<p>What a tragic loss - I ache for the students and their families. I am not interested in vilifying sororities/fraternities. I think hazing should be forbidden. Period. Whether to suspend or close down or whatever I guess depends on the situation. However, Binge/over drinking is a big issue in our society overall, particularly amoung our high school and college students. Of course hazing should not be tolerated, but I have to say I wonder WHY kids often fail to call for help. In my mind (and backed up be some personal observations in our local community), one of the problems is that the kids are frightened of getting themselves OR their friend in trouble. Of course, it is obvious to us that they should not be drinking so much and that they should call for help if there is trouble, but when we make the punishments and consequences so severe, imo we encourage kids NOT to call. </p>
<p>I wish there was some sort of “good samaritan” law/code that would leave kids free to call for help without fear of serious legal charges. I know of a girl (top student, not a “partier”)in our community who drank way too much with some friends at a very small house party. She “passed out” or became otherwise non-responsive. The kids called 911 - the girl got immediate help and was completely fine by morning. I was so happy and proud that those kids were more interested in the health and welfare of their friend than in the consequences. However, they were charged with underage drinking, had the ability to get their driver’s licenses delayed by about a year (I don’t know the exact timing…) or taken away, were suspended from sports teams, etc… Who knows how that will affect their records, college apps, or whatever. Unfortunately, I fear that the lesson all the other kids at the school and in the community learned was… DON’T CALL - you’ll get everyone in huge trouble. </p>
<p>I am no expert, but I do wonder if we should focus not on harsh punishment (consequences and lessons and talking and grounding or whatever, yes of course, just not so severe that they refuse to call because they are too scared to come to us or the police or health authorities), but rather on changing our culture of hazing,hiding, secrecy and “pre-gaming.” It is easier said than done, but I wish the kids could learn “healthier” attitudes towards alcohol - it seems hard to accomplish that when the drinking is done underground - quickly, secretly and not as part of any other social event and with no adults present to model moderation. Many of us had an 18-yr old drinking age. Many of us drank in college (and even high school), some legally, some not. Was it a good idea? Probably not. Was it a fact? Yes. </p>
<p>I know I will probably get flamed for this post. I do not claim to know the answers or the best way to address the problems of binge drinking, hazing or underage consumption. But I think it is clear that we what we doing is not working and, in fact, may be getting worse. I am going to use the post as an opportunity to remind my teenage sons about the dangers of hazing AND how important it is to look out for their friends and peers no matter what. I just hope they wouldn’t get punished for “doing the right thing” even if the right thing followed a mistake or poor choice.</p>