I am a student that currently attends Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, Florida. As both a college student and an athlete I have both witnessed and research the act of hazing. I have seen how it can humiliate not only a child, but an adult as well. I have visited your website and I believe it can change many communities. One of the main reasons why hazing exists today revolves around the fact that most people are not educated in the topic, and they do not realize the severity of it.
I am writing to you today in support for your cause. I have researched many hazing cases that have occurred not only in the collegiate level of school, but in high schools, athletic teams, gangs, and even in the military. The numbers that I located were unbelievable. Dr. Susan Lipkins found that somewhere around 250,000 college athletes have experience some sort of hazing when trying to join a team. In a survey conducted by Alfred University, they found that ten percent of their participants were hazed before the age of nine. It still remains obvious that the “word” is not being spread.
Eckerd College is a Division II liberal arts school. It does not have a Greek Life like most colleges, so we are very different. Naturally, I never thought that hazing would be a problem on our campus because there were no fraternities or sororities. I took it upon myself to investigate if there were any hazing acts that occurred on our campus. It turns out that hazing has been committed everywhere you look. My neighbor provided an interview for me, which was incorporated into my research paper, of her account of the night in which she was initiation onto a team. At the time, she thought it was all fun and games, but when she looks back at that night, she realized how humiliating it actually was. Because of her, I wanted to see what the community was doing to try and stop these events from occurring; this is when I found your website.
After doing this assignment for my school, I now realize how wide spread hazing is. When I came across your website I found it to be very useful and beneficial for informing the public and creating an awareness of the problem. Thank you for trying to get the information across to everyone. Thank you for encouraging the people to get involved and post their opinions on your blog, because in the words of Stophazing.org, “If you are not part of the solution, you are part of the problem”.
Monday, April 28, 2008
StopHazing.org letter
I am a student that currently attends Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, Florida. As both a college student and an athlete I have both witnessed and research the act of hazing. I have seen how it can humiliate not only a child, but an adult as well. I have visited your website and I believe it can change many communities. One of the main reasons why hazing exists today revolves around the fact that most people are not educated in the topic, and they do not realize just how serious it can be.
I am writing to you today in support for your cause. I have researched many hazing cases that are located on your website, and the information I found was unbelievable. It was hard to believe that Dr. Susan Lipkins found that somewhere around 250,000 college athletes have experience some sort of hazing when trying to join a team. Another astonishing fact that was found in a survey conducted by Alfred University is that ten percent of their participants were hazed before the age of nine. It still remains obvious that the “word” is not being spread.
Eckerd College is a Division II liberal arts school. It does not have a Greek Life like most colleges, so we are very different. Naturally, I never thought that hazing would be a problem on our campus because there were no fraternities or sororities. I took it upon myself to investigate if there were any hazing acts that occurred on our campus. It turns out that hazing has been committed everywhere you look. My neighbor provided an interview for me, which was incorporated into my research paper, of her account of the night in which she was initiation onto a team. At the time, she thought it was all fun and games, but when she looks back at that night, she realized how humiliating it actually was. Your website allowed me to provide her with information about the preventions and the laws against hazing.
After doing this assignment for my school, I now realize how wide spread hazing is. When I came across your website I found it to be very useful and beneficial for informing the public and creating an awareness of the problem. Thank you for trying to get the information across to everyone. Thank you for encouraging the people to get involved in preventing hazing along with trying to pass hazing laws in the last six states, because in your words, “If you are not part of the solution, you are part of the problem”.
I am writing to you today in support for your cause. I have researched many hazing cases that are located on your website, and the information I found was unbelievable. It was hard to believe that Dr. Susan Lipkins found that somewhere around 250,000 college athletes have experience some sort of hazing when trying to join a team. Another astonishing fact that was found in a survey conducted by Alfred University is that ten percent of their participants were hazed before the age of nine. It still remains obvious that the “word” is not being spread.
