When people think of American fraternities and sororities, wild parties and hazing often come to mind. We talked to Jimmy from North Carolina about why young Americans still feel it’s important to be part of one despite these practices.
Screeching cars suddenly park in front of the house as uniformed men dash inside. Firefighters, backed by police, have to switch on their flashlights in the hallway because it's completely dark.
Descending into the basement, they’re shocked at what they see. Dozens of young men, just in underwear, are lined up motionless. Every single one is blindfolded and covered in food remnants.
Viral footage from a police camera went global. It felt more like raw footage from a military camp, but the police and firefighters were actually just checking a fire alarm at a campus house in Iowa. Instead, they stumbled upon an intense "initiation ritual" by the Alpha Delta Phi fraternity.
This isn't the first time in recent years that senior students in male fraternities have crossed the line during initiations. In 2019, American media reported an incident at a California university, where older members of the Delta Chi fraternity allegedly forced rookies into a humiliating "Elephant Walk" ritual. The guys had to strip naked, march in line, holding each other's genitalia.
The year before that, a scandal erupted at the University of Texas in Austin when it was revealed that the Texas Cowboys forced a freshman to bite the head off a live hamster during initiation.
Back in 2015, America was shocked by a video that leaked from an Alpha Tau Omega initiation ritual at Indiana University. The footage shows a student being coerced into performing oral sex on a hired prostitute while dozens of senior students watched and laughed.
Despite all these alarming reports, American high school and college students are incredibly keen on joining fraternities and sororities. We talked to Jimmy from North Carolina to understand why they’re willing to endure humiliating rituals and remain silent about them for years. Jimmy shed light on the importance of these societies and whether hazing is truly as common, or just isolated cases.
Before we dive deeper into how American fraternities and sororities operate and discuss the most brutal hazing cases, we want to remind you that we can create quality content thanks to Refresher Club members. Join now and enjoy all its perks.
- How the presence of fraternities and sororities impacts young Americans in their choice of high school.
- Why Jimmy wasn't accepted into a fraternity.
- Besides parties, what activities fraternities and sororities organize and how membership can influence students' careers.
- The serious issue of sexual violence against women at fraternity and sorority parties.
- The different ways older fraternity members have humiliated students during initiation rituals.
- Why fraternity members stay silent about hazing during initiation rituals and choose to endure a humiliating night instead of missing out on fraternity membership.
Want a Better Future? Be in a Fraternity.
The history of American student societies known as fraternities or sororities dates back to the 18th century. They started as elite literary and discussion clubs where students could freely discuss topics taboo in formal lectures.
Today, their significance is different, but for many Americans, belonging to them is still crucial. Being in a fraternity or sorority often means higher social status on campus. They host the biggest parties, themed events, and formal balls, all iconic parts of American university culture.
For many future students, fraternity or sorority association is a key factor when choosing schools. Some even choose universities based on their reputation in unofficial "party school" rankings.
"I studied at a university with 30,000 students, but our school wasn't known as a typical 'party school.' But places like the University of Florida or Arizona State University are famous for that," Jimmy explains. If someone craves intense social life and legendary parties, they target applications where this phenomenon is strongest.
According to him, being in a fraternity or sorority isn’t just about parties, as often depicted in movies. These groups regularly organize volunteer activities and engage in community life.
"When people say fraternity, they imagine confident, popular, and socially dominant guys. But that's not always the case. Many fraternities are like this, but there are smaller ones, like engineering fraternities. These groups focus more on quieter, intellectual guys who help each other improve in their interests," Jimmy explains.
“Mostly, it’s about feeling like you belong somewhere. When you go to college, you’re 17 or 18, and your entire life changes. Everything's new – you're growing up and need to find friends among peers and blend into a group, so you're not alone,” says the American.
Many students even feel pressure from parents to join specific fraternities. “If a parent was part of a society, they often expect their child to follow in their footsteps. It was the same for me. My dad, who was once in a fraternity, hinted that I should join one. Thankfully, he never forced me but frequently suggested that being in a fraternity is great,” Jimmy recalls.
