> It is estimated that 22 students in the United States have died while pledging to a fraternity in the past eight years.

I was in a fraternity when I was in university and 'National' sent people around (usually recently graduated students) to check up on at various chapters and I have no doubt that most other fraternities did the same thing. 

And funny John, but fraternities (particularly 'national' ones with lots of chapters) don't like to see students die as a result of these rituals, if for no other reason than they get sued. (However I won't be so condescending as to suggest that the people at 'National Headquarters' don't have a bit of morals, too.) 

But I guess you couldn't resist jumping on the old stereotypes and hyping this documentary which, I suspect, is itself a bit sensational. 

Too bad, John. You used to be an interesting columnist.