Police and university officials are investigating the possibility of hazing in the recent death of Korean student Won Jang (20) at Dartmouth College, whose body was found in the Connecticut River just one day after he was reported missing. This incident is suspected to be linked to pledging practices at the school’s fraternities and sororities.
Korean-American college students, graduates, and parents expressed their concerns about the recurring safety incidents on campus. They emphasized that new college freshmen need to be well-informed about the nature of social gatherings to avoid potential accidents.
Korean students and alumni explain that universities host various social organizations. Fraternities like “Beta Alpha Omega” for male students and sororities like “Alpha Phi” for female students are often officially recognized by the university.
These organizations participate in activities collectively known as Greek Life, where members live together on- or off-campus, treating each other like family. Their activities aim to strengthen networks, engage in charity work, and enhance bonds among members.
David Kim (18, alias), a member of an Asian fraternity at a university in California, shared, “The camaraderie gained through the pledging process brings us closer together, feeling like brothers. It also provides recommendations for other major-related club activities during career development.”
A 2017 CNBC report states that joining a fraternity or a sorority can incur additional costs of over $1,000 per year and may lower GPA by 0.25 points. However, the long-term benefits, such as a 36% increase in future earnings for fraternity members, make it a worthwhile investment according to Union College research.
Despite their benefits, some organizations are notorious for stringent membership requirements and rigorous pledging processes that last 6 to 8 weeks. Hazing, excessive drinking, and other harmful activities during this period are annual issues.
Enduring the pledging process
At the start of the semester, fraternities and sororities provide members with various alcoholic beverages and food. Even students under 21 can easily access alcohol. These parties are held to recruit new members, followed by a pledging process that tests physical and mental limits.
“The hardest part was having to drink about 13 shots of vodka,” David Kim said. “I lost consciousness and got injured. Other white fraternities might force you to eat vomit or continuously do planks while spraying water on your face.”
Jason Lee (21, alias), another fraternity member at the same school, said, “One day, we had to crawl for 2 to 3 hours in the basement of the house. We had to continue until every member told us to stop.” Lee also mentioned, “We do dry pledging others that are mostly testing physical limits.”
Ongoing deaths in fraternities
As social organizations remain popular, campus fatalities continue to occur. In November 2016, Korean student Joseph Baek was found dead at an Asian fraternity clubhouse at USC. In October 2021, a potential sexual assault incident involving drugged drinks occurred at another fraternity at the same school.
Steve Kang, Director of External Relations at the Koreatown Youth and Community Center (KYCC), highlighted the issue of alcohol in social organizations, stating, “Underage students often don’t know their limits in a culture that pressures drinking. Parents should discuss alcohol and drug safety with their college-bound children.”
BY YOONJAE JUNG, JOONHO CHOI, YOUNGNAM KIM [jung.yoonjae@koreadaily.com]
