'Ana', an 18-year-old tourism student from a university in Manila, is currently in the hospital after she was hazed for a sorority initiation.
Her classmates threatened to kill her
According to investigations, 'Ana' it started back in December 2016, when her classmates, who were members of a sorority, were trying to convince her to join them. Uninterested, 'Ana' said that she declined their invitations.
Last January 3, she was confronted by the group inside their school, and they threatened to kill her if she didn't join the initiation.
Out of fear for her life, 'Ana' was forced to accept the invitation that happened on January 8th. Sadly, she wasn't aware of the horrifying things that were about to unfold.
She was savagely beaten by 4 different people
During the day of the initiation, she was asked to bring food, a candle, and a sack. At around 9:30 a.m. in the morning, she was taken by her classmates to an abandoned house in Las Piñas City. Over 40 members of the sorority were waiting in the home, ready to start the initiation.
She was blindfolded, and asked to kneel down, she was then savagely beaten by 4 different people. According to 'Ana', she suffered over 50 lashes from a belt, as well as hits from a piece of wood. She adds that her back was burned by a candle, and that she was slapped and someone pulled her hair.
The torture lasted until 2:30 p.m. in the afternoon, but they were asked to wait over 6 hours before they were taken home.
Once her parents found out about what happened, she was immediately rushed to the hospital where she is now confined. She's currently under observation as her legs are still swollen because of the beating.
Her family has already contacted the authorities to seek help in finding the students who were responsible for what happened.
Go to the next page to learn more about the dangers of hazing.
The dangers of hazing
Some people might think of hazing as a way of initiating a person into a tight-knit organization, usually a fraternity. However, hazing involves abuse, humiliation, physical harm, and even mentally degrading practices.
This is why as parents, it's important to teach our kids that hazing is wrong, and anyone who forces them to do something against their will isn't someone to be trusted.
- Let your kids know that it's their right to feel safe and that no one, even people who they think are their closest friends can make them feel otherwise. If they feel that someone is trying to hurt them, or is hurting them, they should tell someone about it.
- Be more loving, moral, and ethical. Setting an example for your kids is a good way to make sure that they also behave in the manner that you expect them to.
- Talk to your kids about the dangers of hazing, and that they don't need to go through such a ritual just to prove their dedication to an organization or a group.
- Always know where your child is, and keep in constant contact with them during nights out, or if they go on a school trip.
- Be there for your children. Tell them that you're always there for them and that they can depend on you and trust you if they find themselves in trouble.
Source: news.abs-cbn.com, stompoutbullying.org
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