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We feel sick after learning that a sorority at Colorado State University has been suspended over allegations of extreme hazing, and not just because its methods included starving pledges and forcing them to eat cat food. CSU's Omicron Omicron chapter of Zeta Phi Beta will no longer be recognized officially by the institution, after an investigation uncovered its unorthodox initiation rituals. (Hazing is officially banned by members of the Greek collegiate system but is quite common -- a recent documentary, "Haze," profiles a related death.)
According to a 56-page police report obtained by the Rocky Mountain Collegian, pledges were forced to physically exert themselves to such an extreme that one of them needed medical attention. They were also deprived of sleep and food ... unless they wanted to eat cat food, that is.
Starvation and Sit-Ups
Allegedly leading the torture was the chapter president and member of student government, Adesuwa Elaiho. According to one pledge, Elaiho "had us at her apartment for three days straight. No sleep, no food. I threw up because I was so hungry." In addition to making one of the pledges write her academic papers, the president also made the pledges eat so many onions that two of them threw up.
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According to CSU detective Adam Smith, hazing at the hands of Elaiho took place on multiple occasions. He added, "The physical activity included running, push-ups, wall-sits and other strenuous calisthenics, and were clearly designed as initiation into the Zeta sorority ... These events clearly caused risk of bodily injuries to the parties involved," especially one girl with kidney problems who repeatedly lost consciousness.
Power Gone Sour
Does this sound all right to you? We've heard the argument that the purpose of sororities is to promote community service and "sisterly love," but, well ... let's just say our friends never made us eat Fancy Feast. (And we don't even have to pay them dues!)
The absurd part is that a lot of women do this so they can add leadership skills and volunteerism on their résumés. But with the wooden-paddle-spanking the Greek system is getting in the press, who's going to notice how much they may have raised as social chair?
According to the Zeta Phi Beta Web site: "Membership in Zeta Phi Beta Sorority is a living and learning experience for women with shared values and objectives. You will have the opportunity to be involved in a wide range of activities where you can use your unique talents and knowledge to contribute to the chapter and your community." Really? We wonder how many job listings are looking for applicants whose "unique talents" include "driving people crazy by refusing to let them sleep."
Sorry. We think community service is great, and we like to wear identical booty shorts and point out the figure flaws of terrified 18-year-olds as much as the next gal. But for our money, sororities are officially more trouble than they're worth.
Tell us! What's your take on scholarly sisterhood?
More From Around the Web:
How to Make Dating Shows Even More Humiliating (Cracked)
Beyond "I Have a Headache": A Week of Sexcuses! (Lemondrop)
Bosoms and Beer? There's an App for That (Asylum)
Emails From Crazy People! (Lemondrop)Watch "Haze," a documentary about these dangerous college rituals, below:
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Tuesday 01 September
By Robert Bleak
Kennedy getting a blow job in the Oval Office and then getting us into Vietnam
Lyndon Johnson getting us deeper and deeper into Vietnam
James Earl "Jimmy" Carter...need I say more?
Clinton getting a blow job in the Oval Office trying to emulate Kennedy...
B. Hussein Obama attempting to thwart opposition to his socialist agenda...
Tuesday 01 September
By wparker000
Naming four Republican presidents as admired by the girl's fathers is the most stupid posting I've ever seen. A girl named Adesuwa Elaiho isn't likel;y to be from a Republican family!
Tuesday 01 September
By chilly
huh???????? What in the wide world do your comment of Presidents and Irag have to do with the subject at hand.. obviously you have your own issues,and should deal with them separately.
Tuesday 01 September
By Ann
I am extremely upset by this article. As an Alumnae of a social Sorority in a small town in NY we constantly came underfire for the smallest thing that may have been considered hazing. We NEVER would even think to do something like that to someone. The town has tried over and over to get rid of the Greek houses in this said town and I do not think that they fully understand the consequences of that action. This only forces groups to operate underground and off the school radar. It also means the loss of all the comunity work that these houses provide. In small towns that need all the help they can get it is ridiculous to think that they would be forcing out greek organizations who donate so much time and money to the community. I hate hearing these stories in the news, because I know it's just going to make things harder on every greek organization, not just the one that screwed up. It's not fair to assume that the one exception is the norm for greeks as a whole.
