Community, bonding, family, love, and fun are all things that people look for when they join a sorority or fraternity in college. Seniors must take into account all of these factors when deciding whether or not to join one. However, there is a much darker side of some of these organizations than what is shown on the surface level.

On April 21, ILS seniors had the opportunity to attend a presentation about hazing awareness and prevention led by Ms. Rae Ann Gruver Monday. Students were educated about Max’s story, and how his life and death impacted so many people in so many ways. As they go off to college, it is imperative that seniors are acutely aware of the risks of hazing, and the dangers of peer pressure and bullying.

According to stophazing.org, “Hazing is any activity expected of someone joining or participating in a group that humiliates, degrades, abuses, or endangers them, regardless of a person’s willingness to participate.”

This is a deep rooted issue in both fraternities and sororities, with frat hazing activities being far more likely to become fatal. Hazing involves initiations where pledges are pressured to engage in risky challenges to prove themselves before they join the group. These challenges vary from university to university; however, most hazing includes excessive binge drinking, drug consumption, or other potentially life-threatening activities..

Maxwell Gruver, 18, was a teenager from Roswell, Georgia. According to the maxgruverfoundation.org, he was a “kind generous young man who was deeply loved by his friends and family.”

He was passionate about sports and, as a coach of little league, he even coached his little sister’s basketball team. Along with being a renowned athlete, he was also a successful journalist who sports stories for www.defpem.com.

In 2017 he began his freshman year at Louisiana State University, ready to pursue a career in journalism. Max tragically passed away due to a hazing incident at the Phi Delta Theta house. The fraternity ritual had pledges partake in a game called “Bible Study.” This game required pledges to take several chugs from a bottle of Diesel, a 190-proof liquor. In addition, every time they got a trivia answer wrong, frat members through condiments such as mustard at the pledges. Unfortunately, Max did not know many of the answers, as they were primarily about the Greek alphabet. Another ritual that was forced upon the pledges were wall sits, where they would squat against the wall while other members would walk across their knees. Police reports also states that the pledges had to carry other members while standing on a book.

“I was reading about his case and I realized just how much I  need to be careful when I go to college. I’m so grateful that we were able to learn about this and how to prevent it.” Said senior Antonella Velasquez.

Gruver eventually passed out on the couch while none of his fraternity brothers ever checking in on him until around 3:00 am. Then, he was left alone until 9:00 am. At some point when he was left alone, he had vomited which had blocked his airway, contributing to his death. In the morning he was taken to a hospital. Sadly, medical examiners confirmed he had died between the hours of 4 and 5 am.

“Max was…known as a gentle giant,” – Max Gruver Foundation

After his passing, his parents found Max’s journal where he wrote:

“God works in funny ways.  He does bad things sometimes because in the end they are good.  Something bad can happen to you but it may happen because it will make you better.He does bad to ultimately create good.”

This journal entry inspired his parents, Rae Ann and Stephen Gruver, to create the Max Gruver Foundation.

According to the Max Gruver Foundation website, their mission is to “create awareness, education, policy, and laws to prevent hazing.” They work with high schools, universities, student organizations, and more to spread awareness and implement changes. They have been extremely successful, distributing over 250,000 #FlyHighMax wristbands to students around the country over the past two years.

“No person should have to go through that. I think it’s very cruel that people who want to join a fraternity for brotherhood are punished,” said senior Andrea Garcia.

During her presentation, Mrs. Gruver emphasized the importance of calling 911 quickly in a case of an emergency, and to never wait because it could save a life.

“The lives of people are more important than any organization,” she tearfully stated.

The Max Gruver Foundation is still striving to educate young students around the world, and as Max said, they ultimately created the good.

For more information:

maxgruverfoundation.com
stophazing.org