HAZING ON CAMPUS

The facts of an alleged hazing incident at Southeast Missouri State University are still under investigation, so it is far too early to assess blame or point fingers. But the fact that the allegations were made indicate the continued existence of the singular flaw in most rules and even laws that are intended to ban unwanted actions: No matter how many rules or laws there are, somebody will try to bend or break them.

That certainly seems to be the case with hazing, a time-honored tradition in organizations that are selective about their members. Hazing has taken various forms over the years, some that are even positive. For example, some organizations require prospective members to perform a set amount of community service before being fully accepted into the fold. Other organizations won't invite a prospective member to join unless that individual already has demonstrated a consistent pattern of contributing in a significant way to society in general.

The wounds still haven't healed at Southeast Missouri State University, wounds that were inflicted on students, faculty, administrators and townspeople when a 25-year-old student died as a result of a strenuous, weeklong hazing ritual that included physical abuse. Michael Davis, who had pledged Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity, died in February 1994 from head injuries that he received during the hazing.

University officials and state legislators have long recognized the potential for serious bodily harm during hazing. The university has strict rules that forbid the practice. And there are state laws that impose a variety of penalties for anyone convicted of hazing.

Nonetheless, the tradition of some form of trial by fire is so ingrained that fraternities and sororities continue to find ways to initiate their newest members. In the most recent case, a student who pledged a sorority claims she was psychologically hazed. In spite of this, she joined anyway -- and then filed a complaint.

The circumstances of this incident aside, it is a wonder that there aren't more cases of hazing reported. It is virtually impossible to eliminate hazing, regardless of rules and laws.

Another approach might be to work with organizations to find positive ways of inducting new members so that they are fully tested but not mistreated, either physically or psychologically. The whole community would be a better place if every pledge of a Greek organization were required to perform a hundred hours of community service -- just for starters. Organizations could set their own standards of positive conduct in ways that benefit rather than destroy.