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Tuesday 01 September
By Spencer
This is a shame & a disappointment & I'm more than sure especially to the Ladies Of Zeta Phi Beta. This article address the issue & stated the situation. However I agree with blueandgray after talking about the issue it seems as though other Sororities were bashed. I think that people should only talk what the have factual information about and nothing less than that. I am part of a Sorority & very proud of that, what one Chapter in another Sorority does has no way shape or form of any influence on the membership process that another Sorority does, point blank. So stated here is the disgusting & ridculous actions this Chapter of Zeta Phi Beta & it needed to be publicized b/c it's a shame that this happened. Thus leave other Sororities & Chapters out of it. My Sorority is against hazing and we do not take light to any situation dealing with hazing. Those pledgees should of been woman enough to say no & ask themselves if this isn't making me a better person & helping me, why in the world would I go through this insane processs. There was nothing sisterly in this process & in those chapter members actions. The SGA member not was a representation of that Sorority especially with being the president but also a representation of the school by being a member of SGA. And she should of thought of that before she got involved with all this mess. This is very sad to hear & hopefully those pledgees learned a lifelong lesson from all of this.
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Tuesday 01 September
By divabrighton
Spencer: Obviously, your sorority is also against paying attention in class. Your grammar and writing skills are the lowest on the totem pole. So, here's what I would do:
First, I'd go back to my high school and slap the snot out of my teachers for allowing me to continue on in life without the necessary skills to hold an intelligent conversation.
Second, I'd put down my pretty, pretty Hello Kitty laptop, get my ass up out of bed, and go to class and PAY ATTENTION!!! You certainly are no help to the cause of how wonderful sororities are, when your lack of education is front & foremost in an argument against them.
Third, and last, I'm not sure who you think you're attempting to fool into raising high the merits of sororities and fraternities, but most of them are run by people who were nothing more than disgruntled bullies who now find themselves in the position of continuing their ego trip. Believe it or not, some of us have been to college. We know the truth. I don't know who you think you are that you can attempt to mislead anyone.
Sororities and fraternities are childish in their very nature. Parents don't take out mortgages on their homes to send their kids to college so you can treat them like dirt because it gives you the only means to place yourself on a higher level than someone who's just arrived. In fact, it makes you a coward.
Now, go to class. And TRY to prepare yourself a little better to become an adult who can contribute to society, not make it worse because you feel the need to diminsh others. And for the love of all that is holy, when your Hello Kitty laptop asks if you want to use Spellcheck, click YES!!!
Tuesday 01 September
By buzz
loser
Tuesday 01 September
By Tess
That girl needs to be put thru the same as she did to the others and see how she likes it. Stupid little b****es need to be put thru hell. They think because they are in a sorority they can do what they want to girls who want to pledge. They are the ones that are CRAZY. Dumb little bimbos. That is all that they are.
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Tuesday 01 September
By JR
They were NOT forced to pledge!!!
Bunch of whiners!!
Swats should still be allowed in schools toughen these kids up.
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Tuesday 01 September
By Fed Up With The Lies of NPHC
Alll nphc sororities and fraternities haze.. They all say that they don't because its and underground process but they do AND ITS SICKING. I am not about to be someone's 'sister' after she beat me repeatedly for weeks and months. Hell week is crazy as well not taking showers or changing your clothes for time on out. I think the only one that may have stopped hazing so hard is AKA and thats just because they keep getting in so much trouble. So now they get called paper and teased for doing things the right way.
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Tuesday 01 September
By Maggie
I think I'd prefer being an outcast, TYVM. These "leaders" are the same witches who steam-roll over the mail clerks on their way to the boss's boudoir. Keep your haughty one-upmanship. There are still those of us out here who get ahead through hard work, dedication and some street-smarts. I guess we should be grateful for the lessons on spite and cruelty these women doled out on the playgrounds as little girls. God knows they've been around time out of mind, and a leopard really DOESN'T change its spots.. Remember this ladies ... you'll see those same folks on your inevitable way back down (geez ... did you learn NOTHING from Alexis and Crystal Carrington????) ROTFLMAO!!!
