ESSAYS
by Amanda Quebedeaux
Hazing is a criminal violation that is often mistaken for a traditional initiation. This kind of situation can sometimes escalate as something tragic, but can frequently be shrugged off as horseplay. This practice, which can cause mental anguish and physical torture, is alive and well at institutions all across the country. “Researchers are realizing that these violent rituals can have longtime traumatic effects especially if it’s a child’s first sexual experience” (Nuwer 4 of 6). Hazing regulations run from failing to report a hazing incident to hazing resulting in death. "American boys and girls have suffered sexual abuse and degradation through high school attacks that get written off as routine teen behavior,” (Kirst 2 of 6) stated Hank Nuwer, a professor from Indiana who specializes in hazing. Some people believe that it builds unity or is a “natural” part of childhood. “It is estimated that nearly half of all hazing incidents go unreported”
(Liabilities for Hazing Activities 1). These kinds of situations may be avoided but people who dismiss hazing as a problem tend to believe that eliminating hazing will weaken the participants and kill the athletic team.
There are many different ways in which hazing can be categorized. For instance, humiliation hazing consist of isolating or uncooperative behavior. Substance hazing demonstrates the abuse of alcohol, tobacco, or illegal drugs. Lastly, there is dangerous hazing which consist of hurtful, aggressive, or destructive behavior. According to the Fraternity Insurance Purchasing Group, hazing is divided into two groups: subtle hazing and harassment hazing. Subtle hazing demonstrates any action that is against accepted standards of conduct. Harassment hazing is anything that causes mental anguish or physical discomfort of a pledge (Hazing Defined 1 of 3). The Alabama code defines hazing as any willful action taken or situation created which recklessly or intentionally endangers the mental or physical health of any student. “Most people think of hazing as a type of physical abuse, but this statute makes it clear that mental abuse is also a prohibited activity” (Liabilities for Hazing Activity 1). Because of the many different definitions of this term, hazing is often mistaken for bullying or an initiative procedure.
Not only does hazing appear in college universities, but it is also starting to appear in high schools more and more each year. Statistics show that hazing at a high school level is difficult because of the developmental stages of a teenager. It makes a student more vulnerable to peer pressure and fitting into a group. There is a lack of awareness around this issue. Most people do not know the actual definition of hazing and overlook it as tradition. However, it is not about harmless tradition, it is about abuse of power and violation of human dignity and is a form of victimization. Most victims do not report incidents because of the popular myths and misconceptions of the term, hazing. Twenty-nine percent of high school students have been hazed, while fifteen percent witnessed the procedure, and eighteen percent left a group or club because of it.
Physical and psychological abuse in many forms is connected in athletic sports also. “Violence gets inflamed by violent parent spectators, a minority of unfit coaches, and player-baiting fans without class” (A Tradition of Illegal Activity 2 of 7). Recent studies show that eighty percent of college athletes have been subjected to hazing, which is 250,000 athletes during a one year period. “We are hazing for the good of the victim” is a lie hazers tend to tell themselves. They claim that they are toughening them up or keeping the tradition alive. Many coaches do not identify hazing as a problem on their teams. One athletic director was quoted in the Alfred/NCAA study as saying, “This is a non-issue! We don’t have a problem with hazing. We have never had an incident at this campus….Sorry, but this is one of the most ridiculous questionnaires I’ve ever been asked to complete” (Allan 1 of 2). This reaction is very common throughout many athletic programs. Athletics play a big part in most communities, therefore, coaches mostly denied that there is a problem. The coach’s behavior causes an entire group to believe that there is not a problem with these kinds of incidents, and that it is just traditional horseplay.
Many schools and universities can be held liable for injuries sustained during hazing activities. Evidence was shown that the University of Nebraska was aware of criminal hazing for five years and failed to enforce policies. Also, the University of Vermont was forced to pay $80,000 to settle a claim brought by a freshman hockey player that was forced to commit a series of degrading acts and to drink excessive amounts of alcohol. “These cases show that University administrators can ignore this problem only at the risk of possible liability for the institution” (Liability for Hazing Activities 2).
