Haze The Movie Blog
The film is now complete and is available for free viewing at SNAG.
Please contact the Gordie Foundation for information about the film.
The film is now complete and is available for free viewing at SNAG.
Please contact the Gordie Foundation for information about the film.
I am a CU student not in the Greek system and I hope that this movie helps all college students (Greek and not). After viewing the trailer it seems that much of it takes place in Boulder. You see Boulder police cars and familiar Boulder sites throughout the trailer and I feel this will reflect poorly upon the University of Colorado. Years ago our school was on the list of top party schools and this was mainly due to the fact that 20/20 or 60 minutes (I forget which show it was) was allowed to do a special on college drinking on our campus. We are no longer on top ten party school lists and I believe most students would like that to stay the same way. I am thankful that this movie was made because binge drinking and hazing issues need to be addressed but I think it could be done without bringing down the reputation of the University of Colorado. I mean no disrespect to the family and friends of Gordie and am truly sorry for your loss.
Comment by CU Student on April 28, 2008 at 7:42 pm
As a college student and resident assistant, I have first hand experience with the drinking problem on college campuses. However, it is important to note that the drinking problems are notl imited to the Greek system or athletes. What people have failed to realize is that college students across the board do more than drink and party. We go to class. We help out in our communities. We are innovative, creative minds. When will adults start being proud of the next generation?
For those of you who have a problem with this documentary, just do what my sorority sisters and I plan to do: educate your members, your friends, your family, about this movie and about the reality of the situation. if you really disagree with this film then don’t see it. It’s simple, really.
And Greeks, let’s show everyone the TRUTH behind Greek LIfe. The service, the loyalty, the leadership…we all know that’s where it’s at.
Comment by Concerned on April 11, 2008 at 10:36 am
This is not a diatribe against Greeks because I too am a fraternity man. It is simply a call for temperance and reason.
I believe the title of the film is intriguing and very fitting. Where many here have focused solely on the practice of “hazing” many chapters employ to elicit allegiance to their house, I believe the alternate interpretation of a “haze” is just as relevant. First, the former:
Hazing often involves barbaric, creatively cruel deeds carried out in secret, behind locked doors so that the outside world cannot witness the atrocities that are committed against young men seeking a bond with other equally impressionable young men. At various times of the year, students arrive at class looking very disheveled and hollow, often bearing scars and still bleeding wounds that tell a story of the price they have paid for “brotherhood.” To see these newly minted fraternity men, replete with stiff upper-lips and letters emblazoned on their chests, sucked out of their freshman daze and into the highly segregated, stereotype driven world of Greek life is chilling.
The “daze” of the first-year experience I mentioned is just one level of the illusion college students encounter. Another is the “haze,” the apt title of this documentary. In a tidal surge that hits just before initiation season, it seems to instantly cloud the minds of students, actives and pledges alike, and forces them to believe that the violence and torturous acts they perpetrate against one another are justified by the esoteric meanings of letters, symbols, the Ritual, and the sacred “brotherhood” into which they seek to admit more members. In reality, there is no true justification. Perhaps the most psychologically defensible and cogent argument might be that those who were once hazed feel old wounds reopened when they themselves are tasked with “training” new members. The rush of emotions simply takes control as they attempt to purge the hatred they felt toward the men who hazed them. In reality however, they are simply fulfilling their destiny as cogs in a machine, driven to drive the next generation toward the same disastrous end. The dual interpretation of the word “haze” is remarkable because one meaning directly informs the other. Somewhere there must be a break in the cycle.
Like a fog burned off by the sun, these illusions break down rapidly in the face of tragedy. When a student dies, such as the case of Gordie Bailey, people tend to snap out of their trances. The reasons behind “hazing” immediately come into question, and when left to rest only on “secrets” and bruised egos, little remains.
There are still some who cling desperately to their fraternity pride and scoff at hazing victims as weak men who were rightly weeded out of the system. Often, it is those hard-hearted men who faced the worst hazing, their pride having been completely crushed and who, once able, attempted to raise themselves from mere ashes. They emerge as carbon copies of the classes before them, ready to take on the next set of pledges.
If you are Greek, take a moment to consider what your house’s principles really mean. They are intended to be guideposts for young people at a very tender age in life. Consider them moorings in a rough sea called college, and the only thing connecting you to safety is a thin rope called will power. Are the temptations to lash out at others and to become the aggressor so great that you cannot restrain yourself? Or is the rope simply so thin that it breaks with the slightest tug?
Before starting down the path toward brotherhood, I would challenge every man to test his mettle because the crucible we enter is merciless and unforgiving. While some may say the crucible is one’s life inside the fraternity, I believe the crucible is life itself. We are hewn out of our experiences and the choices we make. The lessons we learn in Greek-letter organizations shape our experiences, and one’s character is undoubtedly determined by the decisions we make based upon them.
Be true to your house. Be true to your friends. And most importantly, be true to yourself.
Comment by Robert S. Hyer on March 23, 2008 at 11:28 am
“Are you ready to wake up?”
I am a fraternity man at a school in the South. Our Greek system is just as strong as many around the nation. Last year, three students on our campus lost their lives when they overdosed on alcohol, illicit drugs and prescription medications while their friends were close by. Only one student was Greek, but all three deaths are tied inextricably to our Greek system. In 2004, Gordie Bailey died due to alcohol poisoning, which was unquestionably linked to his involvement with a fraternity at CU Boulder.
Ladies and gentlemen, these are facts. Skew them as you will, but at the end of the day there are mothers and fathers, brother and sisters that will mourn these individuals’ deaths for the rest of their days. Sadly, as most on this page have pointed out, this is not uncommon on college campuses nationwide. The extension of their logic is, to borrow an expression, “tu quoque,” which is patently absurd when it comes to the real costs of such a defense. Some may argue that the same grief might come as a result of a random traffic accident or some other unforeseen tragedy, but the senselessness that surrounds these students’ passing is where the real pain begins.
If nothing else, can we as Greeks come together and understand that above all else - before pledges, oaths, Ritual and brotherhood/sisterhood are introduced - we must do everything in our power to prevent the loss of life? That most fundamental natural law principle simply cannot be challenged. (If anyone feels up to the task, I would welcome further comment.)
College is a time of life unlike any other. For the first time, many of us experience freedom we had not yet conceived of. We experience a certain “joie de vivre” that is unique in these 4 (or so) years and many of us are able to enjoy it to the fullest, emerging at the other side of the commencement stage with diploma in hand. We triumphantly toss our mortarboards in the air and proclaim a victory – “I survived college!”
Still, there are some who never make it to that day. Their lessons were learned too late.
So, I ask again: can we all agree that a human life is too precious to sacrifice in the name of something so trivial as pledgeship? Is there anything honorable, just, virtuous, brave or valiant about such a sordid passing? If I were the lifeless one on the floor, I would want someone to call for help for me. Wouldn’t you?
