By Zoe Adams, Amber Wilson and Myricka Hairston
Tucker Hipps died in September 2014 after going on an early morning run with his fraternity brothers while pledging Sigma Phi Epsilon at Clemson University. He was found dead on Lake Hartwell, a lake near campus. His injuries were consistent with a fall from a bridge, according to pathologists, but never ruled the cause of death. His brothers left him there, calling 911 hours after the fact, according to reports. Cindy Hipps, Tucker’s mother, said her son might have lived if people had responded sooner.
“The biggest thing that bothers me about the whole thing is that they left and they knew he went off that bridge” Hipps said. “He did drown. So had they called 911, maybe they could’ve saved him.”
Hipps contends that hazing is what killed her son. She has spent the last several years trying to help prevent future cases of fraternity hazing. She worked with lawmakers to help pass the Tucker Hipps Transparency Act in South Carolina, which attempts to hold both sorority and fraternity chapters accountable for their infractions each semester. Colleges in South Carolina are required to post infractions within sororities and fraternities in reference to drugs, alcohol, hazing and sexual assaults. The law intends to discourage these acts by making them public if they were to happen, making it embarrassing for chapters who commit these acts, but also helping potential members to see what happens in these chapters before joining.
Hipps said there is a lot to be done, and students don’t realize the dangers of what one act of hazing.
“The one thing about hazing is kids don’t really see anything wrong with it until something really bad happens,” Hipps said. “But what they don’t see is all the things that could happen.”
Tucker Hipps’ death is hardly an isolated incident. Hazing-related deaths across the United States often happen at universities. But how common are these cases? And how often are fraternities involved? Through research about hazing in the Greek system from existing databases, reports of hazing cases, creating databases, and conducting interviews, the findings are as follows.
Tucker Hipps died in September 2014 after going on an early morning run with his fraternity brothers while pledging Sigma Phi Epsilon at Clemson University. He was found dead on Lake Hartwell, a lake near campus. His injuries were consistent with a fall from a bridge, according to pathologists, but never ruled the cause of death. His brothers left him there, calling 911 hours after the fact, according to reports. Cindy Hipps, Tucker’s mother, said her son might have lived if people had responded sooner.
“The biggest thing that bothers me about the whole thing is that they left and they knew he went off that bridge” Hipps said. “He did drown. So had they called 911, maybe they could’ve saved him.”
Hipps contends that hazing is what killed her son. She has spent the last several years trying to help prevent future cases of fraternity hazing. She worked with lawmakers to help pass the Tucker Hipps Transparency Act in South Carolina, which attempts to hold both sorority and fraternity chapters accountable for their infractions each semester. Colleges in South Carolina are required to post infractions within sororities and fraternities in reference to drugs, alcohol, hazing and sexual assaults. The law intends to discourage these acts by making them public if they were to happen, making it embarrassing for chapters who commit these acts, but also helping potential members to see what happens in these chapters before joining.
Hipps said there is a lot to be done, and students don’t realize the dangers of what one act of hazing.
“The one thing about hazing is kids don’t really see anything wrong with it until something really bad happens,” Hipps said. “But what they don’t see is all the things that could happen.”
Tucker Hipps’ death is hardly an isolated incident. Hazing-related deaths across the United States often happen at universities. But how common are these cases? And how often are fraternities involved? Through research about hazing in the Greek system from existing databases, reports of hazing cases, creating databases, and conducting interviews, the findings are as follows.
Nearly all reported deaths attributed to hazing in the greek system were in fraternities
Since 1838, there have been at least 149 deaths due to hazing in the Greek life community alone, according to Hank Nuwer, an author who writes about and compiles a database of hazing deaths. Only two of these deaths occurred in sororities.
Lianne Kowiak lost her son, Harrison, in 2008 after brothers in the Theta Chi Chapter at Lenoir-Rhyne University repeatedly tackled him in a dark field. They forced him to wear a light color, while larger members wore black and attacked him from a variety of angles, according to a story told by his mom through Grown and Flown. Since his death, she has become a board member at hazingprevention.org.
