The FarmHouse Fraternity suspended its University of Minnesota chapter late last week after confirming the chapter participated in physically and mentally harmful hazing activities.

Complaints from two former FarmHouse members led the university and the fraternity to investigate the chapter's practices.

The investigation unveiled current frat members forced new members to participate in morally degrading activities, including being led to believe they would have sex with a farm animal and be hung by their heels over a balcony while nearly nude.

"In no way, shape or form can we tolerate hazing in our chapters," FarmHouse Executive Director Jim Griffith said in a written statement. "We were shocked and disappointed to learn hazing had occurred."

Beginning immediately and extending through the end of the 2006-07 academic year, the suspension of the U of M FarmHouse chapter means its members can no longer take part in any recruitment, social or academic events.

Additional penalties, including fines or expulsion, could be enforced against any of the 15 students involved in the investigation.

Despite repercussions fraternity members may face for hazing, the practice continues to happen at schools across the country.

According to Griffith, the broad definition of hazing and the lack of knowledge new members have about hazing contributes to the continuance of harmful activities.

Since the Minnesota incident, FarmHouse now provides its chapters with a hazing videotape test to determine whether the activities new members participate in would be considered hazing.

The test asks members whether they would feel comfortable videotaping an activity and having it broadcast on television and shown to parents, professors, attorneys or university officials.

If the answer to any situation is "no," those activities will be considered hazing.

But Griffith believes just adjusting current activities by this standard is "not enough," adding permanent change needs to occur.

"We are moving forward with the group and trying to provide support, education and guidance to the chapter and university students to ensure hazing is eliminated forever," Griffith said.

A national study conducted by researchers at the University of Maine reported only 28 percent of students received information on anti-hazing policies when joining a team or student organization.

Like FarmHouse Fraternity, the University of Wisconsin's Interfraternity Council has a strict zero-tolerance hazing policy.

"Hazing is something we have to be proactive against," Council President Brian Burke said. "We have to educate any new member that comes into the system that hazing shouldn't happen and that they are the ones who can prevent it from happening."

Furthermore, many students may not be aware that hazing is illegal.

A hazing law in Wisconsin prohibits any activities that pose a danger to students' health and safety for the purpose of initiation or admission to an affiliation. Some actions strictly banned include whipping, branding and forced consumption of food, liquor or any other substance.

Burke says he is not aware of any hazing occurring on UW's campus, but insists he would want to know if students' safety is ever endangered so the proper action could be taken.

"Hazing has no place in the Greek system, no place in the university and no place in life," Burke said. "There are stupid people in the world, and it is not the fraternity that is hazing. It is the stupid people."