Seventy-five percent of high school students that were hazed suffered negative consequences. These consequences can range from depression to causing fights within families and peers. Thirty-five percent of victims become angry, while others become embarrassed, confused, guilty, or sad. Few victims of hazing can actually tend to feel proud, confident, strong, or accepted. The arisen question is why does this kind of incident go unreported so often. Fear or embarrassment silences most victims. “Hank Nuwer compares the situation to the scandal over child abuse involving Catholic priests. For years, victims felt helpless trapped by a code of silence. After that code was broken, the stories began to pour out” (Kirst 3 of 6). Many assume that they were at fault themselves or that it was an accepted part of sports. A number of victims state, “Adults wouldn’t know how to deal with it” or “Other kids would make my life miserable” (Alfred University 2 of 2). It is a shame that a student would have to suffer the mental torture that is caused by this violent tradition because of the fact that they think it is acceptable behavior.
To prevent hazing within high school activities, students believe strong discipline, positive activities, education about hazing, and good behavior required to join a group should be enforced within the activities. But a common question is, does the law prevent hazing? Forty-two states have anti-hazing laws. Many people do not believe an anti-hazing law can stop it from happening, which is obviously a correct statement. In Louisiana, “whoever violates the provisions of hazing shall be fined no less than ten dollars nor more than one hundred dollars. They shall be imprisoned for not less than ten days nor more than thirty days, or both be fined and imprisoned, in addition to expulsion from the educational institute” (Louisiana Hazing Law 1 of 1). In Alabama those who knowingly permit, encourage, aid, or assist any person in committing the offence of hazing, or fail to report a hazing incident are in violation of the law (Liabilities for Hazing Activities 1). In Texas, “Hazing is against the law and violation of a University policy. It’s not a valid defense, not legal, or appropriate because it’s chosen to be called tradition” (Hazing 1 of 4). The convicted can be required to pay fines up to ten thousand dollars and spend up to two years in jail.
Hazing incidents around the world left many victims scarred for life. In 1917 at a New York Military Academy, a student suffered hearing loss in his right ear as a result to hazing. The school’s superintendent said that the boy loss his hearing due to an infection before he went to the academy. In 1924 at Erasmus High School, two girls had Greek letters burned on their foreheads and had crosses drawn with the same solution on their backs. The principal at that school told New York Times, “ The sorority has no connection with Erasmus High School. It is not an Erasmus Hall affair and there is nothing the school can do” (Nuwer 2 of 41). There was no high school group completely free of hazing.
Hazing is a serious offence. One can be convicted of this crime if one engages in hazing, encourages or attempts to aid another in engaging in hazing, intentionally knowing or permitting hazing to occur, or has first-hand knowledge of the planning of a specific hazing event. People who tend to believe that hazing is nothing, but foolish pranksters need to understand that it is an act of power and control over another. It is life threatening and abusive. Others may think that hazing is an effective way to teach respect and develop discipline. The fact is, respect must be earned, not taught. Victims rarely report having learned respect from being hazed. According to Hank Nuwer, “Hazing and bullying are the natural enemies of respect-and the killers of self-respect” (A Tradition or An Illegal Activity 5 of 7). Researchers say there is a documented risk to what Nuwer describes as the philosophy of allowing “boys to be boys.” They say, if any hazing is tolerated or even applauded in public, then worse things almost certainly will go on behind closed doors (Kirst 2 of 6). Only drastic changes in culture can prevent this type of behavior. Hazing can torment a person’s life and affect the people around that person. Victims of hazing are forced to answer questions to policemen and doctors and they are also forced to attend counseling sessions. This can cause depression within the victim and force them to push others away. A victim can only hope that no one will ever have to feel the mental and physical pain that they have.
“Fragile children don’t join sports teams to be traumatized for life” (Kirst 4 of 6). This is a criminal violation and there are no excuses for it to ever be an acceptable behavior. A person should never be forced to sacrifice their dignity and self-esteem for the fun of another human being.