Eckerd College is a Division II liberal arts school. It does not have a Greek Life like most colleges, so we are very different. Naturally, I never thought that hazing would be a problem on our campus because there were no fraternities or sororities. I took it upon myself to investigate if there were any hazing acts that occurred on our campus. It turns out that hazing has been committed everywhere you look. My neighbor provided an interview for me, which was incorporated into my research paper, of her account of the night in which she was initiation onto a team. At the time, she thought it was all fun and games, but when she looks back at that night, she realized how humiliating it actually was. Your website allowed me to provide her with information about the preventions and the laws against hazing.
After doing this assignment for my school, I now realize how wide spread hazing is. When I came across your website I found it to be very useful and beneficial for informing the public and creating an awareness of the problem. Thank you for trying to get the information across to everyone. Thank you for encouraging the people to get involved in preventing hazing along with trying to pass hazing laws in the last six states, because in your words, “If you are not part of the solution, you are part of the problem”.
MASH letter
I am a student that currently attends Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, Florida. As both a college student and an athlete I have both witnessed and research the act of hazing. I have seen how it can humiliate not only a child, but an adult as well. I have visited your website and I believe it can change many communities. One of the main reasons why hazing exists today revolves around the fact that most people are not educated in the topic, and they do not realize just how serious it can be.
I am writing to you today in support for your cause. I have researched many hazing cases that have occurred not only in the collegiate level of school, but in high schools, athletic teams, gangs, and even in the military. The numbers that I located were unbelievable. Dr. Susan Lipkins found that somewhere around 250,000 college athletes have experience some sort of hazing when trying to join a team. In a survey conducted by Alfred University, they found that ten percent of their participants were hazed before the age of nine. It still remains obvious that the “word” is not being spread.
Eckerd College is a Division II liberal arts school. It does not have a Greek Life like most colleges, so we are very different. Naturally, I never thought that hazing would be a problem on our campus because there were no fraternities or sororities. I took it upon myself to investigate if there were any hazing acts that occurred on our campus. It turns out that hazing has been committed everywhere you look. My neighbor provided an interview for me, which was incorporated into my research paper, of her account of the night in which she was initiation onto a team. At the time, she thought it was all fun and games, but when she looks back at that night, she realized how humiliating it actually was. Because of her, I wanted to see what the community was doing to try and stop these events from occurring; this is when I found your website.
After doing this assignment for my school, I now realize how wide spread hazing is. When I came across your website I found it to be very useful and beneficial for informing the public and creating an awareness of the problem. Thank you for trying to get the information across to everyone, because in the words of Stophazing.org, “If you are not part of the solution, you are part of the problem”.
I am writing to you today in support for your cause. I have researched many hazing cases that have occurred not only in the collegiate level of school, but in high schools, athletic teams, gangs, and even in the military. The numbers that I located were unbelievable. Dr. Susan Lipkins found that somewhere around 250,000 college athletes have experience some sort of hazing when trying to join a team. In a survey conducted by Alfred University, they found that ten percent of their participants were hazed before the age of nine. It still remains obvious that the “word” is not being spread.
Eckerd College is a Division II liberal arts school. It does not have a Greek Life like most colleges, so we are very different. Naturally, I never thought that hazing would be a problem on our campus because there were no fraternities or sororities. I took it upon myself to investigate if there were any hazing acts that occurred on our campus. It turns out that hazing has been committed everywhere you look. My neighbor provided an interview for me, which was incorporated into my research paper, of her account of the night in which she was initiation onto a team. At the time, she thought it was all fun and games, but when she looks back at that night, she realized how humiliating it actually was. Because of her, I wanted to see what the community was doing to try and stop these events from occurring; this is when I found your website.
After doing this assignment for my school, I now realize how wide spread hazing is. When I came across your website I found it to be very useful and beneficial for informing the public and creating an awareness of the problem. Thank you for trying to get the information across to everyone, because in the words of Stophazing.org, “If you are not part of the solution, you are part of the problem”.
