<p>This week's Newsweek had a blurb about two dozen Caltech students who had to be rescued from Mount Wilson after what was described as a hazing incident. Is the blurb accurage? How common is hazing at Caltech?</p>
<p>It's been made very clear to us that we shouldn't talk to reporters about what happened, so I'm hesitant to say much that could be found and quoted. I will say that many of the blurbs were incomplete, many were inaccurate (according to Jenny, the Page house president, no one was wearing a tutu), and hazing is not an appropriate description. I actually laughed (as did many others) when I heard them calling it hazing because it was so obvious that they were trying to find a juicy story. Ask people about it when you visit campus for prefrosh or something. They'll give you the full unvarnished truth of what happened.</p>
<p>Apart from that specific incident, which I too will avoid saying much about (alleya's advice about that is excellent), there really isn't any actual hazing that I've noticed at Tech. No one forces students to do anything they really don't want to do (Well, aside from problem sets.)</p>
<p>Yeah, don't believe everything you read; a lot of the information in that news story is false, intended solely for the purpose of sensationalizing an otherwise mundane event. </p>
<p>And like drake said, the choice is entirely up to students whether they want to do something or not. Hence, there is no actual hazing here.</p>
<p>Most hazing problems don't result from students being physically forced to do something they are reluctant to do. However, the students frequently do stupid things to be part of the crowd, whether the activity be part of a fraternity initiation or some other tradition. Many complain about it later, even if they went along with it at the time. However, because they survived it themselves, they do the same to new initiates next year, despite their own complaints. The process leaves me befuddled. </p>
<p>Most of what I read about Caltech students indicates you are smart, have the self-confidence to be independent thinkers, and aren't particularly concerned if someone else finds you different/odd. However, the blurb - and subsequent articles I read - put some doubt in my mind. So perhaps a good question to ask is: How much social pressure is there on Caltech students to do stupid things?</p>
<p>Depends on what you consider stupid.</p>
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So perhaps a good question to ask is: How much social pressure is there on Caltech students to do stupid things?
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<p>Not actually that much. People try to get other students to do "stupid" things because they themselves find said things fun, and want others to enjoy them as well. Choosing not to participate doesn't really bring on any sort of social stigma.</p>
<p>For example, a bunch of my friends drink, as is pretty common among college students. I don't. It's not a problem. They might try to get me to drink, 'cause they enjoy it and think I would too, but there's no pressure to do so. And I'm not shunned or anything as a result.</p>