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Tuesday 01 September
By dk
I'm in fear of these hazing activities in all colleges! My daughter will be going away to college next yr. so how can I keep her safe without sounding like a NUT or an over protective parent? These are real concerns for parents, these kids are just so excited about going away to college and being on their own and wanting to be part of "sisterhood". I feel that they get taken advantage because of their innocence.What response does the college have in all of this?
SIGNED: " just a concerned parent "
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Tuesday 01 September
By Mom
I was never impressed with the Greek System. It seemed such a waste of time. My focus was different and when I went to college, their reputation was not something I wanted to be a part of.
My daughter has decided to be part of a sorority. She had no experience like the one stated above. She loves it and considers it to be a large part of her life. She also considers it something that makes her a better person.
I think the sorority in the story had a power hungry crazy person for a president. Let's start with the fact she should have had charges pressed against her and she should be expelled by the University. The kick people out of the military for behaving like this for goodness sake. Punish the sorority? Fine it, suspend it, but that president should take the brunt of the responsibility.
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Tuesday 01 September
By David Stewart
Well, here we go again. I have preached this to my daughters for years. You do not need someone beating on you to call you sister. What blood sister beats or torture their sister? So why do we subject ourselves to torture when your own blood does not do this. Here is some food for thought. I have been on college campuses when they do not haze, mind you these were white collegs. Not so say they do not haze, but it is instill in the organizations that hazing and other forms will not be happen on their campus. Now at HBCUs, this is like the norm. Why? I have no ideal. I remember when I pledged, it was a part of the process. You did not question it. As I got older, I did not see in use in it. Next, these organizations stood for something. It was networking, help the other person out when a door was closed in their face. A back door way when others would try and slow the educated brother or sister progress up the ladder. I rememebr my frat brother helping get a job when the HR person told me none were available. So, this incident is not just a one time thing, research, do your research before you make a comment to this article and find out how many black organizations have been "kicked off the yard" than whites. Look and see how many black organizations have been kicked off white college campuses. It is that easy! You can go to the organization website and some will even tell you the name of the persons an the chapter. As always, let find ways to inspire and motivate our fellow sister or brother in this hectic world.
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Tuesday 01 September
By kdub
Ok, I agree with you as far as the use of the pledge process. However, the reason that these organizations are getting "kicked off the yard" is because yes, they do stupid things and get in trouble. But, they get caught because eyes are on them in the first place! Or people snitch! I believe that people need to really think about these organizations and what they have done for the community. If you don't like the pledge process, don't participate! It's that simple. There are a lot of people who come in paper that are doing major work. Most people in the greek world know that Sheryl Underwood, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority's Grand Basileus, did not pledge and yet she is doing the most work in the organization! She is Grand Basileus for peete's sake! As a member of the NPHC, keep it real. These black organizations do not get kicked off the yard more than the white organizations. And, if they do, the school needs to look at these white organizations because I lived across the street from frat row at my school and I saw the crazy things these pledges did. I mean, NAK, the latino fraternity, used to walk around campus with their pledge book in plain site and they were all dressed alike in black! I saw them outside my building one day wearing grey sweat pants and a black sweatshirt... in broad daylight! Some of them would have session right under me in our apt complex! So, no, its not just the BGLOs. Its a universal problem. And those organizations get kicked off the yard also. Let's take a look at that and then we can have a talk.