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
New Sources for Hazing/ 3 issues with ABs
MASH (mothers agaisnt school hazing) has been trying to get bills into the legislature that ban hazing in the state. here is a link for more information about this. http://www.mashinc.org/resources-essay-drevs.html
StopHazing.org tries to teach everyone about hazing and their different types. Futhremore it is important that one learns the laws throughout the country regarding hazing.
http://www.stophazing.org/laws.html
Hank Nuwer is a write who has created a blog to discuss hazing that is going on in the communities. People can post on this blog with their views of the situation. This is his blog is you would like to check it out: http://www.hanknuwer.com/blog/
This is more information on Hank Nuwer:http://www.childrensliteraturenetwork.org/aifolder/aipages/ai_n/nuwer.html
StopHazing.org tries to teach everyone about hazing and their different types. Futhremore it is important that one learns the laws throughout the country regarding hazing.
http://www.stophazing.org/laws.html
Hank Nuwer is a write who has created a blog to discuss hazing that is going on in the communities. People can post on this blog with their views of the situation. This is his blog is you would like to check it out: http://www.hanknuwer.com/blog/
This is more information on Hank Nuwer:http://www.childrensliteraturenetwork.org/aifolder/aipages/ai_n/nuwer.html
Monday, April 14, 2008
Hazing Contacts
1. info@stophazing.org
2. Mothers Agaisnt School Hazing (MASH)
ksavory@mashinc.com
3. Cornell University Dean of Students Hazing Organization
Hazing@cornell.edu
4. Hazing Organization at DePauw University, Ken Owen executive Director
kowen@depauw.edu
5. Hazing Blog by Hank Nuwer
nuwerhank@gmail.com
2. Mothers Agaisnt School Hazing (MASH)
ksavory@mashinc.com
3. Cornell University Dean of Students Hazing Organization
Hazing@cornell.edu
4. Hazing Organization at DePauw University, Ken Owen executive Director
kowen@depauw.edu
5. Hazing Blog by Hank Nuwer
nuwerhank@gmail.com
Hazing Research Paper
Hazing is a serious topic that most youths in today’s generation face. Because it is a growing problem, the public, both young and old, should be aware of what hazing actually is, be able to recognize it, and how to prevent it. There are many different types of hazing and different areas where they have occurred. This research paper examines different areas in which hazing is found. In order to receive a sense of what people are experiencing, different cases will be presented to help give the reader a little understanding of what has been happening everywhere. To begin, one must realize that hazing is defined as ridiculing tasks a ‘newcomer’ is put through. These tasks could harm the person being initiated either physically or psychologically (Hazing, 2007). “The acts of hazing, in all its manifestations, are unnecessary and have proved to cause harm to individuals, families, and the careers of promising men and women” (Butler, O. Darryl, 1999, pg. 88).
Being able to recognize hazing is critical when trying to prevent it. There are many forms of hazing that can occur. All of them, in one way or another, cause humiliation toward the person being initiated. Some methods that are common are the following:
• Spanking is normally done with a paddle. The victim is typically told to assume the bending over position while he or she is spanked in front of a crowd.
• Being hosed down with dirt, eggs, tomatoes, or flour. Sometimes times the food being used would be rotten, while other times feces or urine will be used.
• Various cleaning tasks may be placed upon the victim such as cleaning the toilets with only a tooth brush.
• The victims could be asked to become servants in order to test their obedience to the society.
• Over eating and over drinking is the main choice of rituals. The victims are forced to eat or drink until told to stop. Sometimes they are forced to eat raw eggs, hot sauce, sometimes even bugs, rotten food, vomit or urine.
• Clothing or a uniform might be enforced. This could be anywhere from a dog collar to a toga, they could even be forced to be completely naked in certain situations.
• Marking or brandings are often put on the victims. Visible symbols may be placed on the body by being drawn on or even tattooed on. Sometimes the victim is forced to shave his or her own head.
These are only a few of the possibilities a victim could face in their initiation process (“Hazing,” 2007).
