A number of colleges andparents, as well as sorority and fraternity members are taking steps to bring an end to the long held tradition of hazing.

Debbie Smith, an office manager and a mother, is among those trying to end the ritual of hazing.

Smith, who joined the cause after her son, Matthew Carrington was killed at Chico State on Feb. 2, 2005, as a direct result of hazing, believes hazing should not be a part of the pledging process.

“I think that fraternities and sororities have been wonderful and can get to that point again,” Smith said. “Unfortunately, many have gone to a bad place where, in order to be involved, you have to do things you wouldn’t ordinarily do, as is the case with hazing.”

Some fraternities and sororities have gone to a place that is not only demeaning, but violent as well, Smith said. Students get sucked in early on as if it’s just one big party, then it gets to the point where they no longer realize that they are being hazed because it’s just viewed as being funny, she added. Unfortunately, it’s at this point that it really is too late, Smith said.

Carrington, who was found in the basement of the Chi Tau fraternity house, died of heart failure from water intoxication after being forced to consume a large amount of water with cold fans on him, while doing jumping jacks, sit-ups, push-ups, and running in place.

It’s instances like this that have caused parents and students to rise up against the institution of hazing through protesting and lobbying.

SB 1454, or Matt’s Law, which was developed in Carrington’s memory, is one bill up for legislation to eliminate hazing.

If the bill, which has already passed the state Legislature and is waiting on signature of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, is accepted, it would change breaking the anti-hazing law from a misdemeanor to a felony, punishable with up to five years in prison. The law would also expand the boundaries of the anti-hazing law to cover all individuals and organizations, not just fraternities and sororities.

“Given the overwhelming support that Matt’s Law has received from the Senate and the Assembly we are very confident that the Governor will sign it,” said Alex Grab, Smith’s attorney. “Seeing that the Assembly passed it unanimously, 78-0, we’re expecting the law to go into effect during the early part of next year.”

A number of universities, such as Sacramento State, already have measures in place to end hazing among its campus organizations.

“As part of our student code of conduct everything is very explicit in what the CSU system expects of our students,” Director of Student Conduct Leonard Valdez said. “In the time that I’ve been here, we have learned that it’s not only sororities and fraternities that are involved in hazing, but also clubs and other organizations as well.”

When Sac State discovers instances of hazing in any organization, the university has the ability and the authority to remove that organization from the campus and to go after the organization’s individual members through the judicial process, Valdez said.

Sac State fraternity members agree that hazing can be dangerous and is an unnecessary part of the pledging process.

“It was nearly five years ago that our whole chapter came together and voted to ban hazing,” said Edward Fertuna, the Fundraiser/Philanthropy chair of Kappa Sigma. “Most people believe that you can’t have strong brotherhood without hazing, but that’s just not true.”

Ashley Evans can be reached at [email protected]