Tuesday 01 September
By angered
this is just one incident of SO MANY that these sororities do to the poor freshman students who want to be a part of something where they feel they belong. Sororities in general are not what they claim to be but rather an authorized system that controls girls, defines popularity by how thin the girls are and introduces massive amounts of alcohol to them as they are just entering the college systems. Sadder than the sororities are the colleges that close their eyes to the hazing that occurs in MOST schools. The administrators needs to have more hands on protection of their students so that we can save the students before they have to be emotionally beaten or actually die before the school DOES get involved. Sad statement of society, but in keeping with all other sources that make the statement that acceptance is based on physical appearance and popularity induced by alcohol and sexual behavior! SICKENING
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Tuesday 01 September
By greek
nobody does these to Freshmen. Actually learn your facts. Most greek organizations black and latinos do not accept freshmen students... the WHITE organizations allow for freshmen. these white organizations have a sign up sheet outside their house and bring these freshmen in immediately. Please, when people start making comments like that it makes me sick because the white organizations freaking haze the most. they get their pledgees so drunk and dont let them pee for hours. they put their members at harm internally... these members dont know any history about their organization but I bet they can tell you which hospital has the best ER in their college town!
Tuesday 01 September
By fran
This hazing goes on more than you think. They call it bonding and to test the pledger's loyalty to the organization. It need to be stoppped, period. Some students have lost their lives, others badly injured. These sororities and fraternities can have the pledgers do some community service or have them go to the library and read a certain number of books and make book reports. All of this hitting one another with wooden paddles until the skin breaks and blood appears is stupid. Yes, I said stupid. You shouldn't have to go through this nonsense in order to have life long friends and to be able to add something to your resume'.
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Tuesday 22 September
By Michelle
I joined a sorority while in college and regret it just about every day of my life. Fortunately, the sorority I joined has graduate chapters wherein adult women work together for common causes that improve the lives of many. It is my firm belief that undergraduate sororities should no longer be able to continue. The incidents of hazing are overwhelming and outrageous. Moreover, many of the relationships are superficial and unfortunately, most college students are not really joining these organizations with community service in mind. Thus, membership is frequently based on popularity and an attempt to gain friends and establish oneself among the campus elite. The graduate chapters of these organizations should continue to exist as most who join are older women who are more mature and a little more clear on their life goals and thus may be more committed to service and scholarship. Furthermore, more mature members and pledges are less likely to engage in the disgraceful behaviors that have given so many sororities a bad name. My undergraduate sorority days mean just about nothing to me. I have not continued any of the relationships I had with any of those people. I wanted to join a sorority, but unfortunately I had little in common, specifically a committment to community service, leadership, and scholarship, with the members of my chapter and that is one of the primary reasons my undergraduate sorority relationships have not continued post graduation. In my sorority you can easily see who truly believed in the fundamental beliefs of the sorority by who continues to remain active beyond college graduation. You have to be truly committed to the betterment of society to continue to work hard within the sorority's graduate chapters and unfortunately that commitment is lacking among many who join at the undergraduate level.
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Tuesday 01 September
By kay
Michelle,
Maybe you had a bad experience but others have had great experiences. My mom was in sorority and encouraged me to join as well. They should not be disbanded b/c a select few are out of control. To everyone else, it is not only about the partying and getting drunk and having tons of sex. You need to keep a certain GPA and your organization is looked down upon if you hae the lowest average GPA. At my school you go in knowing that you have at least 5 hours of community sevice to do and we planned a ton of events Many of the women chose the org. b/c of their specific philanthropy. If it werent for my sorority I would never had me my sister Meghan who taught us all about Ovarian Cancer even after her untimely demise, and that wasb/c of cancer not drinking or hazing like you people feel iseverywhere. Because of my sister Meghan my sorority has gotten involve in a philanthropy that is not their national one. Greek life is about the people you meet and the impact they have on your life. We would never began to educate the women and men on our campus about Ovarian Cancer if we had not known Meghan. I take complete offense when people on the outside, or those who had a bad experience, trash these organizations. I met some of my best friends in my sorority and met people I would never have met if I never joined Greek Life. I understand these stories are disgusting, but look at sports teams. A fried of mine was a soccer player at a school in DC and he wa stripped, put in diaper, his head shaved, and taped to a goal post with other freshman. Why don't we ever hear those stories? Don't criticize one if you don't look at every group, organization, and asports team that hazes, and sometime more harshly then thes stories we read about Greek Life.