Schools, frats should take cue from soldiers’ training

The death of young men due to hazing has been deplored and documented. Some of the killers in previous incidents have been punished, but some hazing cases have dragged on for 20 years or so.

But young men never learn. For them, the desire to prove that they are more than men who have not only the strength but also the will to suffer and overcome pain is second nature. Besides, joining fraternities could be a ticket to excellent leadership training, a profitable career after school and similar “privileges.”

But what is the worth of all these when a potential member dies in the “recruitment” process? And why can’t schools guide fraternities into establishing bonds of brotherhood without having to stain the members’ hands with the blood of neophytes? They say that when a person inflicts pain, an urge to kill arises and becomes uncontrollable.

Come to think of it, why can’t these fraternities just adopt the training soldiers undergo, a kind of training that truly makes or breaks a man, but nevertheless upholds  the value of human life. Soldiers are trained to survive not to die. Many soldiers who have done battle-duty grow to ripe old age. They know how to conduct and control themselves.

School authorities and fraternities should take the cue from the way soldiers are trained with the view of serving the country. Fraternities should strive to be examples of service to others, not to be the notorious organizations that awaken animal instincts in men.

—DR. FE M. SORILLA,
Retired school physician,
Masbate