It’s time we as college students fully grasp the notion that there are truly valuable things in this world, many of which we cannot get back. Stop being so defensive and deal with it. Bitching never solved anything. Change something about how you see the world and maybe you’ll see your friends on graduation day. It’s time to wake up.
Comment by Umphrey Lee on March 12, 2008 at 2:13 am
Let’s see… They fed him drugs & alcohol, he passed out, they wrote on him, and then later tried to clean it off because he had died or they knew something was really wrong.
I’m pretty sure the fact they tried to wash it off is an admission of guilt. And don’t try and give me some bullshit about them “watching him through the night,” that’s just BS and you know it. The only watching they did was for areas of skin showing that they could write on.
Personally, while I was in college, I took a personal dislike to fraternities. They thought they were on top of the world. Don’t get me wrong, yeah, they threw some big parties, had a lot of fun, and a few of the guys were really cool, but overall most of them were just a bunch of arrogant pricks.
I once had a kid come up to me at a party and ask me if I was part of a frat, I responded no, and he responded with “well that means I’m better than you”. He then stole my beer, ran off, and threw it in the bushes.
Lets be real here folks, like others have said, frats are not solely the problem & solution, but they’re a huge factor.
Comment by CU Grad on March 3, 2008 at 9:48 am
I am a member of (redacted) fraternity. There are some people here defending the Greek system. There are some speaking out against it.
I am here to say that those speaking out against social fraternities are mostly correct.
Most of the directives for community service come down from national and are followed in letter but not in spirit. There are service hours per member that must be adhered to or there are financial penalties to that brother. As the service chair, I’m responsible for holding them to those numbers. The service acts we do are beneficial to the community, and it is nice to feel good about what you do. Unfortunately, I have run our service numbers against service fraternities and other student organizations, and know that those organizations are much more effective in serving the community than we are. I sometimes feel that the service-oriented part of the Greek system is more a quest to keep the fraternity publicly acceptable than to actually serve the community.
At the highest levels of our national there are people that are trying to make a good organization work. I know some of these people and they are good men. There is a failure in the chain of command to regionals and chapters - in policies, good practices, and other areas. I have done my best to make my chapter a good service organization, and I have succeeded in some areas and failed in others.
There is a reason that social Greek organizations and their like do not exist in Europe and Canada in the same numbers they do in the US - simply, the drinking ages are lower and there is no need for an insular organization to provide alcohol to someone who is underage. Parties are the center of Greek life, period. That’s why it’s called a “social fraternity” and not a “service fraternity”. It’s not about buying friends - most brothers make friends easily with others, so that isn’t what they pay for. What they are paying for is access - access to girls, access to alcohol, and access to a large network. I have taken advantage of this network.
Though the drinking problem at colleges is not the sole fault of fraternities, I believe that it is an ancillary effect of the Greek system. I think that some impressionable indy students try to “out-Greek the Greeks” and as a result are engaging in risk behaviours (binge drinking, drugs) without the safeguards of the Greek system. I have witnessed hazing and passively enabled it, but I have not taken part.
I have to say that this is my senior year and I am sticking it out so that I may benefit from the professional contacts that I get from my membership. Plus my dad is legacy.
@Lauren
“The only reason fraternities are getting so much heat from all of this is because people already have a preconceived notion on how fraternities are and how they act, truthful or not.”
No. The reason that fraternities get the heat is because we should be holding ourselves to a higher standard. “Tu quoque” isn’t a defense.
@unstereotypical
“Start educating people on how to take care of their friends and drink resposibly the funny thing about that is that fraternities are doing that better than the schools.”
No, we’re not doing it better than the schools. We’re giving it a pass whereas the schools are not. And the only reason that alcohol education is more prevalent in the Greek system is because alcohol abuse itself is more prevalent in the Greek system. I will say however that an alcoholic in a Greek house is more likely to get help than one outside of it.
I will not go into incidents involving brothers as that would complicate matters and make it easier to find out who I am, and I fear blacklisting. T
This was posted through a proxy server.
I will not post again.
Comment by fdr on February 20, 2008 at 8:18 pm
I am a member of (redacted) fraternity. There are some people here defending the Greek system. There are some speaking out against it.
I am here to say that those speaking out against social fraternities are mostly correct.
Most of the directives for community service come down from national and are followed in letter but not in spirit. There are service hours per member that must be adhered to or there are financial penalties to that brother. As the service chair, I’m responsible for holding them to those numbers. The service acts we do are beneficial to the community, and it is nice to feel good about what you do. Unfortunately, I have run our service numbers against service fraternities and other student organizations, and know that those organizations are much more effective in serving the community than we are. I sometimes feel that the service-oriented part of the Greek system is more a quest to keep the fraternity publicly acceptable than to actually serve the community.
At the highest levels of our national there are people that are trying to make a good organization work. I know some of these people and they are good men. There is a failure in the chain of command to regionals and chapters - in policies, good practices, and other areas. I have done my best to make my chapter a good service organization, and I have succeeded in some areas and failed in others.
There is a reason that social Greek organizations and their like do not exist in Europe and Canada in the same numbers they do in the US - simply, the drinking ages are lower and there is no need for an insular organization to provide alcohol to someone who is underage. Parties are the center of Greek life, period. That’s why it’s called a “social fraternity” and not a “service fraternity”. It’s not about buying friends - most brothers make friends easily with others, so that isn’t what they pay for. What they are paying for is access - access to girls, access to alcohol, and access to a large network. I have taken advantage of this network.
Though the drinking problem at colleges is not the sole fault of fraternities, I believe that it is an ancillary effect of the Greek system. I think that some impressionable indy students try to “out-Greek the Greeks” and as a result are engaging in risk behaviours (binge drinking, drugs) without the safeguards of the Greek system. I have witnessed hazing and passively enabled it, but I have not taken part.
I have to say that this is my senior year and I am sticking it out so that I may benefit from the professional contacts that I get from my membership. Plus my dad is legacy.
@Lauren
“The only reason fraternities are getting so much heat from all of this is because people already have a preconceived notion on how fraternities are and how they act, truthful or not.”
No. The reason that fraternities get the heat is because we should be holding ourselves to a higher standard. “Tu quoque” isn’t a defense.
@unstereotypical
“Start educating people on how to take care of their friends and drink resposibly the funny thing about that is that fraternities are doing that better than the schools.”
No, we’re not doing it better than the schools. We’re giving it a pass whereas the schools are not. And the only reason that alcohol education is more prevalent in the Greek system is because alcohol abuse itself is more prevalent in the Greek system. I will say however that an alcoholic in a Greek house is more likely to get help than one outside of it, however.
I will not go into incidents involving brothers as that would complicate matters and make it easier to find out who I am, and I fear blacklisting. T
This was posted through a proxy server.