Fraternities and Sororities tend to be the most common place people believe hazing occurs. According to Susan Lipkins, she found that one third of all Greek leaders say that humiliation is a significant role in the initiation process (Lipkins, 2006). Some initiations have been taken to a higher level of humiliation to the point where physical abuse has been incorporated such as the case in Tallahassee, Florida. Four members of the Kappa Alpha Psi Fraterinty at Florida A&M University were convicted of hazing. The men beat their new members with canes and 2X4’s ( Riffins, 2006). Another fraternity called Alpha Phi Alpha at the University of Pennsylvania not only beat their pledges, but they did a branding system to them as well. The frat boys would place rubber bands around the pledges biceps and snap the bands until they left a large enough cut that would leave a scar (Farrell, 2006, December). Hazing has also gotten so extreme, that animals have become involved. When the fraternity at West Kentucky University called Alpha Gamma Rho was search for alcohol, administrators found a goat locked in a closet standing in its own urine and feces. After investigation, the fraternity boys have been accused of making the pledges have sexual intercourse with the animal. However this accusation has not been proven yet (Farrell, 2006, March).
Most of these cases are still in the court systems right now, so a verdict has not been reached. However, at the University of California at Berkeley, a fraternity called Pi Kappa Phi was convicted of hazing their pledges. They stripped the pledge and shot him with a pellet gun repeatedly. As consequences for their actions were to give a seminar on the dangers of alcohol, take an alcoholic awareness class, pay a fine of $4,000, and their fraternity was closed for at least a year (Hoover, 2005).
Fraternities are not the only place where hazing can occur. Both men and women partake in the act of hazing. In fact, Alfred University did a survey on hazing and they found that women were almost equal with men on committing a hazing crime (Suggs, 1999). Women from the soccer team at Northwestern University were charged with hazing. Photos were found of the girls blind folded, only wearing their underwear, and their hands were bound; they were also forced to give the men’s soccer team lap dances (Wolverton, 2006).
Female athletes were almost as likely as male athletes to participate in hazing, according to the study. Sixty-eight per cent of male athletes took part in "questionable" initiation activities, compared with 63 percent of female athletes. However, only 16 percent of the women participated in what the researchers described as "unacceptable" hazing, while 27 per cent of the men did so (Suggs, 1999).
At least fifty percent of all NCAA Division I female athletes report being hazed. Twenty percent of NCAA female athletes have been subjected to alcohol related hazing rituals, while an even high number of girls have reported mental hazing (this could range from singing to being kidnapped) being performed on them. Ten percent of female athletes have reported being physically hazed which includes being branded, tattooed, beaten, or forced to shave their heads. Then about six to nine percent of the female athletes say they were subjected to sexually related hazing that included harassment, assault or being expected to simulate sexual activities. The fact is that more that two hundred and fifty thousand athletes, both males and females, in general have experience some sort of hazing when joining an athletic team (Lipkins, 2006).
According to Lynn Rosellini (2000), “hazing may seem like a rite of initiation that draws members of a team closer together. However, the potentially lethal practice had sent a handful of college athletes to the hospital in the past five years and has resulted in the release or suspension of dozens more jocks, as well as their coaches” (Rosellini, 2000).
Not only are college students being hazed, but there are cases of teens in high
schools hazing others. Long Island high schools have an on going record of hazing crime
committed. While at Northern Highland High School in New Jersey, the girl’s hockey
team was suspended for hazing younger team mates. The girls were made to perform
oral sex on a banana, bark like dogs on a table while wearing a collar with a leash, and
their mouths were taped shut while they were forced to eat a jalapeno pepper or a fireball
candy. Another tactic that was used by older team mates involved putting syrup down the incoming players pants while they played (Gehring, 2001).
Gangs are another set of groups that are known to perform an initiation process or hazing toward their incoming members. In some cases, gangs are being joined in order to feel accepted, escape from poverty, protection, fun and survival. Most gang members are put through an initiation to see if they have “heart” or what it takes in order to be in the gang. Most of the younger boys can’t wait to join a gang because they see admittance as being able to start to really live. These rituals have become an important part of gang activities. Kids are being beaten to in order to show that they are ready to leave their mother-dominated household and join the ‘real world’.(Siegel, Welsh, & Senna, p. 259-260).
