More about the book Guyland and a brief poem/joke
Kimmel’s book mentions the death of a first-year college student in 2005, Matt Carrington, at a hazing at one of the California-state university fraternities. He didn’t die of alcohol or drugs or violence, but of water intoxication after being put through some physical violence.
One of the older fraternity brothers admitted in court he and others were responsible for Carrington’s death. Again, I think a large part of maturity is being able to calm down, and young men can get over-excited when in groups and do bad things.
One of my college teaching colleagues focused a course on initiation rituals in literature. I don’t think fraternities or their initiation rituals are necessarily wrong, but they are risky. My undergrad college did not really allow fraternities for this reason. But it had many of the same behavioral problems of many colleges.
“Gout” by yours truly
I have developed a case of gout.
Makes it hard walk about.
(Happens to many men after 50.
Isn’t that nifty?)
You may think it makes me a lout.
What’s that all about?
Please don’t about it pout.
Or have any doubt;
We can all do without.