first off. . . Thank you for opening your hearts to the public in such a way that allows us to analyze your situation anonymously and unbiased. I greatly appreciate the candor and honesty at the look of images, probably still unsettling to the parents and all other parties involved. I am the mother of a 13 year old son. He was created my first time having sex when i was 16. Very real, very true.

I am in the current whirlwind of emotionally sensitive tornado my kid has jumped into. trying to fit in, fighting for more freedom, processing emotion and all the while trying to figure himself out. I was lucky enough to have a trade at a young age that has bought me pretty far in this world, but my kid…

I just never wanted him to go straight to college after high school because the people you tend to compete with for the good jobs are THOSE GUYS because of their connections as kids. I want him to travel. Experience himself in other climates and situations. Different lands and languages. Then maybe, hopefully, probably will have a better chance at seeing beauty in everything and everybody, therefore, not having to subject himself in such a manner to receive the love and attention he is seeking( be it good, or bad). I love my kid, as all of us parents do. We want whats best. You want them to not be the kid on the floor, or even the kid who lives the rest of their lives feeling even worse about themselves because someone they cared about could still be here. I am purchasing the DVD for my son to show him over and over. This is very real. Life is very real. Be smart. . . thank you!!!

This is one of the most saddening and vital films that I have ever seen.  This is incredibly relevant, and should be advocated.

Personally, I feel terrible for having contributed to these exact behaviors and circumstances. 

There are hundreds of issues of the most pressing importance highlighted in this film.  Anyone with any sense of community will relate to the importance of finding a use for their voice in addressing these issues.

I absolutely love the message this documentary is putting out there.  As a young mother and a past college student, I feel as though this video has really changed my views on the message I would like to get out as well.
Death, for me, has always seemed impossible.  Recently I have lost a friend to something that could have been prevented too.  Even though I haven’t seen him in a few years I some how feel responsible.  I should have offered my help. 
My child is a sweet and innocent two year old.  I pray that I will be able to remember this video when my son is 16.  Every child should watch this video.
I am so sorry for Gordie’s family’s loss.

this is a b unch of bullshit they need to just ban sororities from college period and stop the ####. Cal poly slo is the worst 2 deaths this year

you know, when they refer to chocolate stout or some other chocolate brewed item, they are referencing the degree of toast on the malt, that is chocolate malts do not contain chocolate, they are just roasted until they are somewhat burnt, and after the brewing process tastes like chocolate.  If i was trying to support an argument about marketing alcohol to young people, i would go after the alcho-pop brands.  The chocolate style beers have a lot of flavor and is a more acquired taste.  If i ever saw a chocolate budweiser then maybe i would start to accept what this gentleman is saying.  His assertion that they put chocolate syrup in beer is just plain wrong.

My skull was fractured in a high school hazing incident.  It involved revenge from the upper classmen because when an upper classman deliberately struck me in the mouth, I defended myself. 

Twenty-four hours later, a group of upper classman attacked me, one held me in a downward headlock as the two of us fell to the floor with the top of my head striking the concrete reinforced floor under the weight of both of us. 

When I broke loose and defended myself, I was struck in the right eye causing blood to gush out and soak me.  My vision was seriously impaired (I had double vision for more than six months), and when my skull was later x-rayed, it was discovered that my skull was fractured in two places around my right eye. 

The surgeon that x-rayed my skull said that he believed that the boy had to have had something in his hand when he hit me to do that much damage with a single blow to my skull.  After remembering the amount of pain from that single blow, I believe that the surgeon was correct. 

I’ve always asked why such a stupid incident had to take place.  The answer is, it didn’t.  If only that state had had an anti-hazing law at that time that this might have never happened.  Thankfully, it does now. 

There’s nothing cool about hazing.  It often encourages aggressive, abusive behavior by kids who don’t know what the word responsibility means. 

I currently live in another state than the one this incident occurred in.  It is one of the six states that does not have an anti-hazing law on the books. 

We recently had a high school incident in this state involving a sports team.  Broom handles were stuck into the rectums of ‘rookies’.  The upper classman were charged with assault and subsequently convicted and sentenced. 