Jimmy did try to join one but never became a member. The issue was the group preferred students living on campus, while he commuted.
"I don't know if it was in the official rules, but they wanted readily available members for various activities. Living 45 minutes away by car, staying on campus wasn’t feasible, so they didn’t accept me,” he explains.
Constant contact among members is also crucial because these groups aim to shape their members.
“They want to make you successful. Many don't join just for parties or the elite vibe but for a better future vision. Being in a society is something you put on your resume. Big firms don’t only care if you graduated successfully, but they're interested in your extracurricular activities – especially if you were involved in any group,” says Jimmy.
Good grades often aren't enough. "The same goes for college admissions. Even though I had straight A's, I wasn't accepted into North Carolina's top universities. They took people with slightly lower grades who were involved in sports, volunteering, or other activities. This is where fraternities shine – they can help you towards a brighter future.”
The Dark Side of Fraternities and Sororities
Fraternities and sororities often throw big parties, filled with alcohol and wild antics. However, these events have been criticized for a long time. Jimmy points out American universities have a severe issue with sexual violence, and many cases are linked to student group events.
Studies confirm that men in student societies are three times likelier to commit sexual violence against women than peers not in fraternities. Most group rapes on campus directly relate to these student groups. Women in sororities are 74% more likely to be raped than other college women.
Besides that, the public often associates fraternities and sororities with hazing, especially during so-called initiation rituals. These trials ask new members to prove loyalty and "earn" their place in the group. Officially, these rituals build team spirit and cohesion, but in practice, they sometimes cross safety and legal boundaries.
The most frequent issues include forced excessive alcohol consumption – sometimes to the point of unconsciousness – prolonged sleep deprivation paired with physically exhausting tasks, or exposure to cold and harsh conditions. Media have also reported cases of being forced to ingest inappropriate or harmful substances.
One publicized incident in 2018 occurred at the University of Texas at Austin. The school administration suspended the Texas Cowboys group for six years after finding dangerous and degrading practices toward new members, ABC News reported.
Novices reported being forced by senior members to eat cat food, canned meat, extremely spicy sauce, raw garlic, or whole onions. Some, including minors, were made to drink alcohol.
One student was forced to bite the head off a live hamster, allegedly a longstanding initiation ritual element.
Even more outrage is sparked by degrading practices with sexual overtones, such as forced nudity or simulated sexual acts.
In 2015, the board of Indiana University suspended Alpha Tau Omega after an obscene video appeared online. The footage shows a student performing oral sex on a hired stripper during an initiation ritual, while a group of fraternity members cheered, reports Mirror.
In 2019, Sacramento State University investigated a humiliating ritual called the "Elephant Walk." Some students anonymously testified that senior Delta Chi members forced them to strip naked, march in line, and hold each other's genitals, as detailed by NY Post.
Recently, viral footage from a police body camera highlighted the cruelty of fraternity hazing. The stunning recording from November 2024 shows 54 half-naked men covered in food residues in the basement of Alpha Delta Phi at the University of Iowa.
The video brought awareness to the brutal hazing happening in some groups. It shows young men standing motionless amidst chaos and not responding to police calls, thinking it's another test or ritual part.
According to Jimmy, this incident drove significant change: "Since 2024, school administrations strictly monitor fraternities, taking preventive measures against hazing."
Jimmy admits hazing in fraternities still exists, though not as extreme as previously mentioned incidents. "Such things don't change overnight. Some groups have operated this way for years and won’t stop easily," Jimmy notes, adding that hazing is stronger in fraternities than sororities.
Although many of his friends were fraternity members, they never mentioned hazing or initiation rituals to him. "Even if something happened, they wouldn’t tell me. Many people will do anything to join a fraternity – it's vital for them. If they later told someone and it got out, everyone would see them as snitches – not just the fraternity, but the whole school. They wouldn’t get into parties and become laughingstocks. Everyone prefers to endure one night of humiliation for the sake of parties, friendships, and better future prospects,” Jimmy concludes.
