Seeing through the Haze
By R. Brit Katz (Mississippi State / Emory)
2025 NIC Silver Medal Honoree
“I never hazed. I was never hazed. I never learned to haze.”
I spoke those words at the 2025 San Antonio Grand Chapter annual awards ceremony. It later struck me that those words should not be relevant – much less profound --- in 2025. My membership was bestowed more than 40 years ago, when hazing was legal and socially accepted; practically expected amongst males of that period. But, public tides ebbed; laws and regulations cascaded into campus life with serious penalties for hazing.
Misdemeanors and felonies be damned. Hazing’s ugly head reappears. The alarming recent increase in the incidence of hazing nationwide and amongst multiple national fraternities provokes me to reflect.
When Sigma Nu recruiting officers approached me about membership and brotherhood, they promised a non-hazing circle of students and pals, a pitch punctuated by “We don’t haze.” While I did not verbalize my suspicions (“Oh yeah, surrrrrrrrre you don’t”), their sincerity overcame my hesitation...and I affiliated with the Legion of Honor. The officers and members fulfilled their pledge; not once did I encounter an environment in which hazing nor its sibling, bullying, raised their ugly specters.
My subsequent professional roles as vice-presidents and deans on university campuses reintroduced me to hazing in unpleasant circumstances. In one conduct setting, a student accused of extreme physical and academic hazing respectfully asked, “Dean Katz, were you in a fraternity?”
My answer then, and now, is “Yes, I am a lifelong member of a fraternity. And, I was never hazed.” The student was surprised and after several awkward seconds of silence asked, “Not hazed? What kind of a fraternity was that?” Sadly, his college career was suspended for a lengthy period once he was found responsible for multiple aggravated violations of hazing, harassment, bullying, and alcohol consumption policies.
In another instance, I asked assembled fraternity officers why they didn’t turn to me as Dean to help eliminate their hazing culture. In a still-haunting statement of candor, one man-boy said, “Because you’d have said ‘no’ to the hazing.” A second bluntly offered, “We needed your letter of recommendation for employment (sic, so we didn’t tell ya).” The chapter was closed.
There are too many similar stories emanating from today’s college campuses; despite the innumerable examples of teaching, education, training, and public consequences, fraternity men continue to propel hazing as a form of power, control, and perverse entertainment.
To quote an oft-repeated cliche: “This must stop.” If hazing persists, the national fraternity movement faces endless sorrow, litigation and justifiable public censure.
Enter Sigma Nu, predicated upon the light that escorts an honor outlined in truth. Our brothers promise that our mutual affection and admiration is predicated solely upon our merits; contributions are measured through campus engagement, philanthropy, service, and character. We hold each other accountable to gold standard practices.
I believe in these golden apple virtues and values. They impel me to publicly tout the advantages of fraternity membership and its noble outcomes, especially now; males need college fraternities to overcome the malaise of loneliness, isolation, and social awkwardness.
Sigma Nu is higher education’s golden apple. Let’s prevent a few wormy 'Malus pumila' at the bottom of the barrel from spoiling the majority. Hazing must be eliminated. The Legion of Honor will do its part...starting with you.
And, yes, if you will eliminate hazing, I could write that letter of recommendation for you.
R. Brit Katz, PhD, is a veteran college/university officer in student affairs. He recently completed three academic years as Vice-President and Dean for Student Life at Southwestern University. He joined the Legion of Honor at Mississippi State University.