I will not post again.
Comment by fdr on February 20, 2008 at 8:17 pm
Kyle, thanks for your input…. I think when you see the entire movie you will see we looked at other campuses around the country, not just CU. The movie is more about the drinking culture on college campuses rather than the Greek life. But we do explore the greek drinking culture, after all Gordie did die in a fraternity ritual. Thank you again for your honesty about the film. In the meantime, you might want to read this article released this past week about some CU students.
http://www.9news.com/news/article.aspx?storyid=86652
Comment by R. Watt (producer) on February 19, 2008 at 9:23 pm
I just wanted to mention how poorly this film portrays the Greek community at CU. You can search “hazing” on http://www.youtube.com and find the majority of the videos used in the trailer. It’s ridiculous how this video has random “hazing” videos that have nothing to do with fraternities just to prove their point. Everyone should be able to tell that this video is very biased and inaccurate.
Comment by Kyle on February 19, 2008 at 8:58 pm
Robin Wright Penn endorsing this cause is a big step in the right direction… because who hasn’t heard of anyone with the last name Penn endorsing a cause before, right?
Comment by Scott F. on February 13, 2008 at 12:23 am
I think it is really ignorant of people to believe that the drinking problem is solely linked to fraternities. This may not be intended to slight Greek life but realize all it portrays is a tragic incident, in doing so all the quotes about “fraternities being the center of the problem” when it comes to drinking is complete ignorance. On the CU campus in particular fraternities are no longer associated with the school due to their ignorance in believing that college drinking is linked to fraternities alone. The problem is everywhere. As a student I can get any illegal substance from the engineering dorms. Alcohol education starting at home with parents with the reinforcement from school is the solution. The Chi Psi brothers checked on Gordie throughout the night even hours before the phone call. He wasn’t left to die. Fraternities aren’t to blame this video says just that and its done out of ignorance. No fraternity will produce video footage to prove this because it would just be turned against them in the end. Stop being anti Greek and start being anti alcohol abuse. Interestingly enough any police officer working on the CU campus would tell you the safest place to party would be in fraternity houses because of the risk management that has been implemented. You aren’t going to be able to stop underage kids especially college age students from drinking. Its too excessible. Start educating people on how to take care of their friends and drink resposibly the funny thing about that is that fraternities are doing that better than the schools. One more thing my fraternity is teaching me that the school hasn’t woken up to yet. Oh and ps I just got initiated last year and now I’m what you would call the “pledge master” or membership educator in my fraternity and we don’t haze. It’s not the fraternities people it’s society. Atleast we’re doing something more than pointing fingers.
Comment by an unstereotypical fraternity man at CU on February 4, 2008 at 11:58 pm
Let me start by extending my most sincere of condolences to Gordie’s family, I am so sorry for your loss! And as much as I respect what this film is trying to accomplish, I wish that it did not solely single out the University of Colorado. Unfortunately there have been many of these events throughout ALL universities nation wide, and I dont think its fair to single out Boulder and the surrounding community. I fear that this film will question the credibility of this prestigious University, and that it will skew the public opinion of Colorado. I understand that there needs to be more awareness for students out there, whether at the college or high school level, but I do not think that the entire University should suffer the consequences for the lack of responsibility of a few young men. I myself am a member of the Greek system here at Boulder and have absolutely loved my experience!! I greatly hope that this film will not cause its viewers to lower their expectations of CU and that hopefully this amazing University can redeem its reputation after this film is shown. I do not wish to lessen the severity of what happened to Gordie, that by no means should be taken lightly and there is certainly a lesson to be learned, I just hope that Colorado and its current students will not be looked down upon.
Comment by concerned student on January 31, 2008 at 9:15 pm
Please let me know when this is released I’m an adviser for a sorority and they are in need of new materials for their risk management program.
Comment by Steph on January 24, 2008 at 7:03 am
I firmly believe that young Americans obsession with binge drinking stems from alcohol being the ‘forbidden fruit’ for such a large portion of their lives. From birth until they are old enough to illegally obtain it, American children are bombarded on one side with messages from parents and teachers that alcohol is bad and not to be touched, while on the other side absorbing alcohol advertising and the influence of their peer groups.
Many children, quite naturally, rebel against the example set by their parents for a time. The issue of alcohol is something that parents in the US need to do a better job of explaining to their children in detail. It is not okay to tell your kids that ‘alcohol is bad’ or ‘drugs are bad’, because kids won’t believe, and will purposely ignore such instructions. Parents need to be relaxed about alcohol and show their children through example that alcohol is not just a tool with which to inebriate one’s self. American parents, by taking an all or nothing, black and white approach to explaining alcohol to their children, are laying the groundwork for 18 year olds that think of alcohol in terms of a challenge to be surmounted. In Europe it is much more common to view alcohol as an excellent accompaniment to a meal, or something to be enjoyed by responsible adults in the course of activity.
Parents must teach their children that alcohol is not an activity unto itself, but something that can be harmless and fun if used by the right people in the right context.
Comment by CU Alumnus on January 24, 2008 at 2:34 am
It is interesting reading all the defensive and accusatory comments posted. I’m also a student at CU and also a part of the Greek system here, so I absolutely relate to how insulted some others must feel about how the documentary is portrayed. When people mentioned in responses that even though the trailer appeared slanted does not mean the film is biased, I would have to disagree. The producers are aware of how they advertise their film, and when they chose to portray it as it was, there exists obvious bias. The trailer presents an attack against the Greek system and Boulder, and I feel personally attacked, because the experiences I have gained in the Greek system at Boulder mean so much to me.
People hit a bullseye when they mentioned the existence of hazing in other organizations as well. Sports teams, major based groups, kids in college in general, and even kids outside of college participate in abusing alcohol and drugs. Friends of mine who are not at school are probably the biggest alcoholics I know because they have the money. Attacking one social organization seems flawed when it clearly occurs within the entire population of young adults.
So where does it come from? Where does the misuse of alcohol spawn? Why is it really only the US and not Europe or any other place of comparable wealth? There lies something in our culture that encourages us to act as we do. I believe it depends heavily on the absoluteness when it comes to provocative things in our society, which then births the ignorance. When objects or situations become taboo, it immediately becomes black or white with no gray. I could not tell you how frequently in my high school they hesitated or neglected to inform us of important information about sex and drugs because it was not, “morally correct.” Alcohol education is present in the Europeans, and it is frowned upon by many to get so drunk to the point of endangering yourself, which I witnessed personally when I lived there for a year on a study-abroad program. I questioned the lack of education from virtually all aspects of our society. Even within this film: is scaring us really the best tactic? Doesn’t that fall within the extreme ideals of the US of which I spoke, persuading us through propaganda to believe drinking is only black: bad? There is a gray area in which alcohol use can fall.
