The Choice Blog: Should Hazing Make a Prospective College Student Think Twice?

Hazing certainly isn't new to college campuses, but it has garnered more attention recently, especially after the deaths of students at Cornell and Florida A&M Universities made headlines.

The latest report involves Binghamton University, which has fielded complaints that included having to hold hot coals and enduring a version of waterboarding. In a front-page article on Wednesday, our colleague Peter Applebome provided insight into some grim details about fraternity and sorority life in college.

So, what's a prospective college student to make of all of this? Should students avoid applying to universities where hazing seems out of control? Should an college's reputation be affected by the actions of its student organizations?

We've asked Mr. Applebome to weigh in on how prospective college students might interpret the latest report about Binghamton. Here is his response:

If I had a son or daughter thinking of applying to Binghamton would this story dissuade me? No, it would not.
Alas, sometimes bad things happen to good schools. Binghamton, between hazing and scandals surrounding its basketball program, has had its share of bad publicity in recent years. But, as someone who went through the application process with two children over the past decade, I still think it's a fine school, with a vibrant campus culture and with students who seem overwhelmingly satisfied with their experience. (The locale isn't the greatest, but it's not the only good school is a so-so place.)
So, yes, this story was pretty horrific, and Binghamton has a big problem with its fraternity and sorority culture. If my son or daughter was interested in Greek life, I would definitely do my homework on any organization that interested them. And I would be sure the colleges had nothing to do with any nonsanctioned fraternities or sororities.
But, hazing is hardly unusual to Binghamton or to Greek life. Look at all the Rolling Stone story on frat life at Dartmouth or our coverage of the deaths at Cornell and Florida A&M last year.
Only 10 percent of Binghamton students join Greek organizations. And there were complaints about hazing, some scary some more routine, at about 25 percent of the Greek organizations. So, I am certainly not minimizing the problem. But it's certainly one Binghamton knows it must address forcefully, and it's one that affects a small minority of students.
Binghamton has probably taken a modest reputational hit in recent years, but it's still a fine school that provides excellent academics at a reasonably affordable price.
For what it's worth, one person I spoke with was a temporary Greek life supervisor a few years back who now does educational assessment work at Harvard. He said Binghamton, over all, is a great place, and he would not hesitate to send his children there.

We'd like to continue the discussion with you. How should reports of hazing affect a prospective college student's interest in a university or Greek organization? Please share your thoughts in the comments box below.