Old Heads: Hazing and the Role of Fraternity and Sorority Alumni

In recent years, commentators have tried to make sense of hazing’s legal contours. In addition, they have explored why this legal regime has been largely ineffective at curtailing hazing behavior—looking to cultural, organizational, interpersonal, and individual dynamics. One aspect of hazing that has received limited treatment, at least from a scholarly perspective, is the role and influence of alumni members. It is observed that fraternity and sorority alumni want traditions, including hazing, to continue. That often places national organizations in a difficult spot--either not wanting to challenge powerful alumni or simply unable to effectively engage them. This article contends that fraternities and sororities should be held liable for the conduct of alumni, because they often know of alumni's hazing influence and because there are research-based and data-driven approaches to meaningfully engaging alumni. More specifically, organizational behavior research on organizational commitment, retention and turnover, and service recovery offer a roadmap to engagement.