sororities and hazing at Sewanee?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Sewanee: The University of the South
1

Hi everyone

I have accepted my place in the class of 2020 and I am looking forward to come to the Mountain in the fall.

I was just wondering if any current students could tell me if sororities practice hazing and how bad it is at Sewanee? I know it tends to get bad at big state schools, but I was just wondering!

Thank you

2

Most sororities at Sewanne either don’t haze at all or have silly “hazing” stuff (nothing harmful, dangerous or gross). There is one that does have a reputation for hazing.

3

Thank you @Overtheedge I’m guessing the one that does haze is the national sorority, but I am not too bothered about joining that one specifically!

4

@Livvy97, no it’s actually one of the more popular local sororities.

5

Which one are you talking about? I know a lot of people who go there and am just curious

6

This occurred within the past 3 or so years. I was hazed so hard by one of the local sororities that I failed all my classes and had to transfer schools (not sure if it’s the one that overtheedge is referring to). Some forms of hazing began even before I joined, such as forced drinking, but it became increasingly worse and dangerous once I picked up my bid. Not saying you shouldn’t join a sorority, but watch from the beginning and find one that won’t pressure you into doing harmful things. I know I sound particularly bitter, and I am not anti greek, but I am very anti hazing. I am now involved in sorority life at another school and am much happier because there is no hazing.

7

I have a daughter really interested in Sewanee, but I’ve been warned away from school b/c of this very issue. My friends tell me that b/c the sororities don’t have national guidelines, the hazing is really terrible.

8

@luckymama64 - My D is a member of one of the larger local sororities at Sewanee and her house does not haze at all. They don’t even require mandatory attendance at functions. My D joked that the motto during pledgeship was “but only if you want to.” As Watersue pointed out “watch from the beginning and find one that won’t pressure you into doing harmful things.”

There are 9 sororities at Sewanee - 8 local and 1 national. A second national is coming to campus. Among those 9, only 2 have a reputation for hazing. My D has close friends in those 2 houses and says the hazing is mild (more fun than harmful) in one and more extreme in the other.