– Max Gruver, LSU student, was forced to chug 190-proof Diesel liquor in a fatal hazing ritual.
– Hazing remains a significant issue on college campuses, with inconsistent safeguards across states.
– Missouri legislation has taken measures to ramp up the penalties, but loopholes persist.
An Uneven Battle Against Campus Hazing
A college house should be the intersection of learning and fun – a sanctuary for memories and experiences. For Max Gruver, however, the Phi Delta Theta chapter house at Louisiana State University (LSU) was the stage of a fatal night in September 2017. He found himself entrenched in a deadly hazing ritual called “Bible Study,” in which fraternity pledges had to chug hard liquor for every fact they couldn’t recall about the fraternity.
The State of Missouri’s Hazing Legislation
Unfortunately, Gruver’s case is not a solitary one. Across the US – not just in Missouri – a glaring problem persists: hazing. This often-understated form of intimidation and abuse continues unchecked, mainly due to inconsistent state safeguards. In an attempt to address this issue, Missouri legislators have introduced measures to intensify penalties for participating in hazing activities. However, like thorny bushes in a garden of legislative writings, loopholes continue to undermine their intent.
The Breezy Take
The story of Max Gruver serves as a painful reminder that hazing is not just a series of misplaced fun and games – it’s a significant issue that can lead to fatal consequences. Missouri’s attempts to enhance hazing punishments are commendable. Yet the presence of loopholes indicates that stronger, more comprehensive legislation could provide a more effective safeguard. The major challenge lies in reshaping the deeply ingrained culture within fraternities and college campuses overall that tolerates, and sometimes even glorifies, hazing rituals. As such, implementing clear and strict laws is only half the battle, with the remainder won through consistent enforcement, education, and a cultural shift away from the acceptance of harmful initiation practices.
Original article: https://missouriindependent.com/2023/10/02/its-hazing-season-on-college-campuses-state-safeguards-are-uneven/