A history of fraternity hazing at Penn State

The Collegian's reporting shows that while hazing has taken on different forms over the decades, it's a problem that has impacted Penn State students in Greek Life and beyond for over a century.

By Elsa Brumbaugh

Exterior of the alpha kappa lambda fraternity house — Exterior of the Alpha Kappa Lambda fraternity house. In 1976, a brother there made a formal complaint due to injuries suffered in a hazing incident.
**Credit: Samantha Myers**

With over a century of reporting on Penn State under its belt, The Daily Collegian boasts an impressive archive of stories. That trove includes several reports that detail the history of hazing at Penn State.

In her archive dive, Elsa Brumbaugh uncovered how these initiation rituals were covered by The Collegian as far back as the 1940s. The stories lay out how some indiscriminately targeted first-year students. Some caused physical harm through violence or forced excessive drinking. Others resulted in more mental distress from sleep deprivation, public embarrassment or fear of "punishment" for failing a task.

Black and white photo from 1906 with two male students wearing tiny baseball caps called "dinks" to show that they are underclassmen — Penn State students pictured wearing "dinks" to show that they were underclassmen in 1906.
**Credit:** Courtesy of Penn State University Archives / Eberly Family Special Collections

The reporting also details attempts to curb hazing behavior and protect students' mental and physical wellbeing.

Visit The Daily Collegian's website to read Elsa's report in its entirety.

Credits

Reporter: Elsa Brumbaugh
Editor: Amy Schafer
General Manager: Brent Addleman

A history of fraternity hazing at Penn State

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