Student volunteers to take 40 shots and ends up in critical condition. We never made pledges drink. We made them stay sober enough so we could drink.
When idiots would do this stuff at the house, the last shot they took was Syrup of Ipecac.
When I pledged my local fraternity in 1987 as a junior there was no alcohol involved in any on campus or off campus pledging activity until the party after Hell Night and the formal Initiation Ceremony the following evening. It was only then that the alcohol flowed at a rented room at a local bar (no fraternity houses at our college).
Drinking was voluntary and I was sober when I traded swats (with a paddle) with a young woman (Lil’ Sis associated with our fraternity) who lit up my behind. (Music major with the voice of an angel and arms like Babe Ruth...)
We never allowed pledges to drink. Their pledging was not to have any intentional joy or fun. It was to serve the brothers and the Fraternity.