Sigma Pi's boozy rush party last Thanksgiving ended with four freshmen at Cayuga Medical Center and the revocation of the frat's official recognition for what Cornell's associate dean for Greek affairs called an "egregious" incident. Last Tuesday, the InterFraternity Council voted to allow Sigma Pi to return to campus on January 1st for a year-long probationary period as an associate member, on the condition of a dry rush.

In a controversial move, the decision will forgo the usual restrictions on returning frats that would exclude Sigma Pi from voting in the IFC and participating in rush week. 29 brothers remain on campus and have been pushing for their official return, but not everyone is convinced that they deserve it. After their presentation before the IFC, Sigma Alpha Mu President Ross Freilich '09 asked, "Why is the IFC responsible for creating sanctions for their recognition?... They came in expecting to get recognition without a plan to move forward from last November’s event."
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"Although hazing is not unique to Cornell," the university's official anti-hazing web site says, "we believe that it is important to examine these practices explicitly in an attempt to overcome the secrecy that perpetuates them." An honorable and civilized goal, we have to agree. By shining light on the practice, we can educate people and dispel myths like "Whatever doesn't kill you makes you stronger." We can reassure hazing victims that they're not alone.

We can also learn some awesome new hazing ideas. Bored with that old cliche of Saran-wrapping pledges face-to-face and making them drink until they pee on each other? Try haze No. 2, "requiring new members to eat only peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for one week." More subtle comedy is to be found in No. 16, making pledges wear multiple layers of clothing to class. OK, so "New members were struck with blunt objects, leaving bruises and scars" isn't quite so funny. But haze No. 26, "Members sprayed water and beer on a tile basement floor and dragged naked new members around by their feet around them calling them "human squeegees"? Pure character-building.

Click through for more hazing tips! 

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