I am absolutely proud to be a part of the Greek system at CU. They educated us on alcohol use at the beginning, and I never experienced any hazing. (In fact, I was treated like royalty when I joined.) I could not have asked for a better undergraduate education than the one I am receiving that will prepare me for further schooling, and the university as well as the Boulder community is committed to preventative measures that pertain to alcohol. It is horrendous what happened to Gordie, especially when it could have been easily prevented, and I offer my greatest condolences to the family. The documentary in theory is great, because it follows the educating principle I highly believe in, but when it creates numerous attacks from one group to another on a message board, that misconstrues the core of the issue and sends a warped tone.
Comment by Yet another CU on January 21, 2008 at 12:13 am
Everyone involved in the making of this film (including Gordie’s family) only want Mothers, Fathers, Sisters, Brothers and Friends to never have to go through the heartbreak this family will continue to live with the rest of their lives.
Martin’s comments – “Nauseating” are those of you who have lost track of the fact that a promising young man died on that September night and your only concern might be “negative attention” from this film directed at “a Community”, a University, or a Fraternity and the like. That is so small in the grand scheme of things. CU just happened to be where this horrible tragedy occurred – IT is happening everywhere!
If “shock-value” and “tunnel-visioned approach,” in your words, save another life then this film and its trailer is and will be a success.
You should be ashamed of yourself for assuming this film was done “to make a buck.” What would be disgusting is family and friends who have been ill-fated enough to have gone through a tragedy such as Gordie’s and not do anything about it if was within their means. Any proceeds (“bucks”) contribute toward educating (specifically) young people to avoid losing another life.
“How can you sleep at night?” I can assure you, Gordie’s Mother does not sleep at night since she received that horrifying phone call a Mother NEVER wants to get.
From: A Mother whose son wears #54 in memory of Gordie Bailey and who only wants to help spread the word to save a life. GOD BLESS GORDIE’S FAMILY!
Comment by KS on January 16, 2008 at 3:23 pm
Ken, that’s an incredibly well done short article, much of which I can agree with. This section, however, is just flat wrong:
“TO THE PREACHERS, PIGS AND PUPPETS: Keep your silly facts and heavy handed laws to yourself cause we’re the most inaccessible demo in the country … you won’t change us, we’ll change you.”
On the contrary, college-aged young people, rather than being an inaccessible demographic, are incredibly susceptible to any BS that comes along. They are an advertisers dream. Those binge-drinking frat boys, and hemp-clad hacky sack kickers will all be latte-slurping podiatrists, electrical engineers, and high school drama teachers in a few short years–with mortgages, kids, and SUVs.
I hope they survive the ride through this sea of shot-slamming high-risk drinking that has come about in large part due to the marketing and advertising skill of the alcohol industry, and their ability to reach this inaccessible demo.
Comment by SocObs on December 24, 2007 at 5:14 am
This film has great potential value. A scared straight approach that if done correctly should be required for every teenager. I could see it as something many high schools would sign on for.
However, the film as depicted in the trailer is actually dangerous for it suggests that kids are safe as long as they are not “hazed”. The stats will show that nearly all alcohol related deaths and direct poisoning deaths are due to voluntary binge drinking not any sort of forced drinking. Hazing is a relevant topic for young adults need to learn to say no. However, it hurts this film to make that the focus and it hurts the goal of elminating alcohol related tragedies.
Additionally, in Gordie Bailey’s case the record will show that no forced drinking occurred, nor was anyone charged with hazing.
Comment by Buff fan on December 19, 2007 at 5:51 pm
TO THE SUPERFICIAL: Oddly enough, “A documentary concerning the death of Chi Psi pledge Lynn Gordon Bailey, Jr. (Gordie) due to a hazing incident held near CU Boulder” does mention fraternities at CU. The school’s educational quality does not seem to have been questioned in this *trailer*, and much of it was, in fact, directed toward nationwide issues. You haven’t been singled out.
TO THE FRAT BOYS: The CU fraternity system has persistently been linked to binge-drinking, brawls, GHB, date rape, early-morning-self-induced bloody noses and a myriad of other problems. Check out the condition of your houses, the belligerence of your brothers, your true impact on the community; it’s pretty clear that this institution has little to offer (other than that vacuous sorosti you were served up last night). The school, city, police and media attack the fraternities because you’ve made yourselves an easy target. Please let it go … Your chapter’s PR department will put out a far more intelligent response than your brethren have been able to muster.
TO THE PEOPLE: I’ve been going out in Boulder a few nights a week for the past 6 years and have seen more than my share of mayhem at fraternities, house parties and all the streets in between (little at bars though, weird?). Authorities across the nation would love to think that curbing alcohol abuse is as simple as offering banal lectures and then issuing tickets. In Boulder, the efforts have also been directed toward limiting drinking establishments in the student commercial district. But these students are playing out long-held dreams of college life born of long-held cultural values. These tactics have done - and will continue to do - nothing but disperse consumption, reduce safety and expand the youth’s disdain for the State.
Oh, and by the way, if the New Hill Company replaces one square foot of The Hill with those yuppie townhouses, the 2004 riots will look like a religious sit-in.
Anyway, if we can’t quickly change the culture and can’t offer an alternative that is more glamorous than partying like there’s no tomorrow, then we ought be devoting your time toward harm mitigation: our police and EMTs need to be seen as allies dedicated to protecting our safety rather than as pricks dedicated to penetrating our inalienable human rights (and yes, when in comes to personal health, we may do whatever the hell we damn well please).
TO THE PREACHERS, PIGS AND PUPPETS: Keep your silly facts and heavy handed laws to yourself cause we’re the most inaccessible demo in the country … you won’t change us, we’ll change you.
TO THE PRODUCERS: This is a complicated issue and I hope that the full version of the movie is not released without some inclusion of creative, practicable solutions. We already know its a problem; we’ve already seen the inefficacy traditional remedies … Please don’t waste our time by repackaging the same old bullshit to fulfill the same old delusion of grandeur (no lives have been saved yet, and, without some original thought, likely none will).
NOTE: I normally try not to be this combative, but we’ve been jerking off on this one for so long that I just wish someone would man-up and eat the cookie (preferably Ken Wilson, member of Boulder City Council, source and symbol of all that is wrong with this beautiful little town at the base of the Rockies).
NOTE NUMBER TWO: A full and more reasonable treatment of this argument will be available on b-fabric.org later today. The permalink will be: http://b-fabric.org/2007/inst15/
Comment by Kevin Hotaling, The B Company on December 15, 2007 at 1:47 pm
New Trailer Added 12/13/07
Comment by admin on December 14, 2007 at 9:51 am
I really like the changes you made to this preveiw espcially romoving this sigma sign form the end of it, thank you because now it seem less like you are targeting the greek system
Comment by JR on December 14, 2007 at 12:44 am
I agree w/Ashley … and as an ex-frat guy at U/Michigan, I remember the good ol’ daze of undergraduate life at the house.
