This has to STOP!

Robert Champion’s death at FAMU has, rightfully, received extensive media attention. The latest in a long line of deaths-by-hazing, Robert’s tragic end has brought even more light and awareness to a problem that is more serious than most people realize. Every year since 1970 at least one person has died of hazing on American college campuses, and usually more. But as always, with attention come ideas and “solutions” that, although possibly well-meaning, are ill-informed and overzealous. Most of the world, and certainly those “in the know,” have accepted that a woman’s dress and demeanor are not the reason for sexual assault. Thankfully fewer and fewer people are still stuck in the mold of blaming the survivor for these horrendous crimes. Unfortunately, hazing is not being treated in the same way. People, including some speaking from positions of authority –like law Professor Aaron N. Taylor and U.S. Representative Frederica Wilson – are casting blame on the hazed. Some are even calling for those hazed to be punished along with the perpetrators. This has to stop! Punishing the hazed will only push the problem deeper underground. And would likely lower reporting instead of increasing it. Thankfully, court decisions, university regulations, and most legislation are moving toward explicitly recognizing that those hazed are not at fault, and are excluding “consent” as a defense to hazing charges. This places the blame where it belongs: on the hazers, including those organizations that have failed for decades to implement the institutional changes necessary to stop their members from hazing students. Let’s make sure we blame the people at fault, and not further abuse those who are hazed.