<p>To expand on WP’s point, I like this quote from a story for middle-schoolers written about USNA over 100 years ago:</p>
<p>“I believe in hazing. [In the story, this is not barbaric hazing in our sense, but things that, I believe, would falling under ‘running plebes’] I believe in being forced to respect and obey my elders. I believe in a fellow having every grain of conceit driven out of him by heroic measures. And that’s hazing — long may the practice live and flourish!”</p>
<p>“Why, what good is hazing doing to you?” insisted Dalzell.</p>
<p>“It’s teaching me to submit and and to obey, and how to forget my own vanity before I am put in command of other men later on. Danny boy, do you suppose it has cost me no effort to keep my hands at my trouser-seams when I wanted to throw my fists out in front of me? Do you imagine I have just tamely submitted to a lot of abuse because my spirit was broken? Danny, I’m trying to tame my spirit, instead of letting it boss me! Many and many a time, when the youngsters have started to guy me unmercifully I’ve fairly ached to jump in and thrash 'em all. But, instead, I’ve tried to conquer myself!”</p>
<p>The point of squaring meals (or anything else mentioned) isn’t squaring meals.</p>