to overlook the safety of students.
What Can Universities Do?
To avoid further tragedies, universities need to be proactive about hazing:
- They should face strict consequences: Those fraternities and sororities engaged in hazing should be immediately suspended or expelled.
- Establish better support systems for students: Universities must provide counseling and support services for students who participate in hazing as well as for those who witness it to enable these people to come forward and seek help.
- Establish a zero-tolerance approach: There should not be any tolerance for hazing. Universities must clearly state their position against hazing, which will hopefully stop students from engaging in dangerous rituals.
Conclusion: A Plea for Change and Justice
The death of the Southern University student represents a tragic reminder that hazing is a very real and present danger at college campuses across the United States. Although the university’s action was a step towards a solution, it clearly needs to do more to protect the safety of all their students.
As this case progresses, we hope it leads to substantive changes, not only at Southern University but also nationwide. Now is the time for colleges to double down on anti-hazing, to prioritize student safety, and to protect future generations from the very real dangers of these initiation practices.
FAQs
1. What exactly is hazing?
Hazing is a practice whereby newcomers to a college or fraternity, club, organization, or group are subjected to dangerous, humiliating, or abusive activities in order to be accepted into the group.
2. How many students have died from hazing in the United States?
More than 200 students have died from hazing-related incidents since 1838, and most deaths have been connected to fraternities and sororities.
3. How can students safely report hazing incidents?
Many universities have anonymous reporting systems for students to report hazing without the fear of retaliation. These systems allow students to report incidents confidentially.
4. What can universities do to stop hazing?
Hazing should result in immediate expulsion from the campus, and those responsible should face serious consequences to discourage such harmful activities.
5. What does this incident mean for the future of Greek life at Southern University?
Although the future of Southern University’s Greek life is unclear, the school has promised to evaluate its policies and work to keep its students safe. The incident could bring about larger changes in Greek organizations on campus.
