Monday Matters 12

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/10/opinion/blow-the-brutal-side-of-hazing.html?ref=charlesmblow

In this column by Charles M. Blow, "The Brutal Side of Hazing",  he discusses the hidden and alarming realities of college hazing, and the recent death of a college student who was a victim of it, Robert Champion. He discusses how college hazing is a common thing in the country at colleges, and that most of it is truly dangerous. Many officials choose to pretend that this stuff isn't happening, and turn their attention away from it even though they know that it is happening. Students put themselves through all of this trauma simply to "fit in", and that mindset needs to change, as the practice of dangerous hazing is ridiculous. Blow believes that we need to end hazing as the prices that people pay for it are not worth the "barbaric physical and psychological trauma" students face to prove they are strong. His main way of communicating this point is through is persona experience with hazing when he was young. Adding in this narrative gives him credibility because he truly does understand the brutality of hazing and the stubborn mindsets of its participants. He starts of the column with an abrupt paragraph "The tragic loss of Robert Champion may be another sad case of a college student literally dying to belong". This grabs attention, because there has recently been a tragic young death, and the reason stated for his death seems very pitiful. In order to show how hidden in the background the harshness of hazing is he says, "And we weren’t Animal House-like alcoholics and louses. We were campus leaders. The fraternity prided itself on receiving the high-G.P.A. award, and I was the freshman class president." He says this to show how when you're young and have the desire to belong, it doesn't really matter how smart or driven you are, you can become a victim. He refers to the 2008 study by researchers at the University of Maine, that stated that 95%  of kids involved in hazing don't report it. He then goes on to say "I certainly didn't." This should alarm the reader because he described in such detail just how brutal and unimaginable his experience with hazing was, and how much pain he was in. Yet, he still didn't feel the need to report it, as most college students don't. This sad point aids his call to action that "We must end the “conspiracy of silence.”" Outside help of more enlightened people who have lived on this earth for longer than the youth is needed. These horrible acts of hazing will only be put to a stop if it is no longer allowed, and if its illegality is enforced.