According to James Diego Vigil in his article “Street baptism: Chicano gang initiation”, he informs us of the process taken in an initiation beating. Normally, the average age to join a gang is twelve or thirteen years old. The beating allows the gang member to see the initiate’s courage and strength. This involves several members of the gang attacking the initiate at the same time and he or she is expected to fight them off without showing any fear. The severity of beating normally depends on the person being initiated. If a family member is in the gang or the person being initiated grew up around the gang, the beating is less severe. (Vigil, 1996)
Different rumors have been circulating all over the country about initiations that are being performed within gangs. The most recent is a rumor that is said to be used by the Bloods and the Crypts. The process is called “Lights Out”. People hoping to join these two gangs are told to drive around in a car at night with their headlights turned off. The first person to flash their headlights as a courtesy sign is then followed home or to their destination. From there the new gang member is told to kill the person. Rumors have even gone so far to say that there have been two cases reported. This story has been told since 1993, and they are still circulation today through facsimiles and e-mail, yet they still haven’t been proven to be true (Brunvand, 1995).
Other hazing cases that are hard to prove are within the military. Most of them are classified, but some stories have been leaked to the public which threatens the reputation of the military. The most popular hazing ritual is known as blood wings. This act takes place United States Airborne School. After a marine has performed his or her ten parachute jumps successfully, they will receive their ‘jump wings’ or Parachute Badge. The initiation occurs when the marines own jump wings are forced through the skin into the pectoral muscle. Often times the marine will be punched where the wings are in order to inflict more pain(“Blood Wings, 2007). Not only are our own marines being hazed by the military, but prisoners of the Iraqi War are being subjected to this as well. There have been photos published of Iraqi prisoners in the Abu Ghraib prison being tortured by our own American Soldiers. These photographs and video tapes show the Americans maltreating, torturing, and even murdering the prisoners (Tétreault, 2006).
Hazing is taken very serious in the military, the worst punishment is a dishonorable discharge. There was a case that occurred at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina were Stephen Funk was found guilty of hazing. He performed the blood wing initiation on a group of marines. He was sentenced to six months in military prison, his rank was lowered a private, he forfeited two thirds of his pay for six months, and he was giving a bad conduct discharge (Stephen Funk, 2003).
The realization that American soldiers, whom represent and protect our country, can commit crimes like these is hard for the majority of people in the country to believe. Most people have a hard time realizing that hazing can go on around them. This is why I decided to investigate hazing that occurs on our campus right here at Eckerd College. We are considered a very small college and one wouldn’t think that there would be a lot of hazing, due to the fact that there are no fraternities or sororities on our campus. During my research, I found one case that occurred with in one of Eckerd’s sports teams. I interviewed one of the hazed members of the team, and she described her night for me.
First, we all met at the pub and they loaded us into trucks, we weren't allowed to
drive ourselves to the house. They made sure all the freshmen were there, tracking
down any that weren't. Even if they didn't drink or party they still had to go. When we got to the house they put these goofy orange life jackets on us and the only way we could get them off was to do something impressive without going "hey look at me". We each got our name written on our forehead with permanent marker and penises drawn all over our bodies, if at any point our name came off we were instructed to find an upperclassmen to write it back on. We were each handed a keg cup, if you saw an upperclassmen with a remotely empty cup you had to run and refill it for them as soon as possible. Any upperclassmen at any time could make you do anything, especially drink anything at any time, and you had to do it. Once all that was established, they assigned male and female partners, we then had to go into a room, switch clothes and were duct taped together at the wrist for the remainder of the night. After we were all done changing they made the girls sit on their boy partners lap and watch the most disgusting, 80's, old people porn for a good 10 minutes. When this was done we were all shuffled into the kitchen where they had a pyramid of about 100 shots of any clear liquid you could imagine, gin, vodka, mouthwash, etc, most of them were really bad alcohol. All the of the freshmen had to speed walk around the counter taking shot, after shot, after shot, until they were gone, no stopping, no breaks. By this time we were all pretty much plastered. This was the last ritual thing they had us do and the last point of the night I actually remember outside of pictures. But for the rest of the night we were just partying and being ordered to chug beers and get upperclassmen refills. The last person standing was the winner (Personal Interview).
