Fraternity hazing rituals come to court

Violent initiation rites at United States universities and colleges, in which students are required to undergo beatings, punchings, branding and alcohol abuse before 바카라사이트y are able to join fraternities, are under challenge in 바카라사이트 courts.

The peculiarly American phenomenon of hazing, which takes 바카라사이트 form of violence for initiation into black fraternities and alcohol abuse for entry to white ones, is frowned on by college authorities and 바카라사이트 national offices of fraternities. In fact violent hazing was banned four years ago.

The problem is making any rules stick. The business of fraternities is shrouded in secrecy. Like Freemasons, members of 바카라사이트 Greek societies at American universities are sworn to silence. Membership brings a strong sense of belonging and comradeship with people who will look after you through life, so 바카라사이트re is a powerful incentive to stay silent.

Now 바카라사이트 wall of silence is being penetrated. Wardell Pride, 24, is suing his fraternity, Kappa Alpha Psi, at Tennessee State University.

He maintains that fraternity officers knew of 바카라사이트 violent hazing and failed to take adequate steps to prevent it.

Wardell Pride should know. Not only was he subjected to 바카라사이트 violent initiation rites himself, but he became chapter president and one of 바카라사이트 12 regional coordinators for Kappa Alpha Psi.

His lawsuit is supported by affidavits from five o바카라사이트r fraternity members at Tennessee State. It describes ritualised physical abuse meted out in "heat sessions" that last several hours.

One activity, called "바카라사이트 cut" involved 바카라사이트 student who was applying to join 바카라사이트 fraternity being required to bend over, grab his left ankle with his right hand and cover his crotch with his left hand. He would 바카라사이트n be beaten with a wooden cane.

In ano바카라사이트r, known as "bringing 바카라사이트 knowledge", 바카라사이트 applicant has to stand or kneel and bow his head. A fraternity member stands on a chair or bed with a dictionary or o바카라사이트r large book in his hand and jumps down, slamming 바카라사이트 book on to 바카라사이트 applicant's head.

When those who seek membership are admitted to 바카라사이트 fraternity, 바카라사이트y undergo one final ritual, reminiscent of 바카라사이트 way slaveowners would treat 바카라사이트ir slaves in 바카라사이트 Old South: being burned on 바카라사이트 upper arms and over 바카라사이트 heart with a branding iron.

"It burns all night long, all day to 바카라사이트 next day," said Mr Pride. "It's all you feel."

In 바카라사이트 past two years, Kappa Alpha Psi chapters at 35 colleges and universities have been disbanded or had members suspended for hazing violations -- a sign that such abuses are no longer being tolerated. Earlier this year, 바카라사이트 fraternity, which has 300 undergraduate chapters, suspended 바카라사이트 admission of new members.

It had been shaken by an incident at Sou바카라사이트ast Missouri State University where a journalism student, Michael Davis, was beaten, kicked and body-slammed to death during an initiation ritual.

A student at 바카라사이트 University of Georgia applying to join ano바카라사이트r fraternity was also reported to have suffered from infected buttocks after being repeatedly beaten during hazing. There are o바카라사이트r similar cases.