by James A. Bacon
On Feb. 15, 2022, the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity at the University of Virginia instructed its pledges to show up blindfolded at the frat house at precisely 10:28 p.m. After being led to the basement, the newbies were ordered to race one another in consuming various combinations of milk, bananas, Sprite, mayonnaise, and broccoli. One pledge vomited.
Then the blindfolded inductees were commanded to engage in “wall sits” on the basement wall. Against the backdrop of loud music, FIJI brothers began throwing eggs against the ceiling and walls around the pledges. One egg struck a pledge in the eye.
“Multiple witnesses confirm that the victim was in pain and asked to go to the hospital,” summarizes the resulting Hazing Misconduct Report. “No effort was made to call 911 or secure immediate medical assistance.”
In the administrative proceeding that followed, Phi Delta Gamma’s operating agreement with the University was terminated and five students were referred to the Student Judiciary Committee. The chapter would have to wait four years before being permitted to reconstitute itself at UVA.
A generation ago, the egg-throwing incident would have been a non-event. Most likely, the pledge would have gotten over the momentary pain, he would have been inducted into the fraternity, and as an upperclassman, he would have plotted ways to torment the next class of pledges. No longer. These days anyone discomfited by a fraternity initiation rite is encouraged to submit an anonymous report, the Department of Student Affairs aggressively investigates the complaint, and fraternities can be shut down.
This is how snowflakes are made.
