Hazing

“I don't think parents are aware of what their kids are being asked to navigate, particularly when they go to college.” These words were spoken by Leslie Lanahan, mother of Gordie Bailey, a University of Colorado student who died in September 2004 as a result of alcohol poisoning [Page 238]after a fraternity hazing ritual. Gordie was a freshman pledge in Chi Psi fraternity. Several months following Bailey's death, the university's chapter of the fraternity was shut down. Furthermore, the university's interfraternity council lost its affiliation with the university after its leaders refused to agree to a series of reforms demanded by institutional administrators. Among the disputed reforms was a delay in recruitment until the spring semester and a requirement that each fraternity and sorority have ...