Ralph Waldo Emerson suggests in his essay “Self-Reliance” that individuals must follow their own paths and not conform to the society's standards. Emerson emphasizes that, “You will always find those who think they know what is your duty better than you know it. It is easy in the world to live after the world’s opinion; it is easy in solitude to live after our own; but the great man is he who in the midst of the crowd keeps with perfect sweetness the independence of solitude.” This statement stresses Transcendentalism belief in doing what the individual thinks is best for him instead of what the people think is right. Emerson acknowledges that it can be a difficult journey to go against the culture one has been raised to respect and obey while
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Unbeknown to many, hazing began two thousand years ago in ancient Greece. During this time period, the famous philosopher, Plato, encouraged jokes on his new students stating “[they] had to be polished before [they] could become a regular member” (Plato qtd. in Alvarez). Hazing continued during the Middle Ages and throughout the fifteenth century in prestigious English universities eventually emerging in United States. Today, pledges or incoming players are the victims of these hazing crimes and records since 2005 demonstrate that, “more than sixty college students have died in hazing related incidents” (Alvarez). However, “supporters of hazing defend the tradition of hazing as an important group-bonding ritual that creates stronger teams and forgers lifelong networks of camaraderie and support” (Fine). Stephen Sweet, assistant professor of sociology at SUNY Potsdam, explains that, recent hazing cases support that pledges willingly submit to physiological and physically punishment to draw social approval from higher status members or teammates. Furthermore, the members initiating the hazing also are negatively impacted. Hazers can develop false sense of superiority, experience guilt and damage to their reputation. If police, administration or parents become aware of the hazing then a university's reputation can decline. As a result state sponsored universities can receive less funding and participants can be suspended. Although hazing has existed for a long time, it is unfortunately heavily carried out in today’s
Unbeknown to many, hazing began two thousand years ago in ancient Greece. During this time period, the famous philosopher, Plato, encouraged jokes on his new students stating “[they] had to be polished before [they] could become a regular member” (Plato qtd. in Alvarez). Hazing continued during the Middle Ages and throughout the fifteenth century in prestigious English universities eventually emerging in United States. Today, pledges or incoming players are the victims of these hazing crimes and records since 2005 demonstrate that, “more than sixty college students have died in hazing related incidents” (Alvarez). However, “supporters of hazing defend the tradition of hazing as an important group-bonding ritual that creates stronger teams and forgers lifelong networks of camaraderie and support” (Fine). Stephen Sweet, assistant professor of sociology at SUNY Potsdam, explains that, recent hazing cases support that pledges willingly submit to physiological and physically punishment to draw social approval from higher status members or teammates. Furthermore, the members initiating the hazing also are negatively impacted. Hazers can develop false sense of superiority, experience guilt and damage to their reputation. If police, administration or parents become aware of the hazing then a university's reputation can decline. As a result state sponsored universities can receive less funding and participants can be suspended. Although hazing has existed for a long time, it is unfortunately heavily carried out in today’s