Let’s be honest here all … the frat life is 95% about partying - and partying HARD. Oh sure, there are some sports, some charity stuff, etc., but it’s all ancillary. And no doubt, it was great great fun … but excess was standard and encouraged … I’ve never met a “non-drinker” in a frat (with the exception of BYU).
Let it be known that I also represent hypocrisy at its finest … I was as debauched as they came as an undergrad … but now that I have kids, the LAST thing I’d want them to do is pee away 4 years of their life getting irresponsibly ripped, when they could be doing something meaningful and moving their life forward, taking full advantage of their time and intellect and opportunity set that university should truly represent. I want my kids coming up with the next Google, not the next beer bong. That doesn’t mean they shouldn’t have fun and party some too … but the reality is that most college kids don’t know how to party without putting themselves in harms way … whether this is societal or otherwise is irrelevant, the problem exists, is college-centric and needs to be owned up to …
As a CU MBA, I’m proud of and love the school … it should be said that this is not a CU thing uniquely, but Gordy went there and what happened to him personalizes and anchors this story and the overall problem. The filmmakers seem conscientious of this. They also seem conscientious of the fact that binge drinking and just plain STUPID drinking is not unique to the greek system … it is a college phenom across the board … but it does have a particular concentration in the frat world.
This all begs the question, have the filmmakers offered greeks the opportunity to get into the film and get some screen time? As it stands, it is severely noticable that no current members from the greek system at CU or any other university appear in the film from what I can see … I would hope that a few greeks would have the courage to get in there and make their retorts in the film (assuming the filmmakers allow it), instead of hiding behind these embarrassingly weak and two-dimensional e-mail posts which only make stronger the case of how inane and inept the other side’s argument really is ….
Comment by Mike on December 13, 2007 at 12:27 pm
I graduated from CU Boulder in 2001. Since then, I have obtained two Masters Degrees, both in the CU system. I am currently a member of the CU Alumni Association, and have volunteered much of my time serving on the Alumni Community Outreach Committee, the Alumni Leadership Committee, and an Alumni focus group. I was also a proud member of the Greek system while at CU. It is more than clear that I believe in the quality of a CU education. What happened to Gordie is truly tragic, and while I wish that this horrible event wouldn’t have occured at CU, we cannot hide from the fact that it did. We can, however, learn from this experience and put a dent in the statistics for current and future students everywhere. Correct me if I am wrong, but the piece posted on this website is a “trailer” and not the complete documentary. It is not fair to criticize Watt Imagination for slanting this documentary against CU when we haven’t even seen the entire program. One blogger wrote that this trailer is degrading the quality of his degree from CU. I completely disagree. What is degrading the quality of the CU degree, however, are recent comments posted by bloggers who are students at CU. They make poor arguments, littered with atrocious grammar and spelling. Maybe it’s time for them to “wake up” and attend class more often.
Thank you, Watt Imagination, for bringing this important issue to light. I look forward to watching the entire documentary.
Comment by Ashley on December 13, 2007 at 11:24 am
Yes it was a tragedy what happened to Gordon Bailey. But binge drinking happens EVERY DAY on campuses nations wide. It is wrong just to focus on CU. For the past years this university has done it’s best to clean its image, not only for the university itself but also for the students who attended. A film like this discredits the CU and our degree. Also Bailey should have known better than to drink that much, and it is the parent’s responsibility to teach their students right from wrong. Parents shouldn’t just be worried about grades; they should be worried about what there kids are doing during their freshmen year. Parents need to take on the responsibility for not educating their children enough to face the real world and stop blaming the university when their children fail. Also it is rumored on campus that Bailey wasn’t only drunk but that he had illegal drugs in his system when he died. The University needs to focus on drugs on this campus because it is a growing issue. This also goes for the Nation as a whole, stop worrying about your war with terrorism and the economy. Worry about what your children are doing. The rate of alcohol abuse, prescription drug abuse, and other drugs is increasing in this nation.
Comment by Senior at CU on December 13, 2007 at 12:23 am
Every incoming freshman student should watch this movie. Good job.
Comment by Kris on December 12, 2007 at 10:32 am
If I’m not mistaken, this movie is the work of ‘Watt Imagination!’ as indicated at the bottom of this screen. Does anybody else know what they’re famous for most recently? If you said “the new ‘MacDonald Hardwoods’ commercials” then you get a gold star!
What exactly is the point of making a movie like this? So you can show it at the next IABC conference? Maybe air it on public access at 3am every other Tuesday for 2 months?
Please, please correct me if I am wrong, but what exactly are you looking to accomplish? There’s not even a visible name attached to the project and the music in the trailer was blatantly STOLEN from Aronofsky’s Requiem for a Dream.
This trailer obviously exists only to create hysteria within the Greek community. If there really is a release scheduled for January 2008, where is the advertising? Where is the promotional campaign? Are we going to have to look for it on page 27 of the TV Guide or what?
Please Watt Imagination!, all we want are answers! Are you actually serious? Are you arrogant enough to think that you have any right to try and address this tragedy? This event that scarred and affected so many people, you think you have the responsibility, nay, the privilege of even mentioning Gordie’s name? How dare you.
Comment by brian, CU greek on December 12, 2007 at 2:08 am
This film is outrageous. It does nothing more than destroy the reputation of the University of Colorado and perpetuates the fictional myths about fraternities, especially fraternities at CU. Gordey’s death should be taken as a learning experience, but this film takes it to the extreme. This film fails to tell all of its viewers how ALL new fraternity members at CU are taught about the dangers of alcohol poisoning and are told the story of Gordey Bailey. It does not talk about how G.O.R.D (Guidelines and objectives of responsible drinking) was created in honor of Gordie Bailey to teach students the dangers of drinking.
How can this movie say that everything bad in college can be seen in fraternities. Are you fucking retarded? i don’t know if you have ever been to a “frat” party, but if you have you would know that these “frat” parties are much safer than any old house parties. I can not remember the last time a house party was registered with the police and the city, had boucers and sober brothers to make sure everybody was being safe and responsible. Maybe while making the movie, the filmmaker’s forgot about the good fraternities do in the community. The money they raise through philanthropies and all the people’s lives that have been changed because of their community service must not have been important enough to the filmmaker’s.
I am sorry that this happened to Gordy and that his friends and family had to go through such a tragic loss. I have lost people close to me due to alcohol related incidents and i know how terrible it can be. Like I said before, his death should be taken as a learning experience which I can has been through programs just like GORD. This movie takes the focus off Gordy and focuses on destroying the reputation of fraternities.
His death was teribble, but it was not hazing that killed Gordey, Gordey killed himself. Gordey put that bottle to his lips with his own two hands and drank the amount of liquor he did by choice.
