Wrongs of Passage

What forces young men and women to accept inhuman and degrading rituals in order to belong to a social club, sorority, or fraternity? Are they the same forces that have made college binge drinking a national epidemic? Why do college administrators and Greek fraternities and sororities continue to allow practices that frequently lead to death or permanent psychological damage? Hank Nuwer confronts these questions in this hard-hitting, heart-felt look at the dark side of college fraternal life. In a previous book, Broken Pledges, Nuwer told the story of the alcohol-related death of Chuck Stenzel at Alfred University. Nuwer hoped that the book, which received wide media attention, would lead to an end to hazing and binge drinking. It did not. In Wrongs of Passage, he takes a broader look at the problem, examining its fundamental legal and historical roots and describing many instances of abuse and criminal Behavior. In Plato, Nuwer finds the first written account of hazing rituals. His overview of hazing and initiation rights in other cultures, includes a history of North American fraternities and sororities. A moving chronology lists the names of students who have died as a result of hazing activities in this country from 1838 to 2001. The book concludes with Nuwer's recommendations for reform.