Hazing Paper

User:ThePlaz needs to write a 800-1000 word essay on bullying. The project is due on May 4, 2006. The paper and prior revisions are stored here: File:Hazing Paper.doc.

A Microsoft Word version of this work is available here: Image:Hazing Paper.doc

Focus

He is supose to focus in on one topic. He has chosen Hazing as his "General topic" and possibly pick Freshemen Hazing as his "focused topic." He might expand to High School Hazing for his Focused topic.

I have decided I will focus on high school hazing. This includes both freshmen, (which there was not much information on), and sports teams. (Also for sports teams, new members are often freshmen) I can talk about how teens try to out-do one another and how hazing can esclate to being dangerous and illegal. --Plaz 14:18, 17 April 2006 (EDT)

Sources

Must have 4 articles from databases. One from SIRS, one from EBSCO Host, one from Facts.com, and one from Opposing Viewpoints.
Also he must have two of the following: book soucres, website, or interview.

The soucres I am using are (or in part) here: Hazing Paper/Sources

We go to the libary on 3/29/06 and 3/31/06 to research and listen to the boring database presentation.

I have gotton permission to replace an EBSCO source with another SIRS source.

Finished MLA Works Cited: [1]

Shift through Info

In my notebook. I might scan it in latter. --Plaz 14:13, 17 April 2006 (EDT)

Thesis Draft

Working Thesis: Although high school hazing can be harmless, it can escalate to being dangerous and illegal as teens try to out-do one another. --Plaz 14:16, 17 April 2006 (EDT)

Outline Draft

Working Thesis: Although high school hazing can be harmless, it can escalate to being dangerous and illegal as teens try to out-do one another.
Constant Notice: “Hazing Creep” – keeps getting worse and worse as teens try to out-do one another
Topic One: Can turn illegal and dangerous
1. Mention hs case where it was dangerous – and person’s life affected
2. In college - lots of people die from it
  1. (98% of hazing death are alcohol related)
  2. mention a bit about frats
  3. if people know it is wrong in hs – this can be prevented
Two: It is done because students feel they need to belong
1. Peer pressure
2. Both hazer (Source 8) and the victim (7) feel peer pressure
3. Teens need to belong (pp)
4. Under reported because coaches did it (as hs students) and they go along with it
  1. Hazers also did it a few years ago (and try to best that)
5. New people want to join teem – might not know it’s wrong
6. Coaches and hazers don’t know danger (of escalation)
Three: It’s just wrong!
1. People shouldn’t suffer for joining a team
  1. Eight-> “abuse of power and human dignity”
2. Some people just don’t want to do it
  1. Give theater boy example
    1. ruined his life! (sort-of)
3. Counterpoint: Makes groups stronger
  1. Better ways to “build teamwork”
  2. ?give example of how people are doing that?
Other points (that I should work in somehow - ?or not?):
1. Hazing victims give their consent (?into point three?)
2. Less sever- doesn’t deserve punishment – (see source 4)

Current Revision

2nd Draft

Hazing can become a very dangerous form of bullying. About 70 people have been killed by hazing in the last 20 years (Facts.com 2). “’Hazing’ refers to any activity expected of someone joining a group … that humiliates, degrades or risks emotional and/or physical harm, regardless of the person's willingness to participate” (Hazing Defined 1). Most hazing deaths occur because the act goes too far; the hazers get carried away. Their intention is to have a team building activity or make sure members are up to snuff (Facts.com 2). However, this is not what really happens. The acts often cross the line, and the victims do not complain, because they want to join the group (Facts.com 2). Teens often want to out do one another; each year, teens do something more dangerous then what happened to them (Bowers 1; Bushweller 3). Not only can these acts be dangerous, but they are also an “abuse of power and [a] violation of human dignity” (High School Hazing). If teens can be educated that this hurtful and inhumane act of bullying is forbidden in high school, then they will know that it not acceptable in college, where it becomes the most dangerous. That is why I ? believe that, although high school hazing can be harmless, it can escalate to being dangerous and illegal. (thesis)

Hazing can very quickly turn from a harmless prank into a dangerous situation. In most cases, the victim will still take part, because they want to join the group. Take for instance, Casey Culpepper. She wanted to join the volleyball her first year in high school. All through the summer, the threat of the "initiation" haunted her. One day she and her friends were attacked by seniors after class, and smeared with concoctions that included canned dog food, eggs, ketchup, mustard, horse manure and pet feces. Then, they were hosed off so hard that it hurt (Bowers 1). ?Replace with nick bottom of p2, source THREE? I think I should Other students at Western Branch High School were attacked with chemicals and waste from portable toilets. These students must now take powerful HIV drugs and undergo frequent screenings (Bowers 1). Their life will never be the same after this harmful experience.

However, the problem only gets worse after high school. Fraternities, tight social clubs in college, ? get better def? are notorious from their dangerous hazing practices. The movie “Animal House,” is a showcase of the problem in popular culture. ?? Hazing and physical abuse in fraternities began with class fights between freshmen and seniors in the late 19th century and was based off military imitation rituals (Facts.com 5). By 1970’s alcohol became a part of almost every fraternity function, including hazing (Facts.com 6). Alcohol impairs one’s ability of judgment and the ability to know when to stop a dangerous situation. In fact, according to Eileen Stevens, the president of the Committee to Halt Useless College Killings (CHUCK), alcohol is a factor in 98% of all fatal hazing incidents (qtd. in Facts.com 6). In addition, this figure does not contain the incidents that college officials classify only as alcohol-related incidents (qtd. in Facts.com 6). College is when most hazing turns fatal. However, if students in high school learn that hazing is unacceptable, they will know that once they start college and debate joining a fraternity. Hopefully, they will recognize that they are being put in a dangerous situation and ask the hazers to stop. However, most people are afraid to speak up when they are being victimized by hazing.

Hazing victims do not speak up and ask for the hazing to stop because of peer pressure (High School Hazing). They also believe that the hazing is necessary to join the group, club, team, or activity (Bushweller 2). Peer pressure not only forces the victim to go along with the act, but also forces the hazers to continue and the coaches to overlook it. Administrators, coaches, and teachers, as well as the hazers, believe the hazing is an acceptable tradition that should be allowed to continue (High School Hazing). They do not know the dangers of hazing and are unwilling to stop it (High School Hazing). Through peer pressure, no one speaks up about hazing – not the victims or the hazers. This allows dangerous situations to occur, both in high school and colleges.

Teens have a tendency to want to out do one another (Bowers 1). They want to do something better and harsher then what was done to them (Bowers 1). Today’s media also contributes to the problem (Bowers 1). Teens see television shows such as “Fear Factor” and try to replicate the stunts without realizing that such stunts are closely supervised by professionals. In addition, teens may observe their peers doing crazy things. As a result, peer pressure and the want to “one-up” their own initiation ceremony creates the cycle of “hazing creep” (Bowers 1). If hazing can not be stopped, it will constantly get worse over time.

Hazing is just wrong! People should not need to go through humiliation rituals to join a club or team. …continue 3 para