Comment by Daniel on December 11, 2007 at 11:20 pm
This documentary is good in the sense that it will allow kids to become more aware about the dangers of drinking immoderately, and will hopefully stick in their minds if a situation like Gordie’s ever happens to them in real life, but what the documentary fails to recognize is that this is a problem that occurs at all schools across the US. Hazing and alcohol poisoning are both nationwide problems that can be found from big public schools to small private academies. The fact of the matter is that this documentary is making The University of Colorado look like a horrible place to let your kids come to school. Singling out one university, like this documentary is doing, is not going to get the message across as well as it would if it showed how this is an epidemic transpiring in schools all across the nation. Also, the attack on the Greek system is completely biased. The hazing, if any, at University of Colorado is no where near as destructive as many other schools, particularly those in the South. This video makes CU look appalling and fails to remark on any of the transformations our school has made in response to what happened to Gordie. The Greek system here only makes up 9% of the school, but regardless, is making quite an effort to put the word out about the consequences of drinking, and the effects it can have on oneself. The fraternities are just one of the many organizations here at CU that strive to inform the student body on the dangers of drinking, and bestow a reminder of Gordie and the detrimental outcome of excessive drinking. CU has slowly been reshaping its reputation and repossessing its prestige as one of the best public schools in the nation, but this documentary is only going to bring a negative connotation when the University of Colorado is regarded by those who watch this film.
Comment by Kacy, freshmen at CU on December 11, 2007 at 9:22 pm
According to The US Department of Education, at least 84 college students have died from alcohol poisoning or alcohol related injury since 1996 on campuses all over the nation. Your film portrays one campus, and the story of one fraternity pledge. By making this film, you have tarnished the merit of my education at The University of Colorado. I work too fucking hard in school to be portrayed to the world so negatively.
Comment by Anonymous on December 11, 2007 at 2:59 pm
Are you really in college? You think this is an attack on the greek system? Good if it is, good if it saves a parents kid. It is clear this is information about alcohol and some kids who dont get “IT”
Comment by JIm J on December 11, 2007 at 8:36 am
Thanks for saving a dozens lives in the coming year, Mr. Schuermann–not just from alcohol poisoning and asphyxia, but also from traumatic brain injury, sexual assault, and felony criminal convictions.
The trailer alone will have an impact.
Comment by Tom Casady on December 11, 2007 at 7:20 am
I heard about this film through a friend of mine in the Greek system, while I think the fact of alcohol poisoning is tragic, I don’t think blame can be placed simply with the Greek system, even if the had done “everything right” there still is a chance Gordie would have ended up the same. My experience with calling 911 for a friend who had too much to drink ended with a completely inept response by Pridemark medical services, who refused to even take vitals, citing that he “looked fine enough” and tickets all around as the Police Officer told us we “did the right thing by calling 911″.
The University has created several policies in order to encourage students to call 911 when there is a problem, including one that promises to absolve anyone involved of guilt. The problem is, it is common knowledge that the school rarely allows cases to fall under these policies. Therefore, there is little incentive to call 911 unless the victim is dead already, in the case above, it appears our victim was not drunk enough to warrant these provisions, in the case of Gordie, it is possible Pridemark may have made the same decision, they had similar symptoms.
It’s a student issue, but the school and city will get nowhere without being smart about fighting this issue, it isn’t about being the “hardest” or “toughest” on drinking, or by putting half-hearted measures in place to protect the schools image; it’s about a guerilla war against irresponsibility that requires drawn out and committed action for cultural change, not an iron fist nor the barring of the Greek system or of student privileges. The knee-jerk reactions this city and school have to the drinking problems are doing just enough to avoid a lawsuit, not another Gordie.
Comment by A CU student on December 11, 2007 at 2:21 am
Pete Schuermann I would like to thank you in advance for completely destroying a system that is already struggling to survive. Greek only make up 9% of CU total population and that number is only bond to go down after the release of this movie. Try recreating students after they have pre conceived notions that they are going to be hazed and not taken care of properly. It is not fair for you to target the whole Greek system. Almost all fraternities in CU Greek system dont have any form of hazing. There are fraternities who don’t even have the pledging system. Yes I agree it is sad what happened to Gordie but in no way does that represent the Greek system as a whole. That was one organization that made a mistake and a few peoples fault for not call for help. So again thank you for representing one side of a story and because of this killing the Greek system here at CU. I hope you think about that when you sped the money that you make off of this movie, cause this movie will come will a large cost to CU and the Greek systems
Comment by Sam on December 11, 2007 at 12:43 am
I understand the point of making this video. Sadly, that point is not fairly being addressed. It is - why would the producer ever admit - taking a cheap shot at the Greek System. The producer, marketing team, and everyone else knows it would not get the exposure it would get if it was not focused on/trying to rip apart the Greek System. It’s easy to blame an entire organization, when in reality the fault of Gordie’s death lies on a few people. It disgusts me that you exploit such a terrible incident, and instead of making it clear this was an isolated hazing incident at the University of Colorado, you make it seem as if this is a terrible consistent problem. Hazing was not a problem at CU, drinking was!!! Finally that has been addressed and there have been changes, but at the expense of many undeserving organizations. I pledged a Fraternity the same time Gordie did at CU. I remember when I heard about his death. The ENTIRE Greek system gathered in support. We were all terribly saddened and heart broken that something this terrible could happen. A year later, another student died in a similar way. He was found lying on the ground of his house after a house party unconscious. He wasn’t part of an organization, but he did drink himself to death and is a student. Why is this not national news and film making worthy material? Simply answered…because there is no big name to blame. Gordie Bailey’s death is a horrible/sad moment of my life, as I’m sure it is with many others at CU. If you are going to write a documentary about it, make it fair. As I’m sure, and hope that good will come from this video, it is also going to damage many undeserving organizations who have worked so hard to break away from the illogical Fraternity image because of your lack of respect to make this an honest film.
Comment by JJ on December 10, 2007 at 9:21 pm
This is one of the most tragic stories i have ever heard and it breaks my heart that this happened. But it is not fair to take aim at the greek system like this trailer did. Heavy drinking is a problem in high school and college and not just in the greek system. In fact, most of the dangerous drinking i have seen has been at house parties not at all associated with the greek system. Yes, I went through hazing and yes some of it was drinking related, but we always had the choice to participate in the drinking aspect. We didn’t have to drink if we didn’t want to. I am just hurt that the makers of this film feel the need to attack the greek system when we are doing so much for the community of boulder and have significantly improved our image since the Gordie incident. I just wish they would get both sides of the story instead of only one fraternity that messed up bigtime. No other fraternities have issues like this. The producers can’t say drinking is the greek systems fault when we only make up 9% of the CU student body. 91% of kids don’t party or drink? That isnt true and they need to get their facts straight.
