A task force looking into the issue says the number of hazing deaths at Asian American fraternities is alarmingly high.
“There shouldn’t be this many deaths, this many cases, for this small number of organizations, chapters and members, ” said Walter M. Kimbrough to the New York Times.
Kimbrough is the president of Dillard University in New Orleans and heads a task force on hazing prevention for the North-American Interfraternity Conference.
Nationwide there are more than 65 Asian American fraternities and sororities. Since 2005, there have been four hazing deaths.
Last month, prosecutors announced they would file charges against members of Pi Delta Psi in the 2013 hazing death of 1st year student Michael Deng.
There have been three other deaths connected to Lambda Phil Epsilon in three separate incidents at chapters at San Francisco State, University of Texas, Austin and Cal Poly Pomona in California.
The New York Times also cited a number of other hazing incidents which have lead to suspensions and discipline. Critics say although anti-hazing policies are in place, pledges feel pressured to participate out of fear they will be rejected if they don’t.
Leaders of Asian American fraternity says each incident is another setback in their efforts. They stress other Greek organizations have similar problems. You can read about what’s behind these incidents in the New York Times.