Kowiak is not surprised by the fact that fraternities have more hazing deaths in comparison to sororities.
“There is this mentality with men that they are tough and can endure it, and what have you,” Kowiak said. “There is this mentality or tradition of ‘I’ve been through it, so you need to go through it, and I’m going to give it back harder, so let’s see how tough you are.'”
While there may have only been two sorority deaths due to hazing reported, hazing still happens in sororities as well.
Dave Conner is the Student Involvement Director at The College of New Jersey. He often does seminars at Universities about hazing prevention.
Conner believes that hazing is very much cultural, as acts of hazing are not true to the values that these Greek organizations are based upon, as he stated when asked about the fraternity hazing he has seen.
"There is absolutely a cultural aspect to it, I think there is a peer aspect to it, I think there is an expectation aspect to it," Conner said. "I don't know that we (fraternities they are looking at) are necessarily breaking people to build them into to stronger, or more committed, or unified members, I think we (are looking at fraternities who) are engaging in some social and cultural rhetoric."
Kowiak is not surprised by the fact that fraternities have more hazing deaths in comparison to sororities.
“There is this mentality with men that they are tough and can endure it, and what have you,” Kowiak said. “There is this mentality or tradition of ‘I’ve been through it, so you need to go through it, and I’m going to give it back harder, so let’s see how tough you are.'”
While there may have only been two sorority deaths due to hazing reported, hazing still happens in sororities as well.
Dave Conner is the Student Involvement Director at The College of New Jersey. He often does seminars at Universities about hazing prevention.
Conner believes that hazing is very much cultural, as acts of hazing are not true to the values that these Greek organizations are based upon, as he stated when asked about the fraternity hazing he has seen.
"There is absolutely a cultural aspect to it, I think there is a peer aspect to it, I think there is an expectation aspect to it," Conner said. "I don't know that we (fraternities they are looking at) are necessarily breaking people to build them into to stronger, or more committed, or unified members, I think we (are looking at fraternities who) are engaging in some social and cultural rhetoric."
Hazing Deaths Have Spiked Since 1970.
Hazing has occurred for a long time, starting even before the Greek system existed. The first documented case of hazing that led to death was in 1840. Since 1970, there have been 123 documented deaths due to hazing. Prior to that, there were only 26 cases reported, according to Hank Nuwer. Hazing deaths have increased by 88% since 1970
In light of previous years, the most deaths occurred in this century. Totaling 62 deaths since 2000.
Various methods of hazing include several kinds of physical abuse such as exhaustion, intense exercise, fighting, and being beaten with objects such as paddles. Having take even take the form of forcing someone to consume various substances such as large amounts of food or weird concoctions of food.
All forms of hazing have permanent long term affects such as phsycological damage and possible physical disabilities.
In light of previous years, the most deaths occurred in this century. Totaling 62 deaths since 2000.
Various methods of hazing include several kinds of physical abuse such as exhaustion, intense exercise, fighting, and being beaten with objects such as paddles. Having take even take the form of forcing someone to consume various substances such as large amounts of food or weird concoctions of food.
All forms of hazing have permanent long term affects such as phsycological damage and possible physical disabilities.
Alcohol is the most Reported cause of hazing-related deaths
Alcohol has proven to be most common in all hazing reported deaths. Many hazing events included alcohol, which led to other events that ended up killing someone, or alcohol poisoning killed the person by itself.
Of the 149 hazing related deaths, 47 of these were alcohol related, making alcohol the deadliest hazing method of all. Other common hazing methods that led to death include car crashes, falls, drowning, and illnesses.
Because hazing goes unreported, many cases are not documented, or hazing is not attributed to the circumstances surrounding deaths.
Cindy Hipps believes that there may be more cases of death that can be linked to hazing, and alcohol is most common because it is easily reported.