Comment by Current fraternity member at CU boulder on December 10, 2007 at 9:00 pm
To stereotype and take shortcuts on this issue is absolutely nauseating. Blaming the fraternity and sororities for something that is a campus-wide problem only serves to perpetuate the myth that Greeks are bad. At the University of Colorado, where I am a senior, binge drinking is pastime shared by Greeks and non-Greeks alike. The makers of this documentary have tunnel vision if they think only fraternities and sororities have drinking problems. And now, sadly, more negative attention is brought onto a community that has cleaned itself up since 2004. I congratulate the filmmaker that put this “documentary” together for taking advantage of a heart-sickening story and using a shock-value, tunnel-visioned approach to make a buck.
It’s disgusting. You’re disgusting. How do you sleep at night?
Comment by Martin on December 10, 2007 at 8:42 pm
At Salve Regina University I shared the HAZE trailer with some of the New Student Seminar classes. I showed the trailer in class on a Wednesday afternoon and that night I recieved a call (I was the professional staff member on duty that particular night) to respond to one of our Freshman residence halls for an alcohol transport. When I arrived at the scene, one of my students came up to me crying. She explained to me that she had found a student in the bathroom passed out on the floor and that she rembered the HAZE movie, particularly Gordie passed out on the floor. This is first hand evidence that the HAZE movie works!
Comment by Kelly on December 10, 2007 at 9:58 am
What killed Gordie? The hazing or the alcohol? Gordie Bailey was not hazed to death. He voluntarily drank an excessive amount of alcohol, albeit with pressure from fraternity brothers. He was then not properly taken care of. Being hazed to death is when you hang yourself because of the emotional damage of hell week. (Which happened at my University) Why aren’t reports like that the subject of this so called documentary?
Comment by rob on December 8, 2007 at 9:42 pm
The real problem in drinking is that parents dont teach their children how to drink responsibly. fix that and you will be a great step closer to fixing the problem
Comment by G.A. on December 7, 2007 at 3:54 pm
How desperate are these people to allow others to do terrible things to them, for what ? To join some group?
I don’t unserstand that part at all. And what makes the perpetrators want to hurt their fellow students ?
What is wrong with them ? I think the punishments need to be stronger with guaranteed jail time and automatic expelling for hazing. IMHO Josie
Comment by Josie on December 6, 2007 at 8:49 pm
I am a freshman at the University of Colorado at Boulder. While entering CU the school makes a clear statement about binge drinking and always talk about Gordie. I never want to hear that 911 call (Gordie’s) again that they played in a presentation. Since I have been here, I always think twice about drinking remembering and never wanting to have anyone have to make that 911 call for me. The University of Colorado is impressively cleaning up from their old image, it should be included.
Comment by Current CU student on December 3, 2007 at 11:17 pm
This movie does look interesting and I know I will see it when it does come out, but I need to say that I am fairly disappointed that the creators of this movie appear to have taken such a narrow focus with it. Yes, when you think of Hazing one of the first things to come to mind is probably Greek life. But what you don’t know, unless you are actually involved in the system is that right now hazing is probably at an all time low, national organizations have stepped in along with universities and have been cracking down big time. I am not saying hazing is not serious and that it does not happen, but there are measures being taken to eliminate it, when I joined my Fraternity I do not feel that I was hazed. I was put through a series of ritual events which taught me the values of my fraternity, I had to learn some history of the organization and get to know all of the brothers.
In addition to that assuming that Greek organizations are the only ones that haze is ridiculous. What about sports teams and other organizations. I know that a non greek organization on my campus “kidnaps” its new members in the middle of the night one night and they go camping. Even though this is all in good fun it is hazing by definition. I feel that this movie should have focused on that and not only Greek organizations.
Also, there is a whole other side to Greek life that most people do not know about. Some of these aspects are community service events as small as walking dogs at the local animal shelter to as large as raising funds for a charity, leadership positions and experience everything from president and vice president all the way down to the brother that is in charge of filling the pop machine in the house, networking there are always alumni from your chapter and the national organization looking out for you, we all know that in todays society who you know helps you out, and brotherhood and sisterhood making friends and bonds that will last a life time.
Granted Greek life is not for everyone and there are some chapters at certain universities that do embark in these activities and that needs to be stopped but the point of my comment is to simply say this:
Greek organizations are not the only ones around that haze there are measures being taken to prevent hazing and that there is more to Fraternities and Sororities than meets the eye.
Comment by Matt on December 3, 2007 at 7:50 pm
My daughter was severely beaten on a bus on the way back to campus from one of the first ‘fraternity/sorority socials’ of the year. A bus was used to transport kids back to campus. My daughter objected to the dehumanizing attitude & actions the girls were being subjected to by frat boys on the bus on their return to campus. For her objections, she was severely beaten. The perpetrator’s affiliation with a particular frat was covered up. To date, the campus has not responded by sanctions to the fraternity nor made them responsible in any form. This was a nightmare for my daughter, my family, and others. We plan to drive this issue home in some form by being vigilant in our efforts to make the campus not only aware but responsible for the activities of their campus-sanctioned organizations.
Comment by Sue on December 3, 2007 at 1:02 pm
I was a member of Delta Zeta, and joining was one of the biggest mistakes of my life. Not only was I hazed in unthinkable ways, there was no way out because de pledging is not an option. I’m glad they are making films like this, the girls I know are gonna kill someone with the stunts they pull.
Comment by Jane Doe on December 2, 2007 at 11:45 pm
This movie looks to be extremely well done from a technical perspective. I have done a great deal of camera work myself, and this looks great. I can’t wait to see the completed project.
Comment by Marvin LaGuardia on November 30, 2007 at 4:41 pm
F@#* alchohol smoke marijuana.
Comment by smartypants on November 29, 2007 at 12:57 pm
While this circumstance may not have directly involved sororities, women and women’s groups most definitely still attribute to the drinking culture on most college campuses, let’s be clear about that. Everyone knows, that for any fraternity party, the expectation is that women show up and drink for free. They act out at fraternity parties, then head back to the sorority. This is a tragedy, but let’s be clear that this and/or drinking culture on most campuses isn’t something that’s unique to just fraternities..
Comment by Thomas on November 29, 2007 at 10:56 am
The trailer clip for this movie is powerful. As the mother of two mid-20’s university students, I believe that the responsibility of preventing this type of tragedy lies with us all - students, peers, parents, university administration. I am disgusted to look at the two-page, full spread advertisement of the local liquor store in the Boulder Daily Camera newspaper and think of how it will affect the one student that is lonely, homesick, depressed, ignored, labeled, or stressed. The sexual assaults and aggravated assaults, not to mention the senseless deaths, will continue as long as we, the responsible, choose to ignore the problem. I, for one, want to face the situation and do what I can to change the tide.