Hazing is a growing problem within the country. To try and prevent it forty-four states now have anti-hazing laws; Alaska, Hawaii, Montana, New Mexico, and South Dakota are the states with out these laws. Florida’s anti-hazing law is considered to be one of the toughest in the nation (Florida Hazing Law, 2006). It has made hazing a serious criminal offense. If the act is minor it will be considered a misdemeanor charge and the person found guilty could receive a fine between one hundred and five thousand dollars, time in a county jail, or both, depending on the crime. If the act of hazing results in a death, serious bodily injury, or psychological problems, it becomes a third degree felony. This will result in jail time in a state prison. According to this new Florida law, the judge has the right to order a defendant to attend and complete a four hour hazing education course that may impose a condition of alcohol or drug probation (Stop Hazing).
The law was inspired by the death of a freshman at the University of Miami named Chad Meredith. He died while trying to swim across a lake after he had been subjected to drinking during the hazing process in 2001 ( Florida Hazing Law, 2006). This law has made extra rules regarding hazing. Within the law, it states that any organization that receives financial assistance must adopt a written policy regarding the prevention on hazing. If the organization is a community college or even a state university, they need to adopt the penalties of fines, no distribution of diplomas or transcripts, probation, suspension, or dismissal from the school. If an organization does not follow this law and disregards it, the organization will not be allowed to operate (Stop Hazing). This new law is being tested for the first time regarding a fraternity case mentioned earlier. As of right now the Kappa Alpha Psi in FAMU could receive anywhere from probation to five years in prison (Florida Hazing Law, 2006).
Hazing is not the only way to get to know someone. There are other ways to bond with new member of an organization such as:
• All participating in a community service project.
• Participating in campus and community activities.
• Creating a mentoring program.
• Involve pledges in the community with tasks such as fundraising.
In order to prevent hazing one must notice the act, identify it as a problem, learn skills to take action, and actually do something about it. Educating the population it the most important step in preventing hazing. Schools can accomplish this by creating pamphlets that give information on how to identify hazing and how to report it. Also these pamphlets should include incentives to prevent hazing (Stop Hazing). In a survey done by Alfred University, they found that ten percent of their teenagers they surveyed were first hazed before they were nine years old (Hoover, 2000). The earlier that someone takes action the better because “If you are not part of the solution, you are part of the problem” (Stop Hazing).
Being able to recognize hazing is critical when trying to prevent it. There are many forms of hazing that can occur. All of them, in one way or another, cause humiliation toward the person being initiated. Some methods that are common are the following:
• Spanking is normally done with a paddle. The victim is typically told to assume the bending over position while he or she is spanked in front of a crowd.
• Being hosed down with dirt, eggs, tomatoes, or flour. Sometimes times the food being used would be rotten, while other times feces or urine will be used.
• Various cleaning tasks may be placed upon the victim such as cleaning the toilets with only a tooth brush.
• The victims could be asked to become servants in order to test their obedience to the society.
• Over eating and over drinking is the main choice of rituals. The victims are forced to eat or drink until told to stop. Sometimes they are forced to eat raw eggs, hot sauce, sometimes even bugs, rotten food, vomit or urine.
• Clothing or a uniform might be enforced. This could be anywhere from a dog collar to a toga, they could even be forced to be completely naked in certain situations.
• Marking or brandings are often put on the victims. Visible symbols may be placed on the body by being drawn on or even tattooed on. Sometimes the victim is forced to shave his or her own head.
These are only a few of the possibilities a victim could face in their initiation process (“Hazing,” 2007).