"I think there is a lot of hazing incidents that goes unreported of other things (hazing methods) that happen," Hipps said. "Someone dies of alcohol poisoning, it's pretty easy to report it. There are probably a lot of deaths that are never reported as hazing."
Of the 149 hazing related deaths, 47 of these were alcohol related, making alcohol the deadliest hazing method of all. Other common hazing methods that led to death include car crashes, falls, drowning, and illnesses.
Because hazing goes unreported, many cases are not documented, or hazing is not attributed to the circumstances surrounding deaths.
Cindy Hipps believes that there may be more cases of death that can be linked to hazing, and alcohol is most common because it is easily reported.
"I think there is a lot of hazing incidents that goes unreported of other things (hazing methods) that happen," Hipps said. "Someone dies of alcohol poisoning, it's pretty easy to report it. There are probably a lot of deaths that are never reported as hazing."
Pi Kappa alpha has the most reported hazing deaths
Out of the 149 reported hazing deaths, Pi Kappa Alpha was responsible for nine of them. Their first reported hazing death was in 1965 at Georgetown College, and there were several deaths in-between until their most recent, in 2015 at The University of South Carolina. Each of these hazing deaths occurred at different institutions.
Behind Pi Kappa Alpha were Lambda Chi Alpha and Delta Kappa Epsilon, both with five deaths each.
Lianne Kowiak says tradition is most likely the reason that a certain fraternity would have more hazing related deaths than others.
“I think there’s a lot with tradition, and I think there’s a lot with leadership as well.” Kowiak said. “I feel like the alumni are a big component of this. On the flip side, I have met alumni who are outstanding in character.”
California, New York and texas have highest hazing deaths in nation
California has the highest reported hazing related deaths, given its large size and amount of college within the state. New York and Texas are not far behind given their population and for New York, many greek organizations were founded in New York schools and therefore have a longer history and tradition.
tradition can be toxic to the cycle of hazing and perpetuate it even more. “There is this mentality with men that they are tough and can endure it, and what have you,” Kowiak said. “There is this mentality or tradition of ‘I’ve been through it, so you need to go through it, and I’m going to give it back harder, so let’s see how tough you are.'”
tradition can be toxic to the cycle of hazing and perpetuate it even more. “There is this mentality with men that they are tough and can endure it, and what have you,” Kowiak said. “There is this mentality or tradition of ‘I’ve been through it, so you need to go through it, and I’m going to give it back harder, so let’s see how tough you are.'”
Maryland has six reported hazing-related deaths. In terms of non-deadly events ,Maryland has had three reported sorority hazing events and 16 fraternity hazing events.
Specifically looking at Towson University, there is only one reported hazing related death and four incidents. The organization responsible for the death, Alpha Omega Lambda, was quickly kicked off of campus following the death of Victor Siegel in a car accident.
Specifically looking at Towson University, there is only one reported hazing related death and four incidents. The organization responsible for the death, Alpha Omega Lambda, was quickly kicked off of campus following the death of Victor Siegel in a car accident.
NAtional Hazing Incidents 2017-2018
In 2017, there have been 11 reported incidents due to hazing in Greek organizations. There are many causes such as excessive alcohol consumption, sexual misconduct and organization rituals.
Compared to 2018, there have been 14 reported hazing incidents reported nationwide. This is a clear indication that hazing is increasing over the years when the goal is to extinct hazing.
“Hazing is still very alive today, and I wanted to become a part of this organization to lead in my mother's footstep," said a junior at Towson who asked not to be named. "At the time, I was willing to do whatever it takes to be in this organization. I was aware that hazing might occur, but the amount of physical abuse I could not take, Being hit by a paddle for forgetting something as small as a dance move or getting punished for my line sisters doing wasn't worth the physical and mental abuse”.
Connor said the only way hazing incidents will decrease is if school officials and advisors build trusting relationships with student organizations.