Comment by t on November 28, 2007 at 11:43 am
When does this movie come out? I really would like to see it. From the trailer it looks very well thought out and made. I just finished a project for school on binge drinking and included Gordie in my video presentation. It’s a terrible thing that happened to him, i just wish it didnt ever have to happen again.
Comment by CollegeISsoon on November 14, 2007 at 2:17 pm
In college during the early / mid 90’s I saw this problem as something that needed to change. As a result, I got together with a bunch of friends and we started our own fraternity which had a very strict no alcohol policy. 12 years later we have seen some improvements on the campus and hopefully in some small way have prevented ths sort of thing from becoming a bigger problem.
Great trailer - can’t wait to see the whole thing. I’d love to get a copy to show to our freshman class every year.
Comment by matt on November 13, 2007 at 3:35 pm
Unfortunately the way in which this trailer portrays the University of Colorado and more specifically the Greek system at Colorado is unfair and deeply hurt me as a woman of the Greek system. Greeks at this school are 9% of the population! We may be a party school but I can guarantee that the other 91% of the student body here does there part to insure our ranking as such. This campus and the Greeks here have been making huge progress in changing the culture, where is that in your trailer?
Comment by Greek Student of University of Colorado on November 11, 2007 at 9:00 pm
While I appreciate and understand the severity of Gordie’s tragic death, the association of sororities with this film is unfair and unprecedented. The life of sorority women versus that of fraternity men couldn’t be more different. The energy that is put into educating sorority women about the risks and dangers of alcohol is unparalleled by any other student group on campus. The association with fraternity men is an age old tradition that misrepresents the life of sorority women.
Comment by A.S. on November 11, 2007 at 2:21 pm
As a parent of a daughter who will attend CU Boulder next Fall, I feel this film should be made part of The University orientation program here and at every campus across the country. Our children need to timely be made aware of the harsh realities of excessive alchohol consumption, whether at a fraternity, sorority, dorm room or on the lawn at the commons. Thank you.
Comment by Josh Vangrove on November 11, 2007 at 7:20 am
When will this movie be out and how can we purchase a copy of it? Thanks for your help.
Comment by Nicole Weston on November 9, 2007 at 12:58 pm
Much has been said about the nature of this documentary and fears have been expressed regarding the potential for Haze to take a negative slant against the Greek system. No doubt, opinions will be varied even when the final show is available for all to see.
I will point out that Haze is not simply a story about the situation on college campuses in regards to alcohol abuse. It is also a story about Gordie Bailey. As stated by an advocate of the Greek community, he was hazed to death during a Fraternity inititiation.
In the telling of Gordie’s story, the duty of a documentarian is to detail, examine and probe the circumstances and environment directly invloved in his tragic death.
What you will see in Haze, is an examination of those circumstances (the hazing), and the environment (the Franternity system).
We are limited, however, in how much detail we can delve into in regards to Fraternity life since much of their activities, like initiation ceremonies, are secretive. That coupled with the fact that efforts to hear “their side” from key members, both national and chapter level, have been almost entirely ignored or met with hostility.
We strive however, as I write this, to keep our edit of Haze objective, unbiased and fair as possible to the actual environment and challenges that our young people are faced with.
We will also show very clearly the manner and influences that lead to the death of Lynn Gordon Bailey.
Comment by Pete Schuermann, Director of Haze on November 9, 2007 at 11:55 am
The only thing that bothered me about this clip was at the end when the title HAZE was flickering, and in the flickering, the “E” turned into a Sigma, and went back and forth like that. I felt like it was suggesting hazing is only common with the Greek system.
Comment by Jack H. on November 9, 2007 at 11:08 am
This is not a new phenomenon, but a problem that was around when I graduated from Syracuse University in 1981 and I am sure was around in my father’s time as well. It is not just the fraternity or sorority, but all gatherings of unsupervised young people with access to alcohol. I have seen this same thing happen in dorms, at camps, and it was especially prevelant in the military where hazing is also a way of life, a rite of passage. The young people in a fraternity, are only a few years away from children on a playground. No one is more cruel or self centered than many children on a playground. Give them large bodies and booze and you have the formula for disaster. Responsibility for their action must be placed on the shoulders of the adults who should have taken responsibility over these children, yes children of 18 to 23 years of age. I was a Marine officer, and I have seen 19 year old Marines do very similar things to their brothers. The solution is a little thing called leadership, and people in charge doing their jobs of leading…and in that capacity setting the example by which these young people learn to lead and be responsible for their fellows. While this is a tragedy, you cannot blame the fraternity and sorority system or the dorm system or the military. These are all settings that bring young people together. It begs to ask the question: Where were the adults? Where were the leaders? Young people left to their own devices will always get in troule…unless they have positive leadership and from it learn to lead. Yes a 20 year old man can be a leader, but he needs to know how. That is where the adults in this situation failed. They did their 9 to 5 thing, and left the kids to go wild. Reminiscent to Lord of the Flies.
Comment by Charles Henderson on November 9, 2007 at 10:36 am
I’m really glad I’m getting a chance to take a look at this and get the word out a bit. I don’t know that I agree with the above post. Last scandal I saw in the media centering around a college was the alleged Duke Lacrosse team rapes. I don’t know that what I took from this was so much a slant against Greek Life, as a wake up call to the dangers of hazing and extreme partying. I don’t even know if the CC student who fell out of a window at school a couple years ago was in a dorm or a Greek House — I don’t care. All I need to know is it happened and that there is a lesson to be learned.
I think we sweep under the rug the truths about binge drinking, we sugar coat it as some extreme unlikelihood, and students don’t actually realize that they can die from alcohol poisoning, what it looks like, and what to do in case of overdose. Students go off to school seeing binge drinking as some kind of a right of passage and an event that will make a funny story for their grandkids — when in fact those stories may never be told, those grandchildren, that LIFE, lost to the binge itself.
Gordie’s tragic story will, thanks to this documentary.
Comment by G.S. on November 8, 2007 at 9:20 pm
Although fraternities do play a role in hazing and binge drinking, I feel as though this is putting a slant on the greek system as a whole. It is just as possible for someone not in a fraternity to be hazed or get alcohol poisoning. Sports teams and clubs are known for hazing and binge drinking, and even independents tend to have wild parties where things are known to get out of hand. The only reason fraternities are getting so much heat from all of this is because people already have a preconceived notion on how fraternities are and how they act, truthful or not. They also feel that since it is an organization, there should be responsibility to look out for one another. This is something I completely agree on. The only thing is, when a group of independents get together and get trashed and one of their friends gets too drunk and dies of alcohol poisoning, where is the difference? Is there not responsibility of those friends to look out for one another? Of course there is. But the media will never pick up on that story because the media is always trying to portray greeks in a bad light. I am not opposing this movie, I am opposed to the idea that hazing = fraternities. Yes, they may be a factor, but they are certainly not all of it.
Comment by Lauren on November 8, 2007 at 6:04 pm