But if such a law had been on the books, this might have never happened, either.  The school would’ve taken steps to see that hazing was not permitted. 

There is only one correct word to described hazing: STUPID.

My experiences as a fraternity member were of great
value to me......with the sole exception of receiving
hazing or being expected to haze those who pledged
subsequent to my becoming a member.

The fraternity experiences was a splendid opportunity
for expanding as a individual, learning to work in
cooperation with a group, and set goals for self improvement
as well as shared improvement

Hazing seemed to be, and in my mind continues to seem
out of place.  Why begin a process of joining in a fellowship
on a negative basis?  It makes no sense to me......"back when”
and NOW.

This film was thought-provoking, troubling and educational.  As a mother of a freshman at a sorority, I remember questioning her response if she were asked to violate her own code of ethics.  Her response was that she consistantly asked questions about hazing throughout the pledging process emphasizing her no- tolerance- stance.  She was afraid of the possiblity of something happening and made it clear that the sorority membership was not more important than her self-worth.  Perhaps that is part of the problem the often promoted/perceived value of Greek life and the importance of a membership.  Plenty of students have great success socially without the ties to the Greek life.  It isn’t for everyone.

Ultimately we need to teach our kids acceptable limits, what is okay and what isn’t and what to do and say if the latter happens.  In some ways, I feel as parents/adults we have become too complacent and if our children witnessed our acts of committment and courage more often, they would follow in our footsteps. 

Robin Wright Penn, what a perfect choice having you as a spokesperson, as you exemplify a genuine concern and inner strength which is a model to all of us raising children with the same concerns/worries.  Nice job Snag Films for taking on the project; alcohal manufacturers and distributors along with the pro-alcohol media should be offering this film to every senior high school class in the country.

What a powerful film! I have two kids graduating from college and I know we talked about drinking, etc. during high school and college. The fact that they are “on their own” with “friends” makes it all the more painful when you realize as a parent that other children are not taught to stick by their friends and not leave someone in a situation like Gordie. I think all youth groups and their parents, all high school students AND their parents need to watch this film. Thank you to the Bailey family and Robin Wright Penn for shining a light on a tragic and personally painful event to help us all remember what is truly important - to teach one another to care for one another, to raise our children with a healthy respect for life!

That was a very powerful documentary and I hope it is shown to all high schools across the country and shown again as students are entering universities. Thank You Robin Wright Penn and thank you SnagFilms for sharing this.

Michael, Greek life is WONDERFUL and as a Greek advisor and a member of an organization.  I know the good and bad...just like join the university band or a sports team.

Explore what each organization has to offer.  See what they do one campus and in the community, find out what their chapter GPA is, research is they received recognition and awards from the national.  Greek do so many great things but the negative is what’s highlight...the negative should be hidden by any means but I just want to offer the other side. :o)

I hope this helps

As a university adminstrator I have to say that this case first and foremost was tragic and unfortunate.  I would also like to say that this was NOT handle properly by the fraternity or the university. 

I would like to speak to those of us in the field of higher eudcation who are committed to student safey.  In the end wr can’t be the parent aware from home and we can not instill values...we care, we are involved and we do respond.  Speaking for my institution was response to every alcohol incident aling with the police...we go to the hospital with our students but in the end reducing the number of aochol related deaths on college campus can not be resolved by the institution alone.  Parents PLEASE talk to your child about alcohol and responsibile consumption, talk to them about peer pressure talk to the about personal intrgrity and accountability.  Without these core values your children are coming to college ill perpaared.  There are so many wonderful people and opportunities awaiting them but it only take one mistake...one too many drinks.

Interesting… I am a college student myself and was thinking about joining a frat… it is going to make me think twice.

Hello,
I am very sorry not to have access in the movie cause of my region of residence(I live in France).Could you please inform me when it will be possible for me to watch the movie in France (if not available on the web)where hazing(here,we call it “bizutage)is still alive despite a law which punished those who take advantage of it.
Thanks great.

Thank you for this honnest movie. I have a teenage son who will be going to college in 2 years...thank you.