Fraternities and Sororities tend to be the most common place people believe hazing occurs. According to Susan Lipkins, she found that one third of all Greek leaders say that humiliation is a significant role in the initiation process (Lipkins, 2006). Some initiations have been taken to a higher level of humiliation to the point where physical abuse has been incorporated such as the case in Tallahassee, Florida. Four members of the Kappa Alpha Psi Fraterinty at Florida A&M University were convicted of hazing. The men beat their new members with canes and 2X4’s ( Riffins, 2006). Another fraternity called Alpha Phi Alpha at the University of Pennsylvania not only beat their pledges, but they did a branding system to them as well. The frat boys would place rubber bands around the pledges biceps and snap the bands until they left a large enough cut that would leave a scar (Farrell, 2006, December). Hazing has also gotten so extreme, that animals have become involved. When the fraternity at West Kentucky University called Alpha Gamma Rho was search for alcohol, administrators found a goat locked in a closet standing in its own urine and feces. After investigation, the fraternity boys have been accused of making the pledges have sexual intercourse with the animal. However this accusation has not been proven yet (Farrell, 2006, March).
Most of these cases are still in the court systems right now, so a verdict has not been reached. However, at the University of California at Berkeley, a fraternity called Pi Kappa Phi was convicted of hazing their pledges. They stripped the pledge and shot him with a pellet gun repeatedly. As consequences for their actions were to give a seminar on the dangers of alcohol, take an alcoholic awareness class, pay a fine of $4,000, and their fraternity was closed for at least a year (Hoover, 2005).
Fraternities are not the only place where hazing can occur. Both men and women partake in the act of hazing. In fact, Alfred University did a survey on hazing and they found that women were almost equal with men on committing a hazing crime (Suggs, 1999). Women from the soccer team at Northwestern University were charged with hazing. Photos were found of the girls blind folded, only wearing their underwear, and their hands were bound; they were also forced to give the men’s soccer team lap dances (Wolverton, 2006).
Female athletes were almost as likely as male athletes to participate in hazing, according to the study. Sixty-eight per cent of male athletes took part in "questionable" initiation activities, compared with 63 percent of female athletes. However, only 16 percent of the women participated in what the researchers described as "unacceptable" hazing, while 27 per cent of the men did so (Suggs, 1999).
At least fifty percent of all NCAA Division I female athletes report being hazed. Twenty percent of NCAA female athletes have been subjected to alcohol related hazing rituals, while an even high number of girls have reported mental hazing (this could range from singing to being kidnapped) being performed on them. Ten percent of female athletes have reported being physically hazed which includes being branded, tattooed, beaten, or forced to shave their heads. Then about six to nine percent of the female athletes say they were subjected to sexually related hazing that included harassment, assault or being expected to simulate sexual activities. The fact is that more that two hundred and fifty thousand athletes, both males and females, in general have experience some sort of hazing when joining an athletic team (Lipkins, 2006).
According to Lynn Rosellini (2000), “hazing may seem like a rite of initiation that draws members of a team closer together. However, the potentially lethal practice had sent a handful of college athletes to the hospital in the past five years and has resulted in the release or suspension of dozens more jocks, as well as their coaches” (Rosellini, 2000).
Not only are college students being hazed, but there are cases of teens in high
schools hazing others. Long Island high schools have an on going record of hazing crime
committed. While at Northern Highland High School in New Jersey, the girl’s hockey
team was suspended for hazing younger team mates. The girls were made to perform
oral sex on a banana, bark like dogs on a table while wearing a collar with a leash, and
their mouths were taped shut while they were forced to eat a jalapeno pepper or a fireball
candy. Another tactic that was used by older team mates involved putting syrup down the incoming players pants while they played (Gehring, 2001).
Gangs are another set of groups that are known to perform an initiation process or hazing toward their incoming members. In some cases, gangs are being joined in order to feel accepted, escape from poverty, protection, fun and survival. Most gang members are put through an initiation to see if they have “heart” or what it takes in order to be in the gang. Most of the younger boys can’t wait to join a gang because they see admittance as being able to start to really live. These rituals have become an important part of gang activities. Kids are being beaten to in order to show that they are ready to leave their mother-dominated household and join the ‘real world’.(Siegel, Welsh, & Senna, p. 259-260).
