"BLIND FOLDED EYES"
By Ramesh A. Dataya, Copyright 1998

The recent death of UP student Alexander Miguel Icasiano again brings back the controversy - and the fatal effects - of fraternity initiations and hazing into public attention and scrutiny. After all, it has happened before during earlier years, only to have the government, the public and the media lose interest about it. But now, with Icasiano’s death, the public has to realize that these dubious fraternity initiations are indeed dangerous to our society – especially to college students – and that something should be done to prevent another death caused by hazing. If not, the gruesome deaths of young innocent students in the hands of their older "frat brothers" will continue and further endanger our country’s hostile crime situation. I still vividly remember that Ateneo student who died during hazing rites more than eight years ago. It was his death that first put fraternity initiations into a bad light, and eventually paved the way for the banning of hazing in some schools. However, despite the loud howls surrounding his death, fraternity hazing has really never come to a halt. Isolated cases of hazing-related deaths had been reported – with some even making the national dailies – but never given serious attention by the government and the public. Soon, these cases have been forgotten and blown away from our midst; which is an insult for the victims who cry for justice.

These initiation rites are really appalling. Frat members defend that these rites pave the way in displaying their acceptance to sacrifice for the sake of their brotherhood and loyalty to fraternity, its’ rules and its’ principles. However, I do not see it as a reason enough to hurt somebody badly. Some hazing rites are said to be very violent. Most neophytes are hit with baseball bats almost mercilessly, while a few "lucky" ones are greeted with punches to their blindfolded faces. Of course, all these are painful and dangerous, which is a reason enough why a number of students have died during these rites. It’s really a wonder why these people who are studying in exclusive and highly-regarded schools insist in what they are doing, even if it is glaringly wrong and convincingly stupid. While it is nice to note that the government, the media and the public in general has been quick in stepping up on these matters, it is also sad to say that no justice has been due to the previous victims of hazing. Alexander Miguel Icasiano is the latest in a very long line of hapless frat fatalities, but will he be the last?

It’s a question that only God can answer, but we can sure prevent all these if only the authorities – and the students themselves – can do something to this dim situation.

Those neophytes who join fraternities are mostly blind of the truth about these groups. The most popular reason why several students join these frats are because they want to be in "the-in-crowd" – or, in other words, they want to trendy. But they do not realize the harmful effects of being there, and most importantly, what hazing can do to them, their lives and their fate. Most neophytes who join these frats exude imperfect voluntariness, for they are now fully aware of the dangers of hazing and initiation rites. On the other hand, the so-called fraternity leaders are obviously abusing their rather invisible powers by physically hurting their poor, hapless frat brothers. They themselves know how painful these rites are, so they are well aware of the dangers these hazing rites would bring. Theirs is an example of simple voluntariness, for they say that they do these rites because "as officers, they should do what they are supposed to do."

These frat leaders are well aware how dangerous and risky these initiation rites are. But why do they insist doing it?

The answer is simple. These people are ignorant of what is evil, forbidden and dangerous, and they seem to be unaware of it. For this reason, we can say that these people possess ignorance, for they do not know what exactly they are doing. The neophytes also possess these traits. They try to face the risk of hazing, thinking that they can get over with it, anyway. This may be the case of Alexander Miguel Icasiano. Unfortunately, he wasn’t able to do what he expected to do --- to survive.

Common sense dictates that these poor neophytes are forced to join these fraternities to be part of the "in" crowd, or because it supposedly helps students because it will provide you a group to support you. So, they are forced to go and sign up for initiation rites, despite the cry of their hearts not to. Of course, common sense also dictates that Icasiano was also well aware of the danger, risk and perils he was up to when he joined the fraternity. And much more when he decided to show up for the initiation rites.

Of course, hazing is a form of violence. The physical pain endured by Icasiano and his fellow neophytes is evident enough of the immense violence brewing in every initiation rite. As for Icasiano, he might have died because of too much blows; too much pain. It’s really a waste that a life has to be sacrificed to be in a fraternity, and it’s too late for Icasiano to realize that. Yes, the rites could have been so violent, resulting to the death of a young student who would have been a lawyer someday.

Hazing is used in most fraternity initiation rites irrevocably because it will test one’s willingness to sacrifice and suffer in the name of the organization, its’ people and the beliefs it is standing for. But hazing has become a doubtful initiation rite because of the number of persons killed while undergoing these said rites. It is only proper that justice be applied to these gruesome deaths, for no matter how the frat will make the proceedings look like a legal one, it is still murder at the first degree. They should realize that.

One basic question that comes into my mind is: " Is hazing immoral?" Moral actions are actions that are in conformity with the norm of morality. But is hazing - with its’ fatal effects - in conformity with the norm of morality, values and ethics? The answer is NO. Hazing is immoral, for they lead to murder, which is a principal immoral action.

Therefore, Hazing is an immoral act and should be curbed, abolished and banned in every institution in the country. Of course, fraternities can go on, but they should no longer engage in all these initiation acts which, in general truth, looks more like a satanic action rather than a form of sacrifice like what frat members would often aver.

Fraternity leaders defend hazing during initiation rites because they are a tradition that should be followed and that it really helps them bond more into one another, which is a key for the group to hold on and stay together. That is what they dub as the motive of their act, which is still really dubious because of the immense violence that stems through the death of these neophytes while undergoing these rites. Yes, hazing is immoral. The frat’s reason to have hazing is not valid enough to misconstrue our perceptions. Any man with a sane mind will support the banning of hazing. Yes, that’s what we need by now. Let’s just bear in our mind that hazing is immoral and does not deserve a place in our world.

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