According to James Diego Vigil in his article “Street baptism: Chicano gang initiation”, he informs us of the process taken in an initiation beating. Normally, the average age to join a gang is twelve or thirteen years old. The beating allows the gang member to see the initiate’s courage and strength. This involves several members of the gang attacking the initiate at the same time and he or she is expected to fight them off without showing any fear. The severity of beating normally depends on the person being initiated. If a family member is in the gang or the person being initiated grew up around the gang, the beating is less severe. (Vigil, 1996)
Different rumors have been circulating all over the country about initiations that are being performed within gangs. The most recent is a rumor that is said to be used by the Bloods and the Crypts. The process is called “Lights Out”. People hoping to join these two gangs are told to drive around in a car at night with their headlights turned off. The first person to flash their headlights as a courtesy sign is then followed home or to their destination. From there the new gang member is told to kill the person. Rumors have even gone so far to say that there have been two cases reported. This story has been told since 1993, and they are still circulation today through facsimiles and e-mail, yet they still haven’t been proven to be true (Brunvand, 1995).
Other hazing cases that are hard to prove are within the military. Most of them are classified, but some stories have been leaked to the public which threatens the reputation of the military. The most popular hazing ritual is known as blood wings. This act takes place United States Airborne School. After a marine has performed his or her ten parachute jumps successfully, they will receive their ‘jump wings’ or Parachute Badge. The initiation occurs when the marines own jump wings are forced through the skin into the pectoral muscle. Often times the marine will be punched where the wings are in order to inflict more pain(“Blood Wings, 2007). Not only are our own marines being hazed by the military, but prisoners of the Iraqi War are being subjected to this as well. There have been photos published of Iraqi prisoners in the Abu Ghraib prison being tortured by our own American Soldiers. These photographs and video tapes show the Americans maltreating, torturing, and even murdering the prisoners (Tétreault, 2006).
Hazing is taken very serious in the military, the worst punishment is a dishonorable discharge. There was a case that occurred at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina were Stephen Funk was found guilty of hazing. He performed the blood wing initiation on a group of marines. He was sentenced to six months in military prison, his rank was lowered a private, he forfeited two thirds of his pay for six months, and he was giving a bad conduct discharge (Stephen Funk, 2003).
The realization that American soldiers, whom represent and protect our country, can commit crimes like these is hard for the majority of people in the country to believe. Most people have a hard time realizing that hazing can go on around them. This is why I decided to investigate hazing that occurs on our campus right here at Eckerd College. We are considered a very small college and one wouldn’t think that there would be a lot of hazing, due to the fact that there are no fraternities or sororities on our campus. During my research, I found one case that occurred with in one of Eckerd’s sports teams. I interviewed one of the hazed members of the team, and she described her night for me.
First, we all met at the pub and they loaded us into trucks, we weren't allowed to
drive ourselves to the house. They made sure all the freshmen were there, tracking
down any that weren't. Even if they didn't drink or party they still had to go. When we got to the house they put these goofy orange life jackets on us and the only way we could get them off was to do something impressive without going "hey look at me". We each got our name written on our forehead with permanent marker and penises drawn all over our bodies, if at any point our name came off we were instructed to find an upperclassmen to write it back on. We were each handed a keg cup, if you saw an upperclassmen with a remotely empty cup you had to run and refill it for them as soon as possible. Any upperclassmen at any time could make you do anything, especially drink anything at any time, and you had to do it. Once all that was established, they assigned male and female partners, we then had to go into a room, switch clothes and were duct taped together at the wrist for the remainder of the night. After we were all done changing they made the girls sit on their boy partners lap and watch the most disgusting, 80's, old people porn for a good 10 minutes. When this was done we were all shuffled into the kitchen where they had a pyramid of about 100 shots of any clear liquid you could imagine, gin, vodka, mouthwash, etc, most of them were really bad alcohol. All the of the freshmen had to speed walk around the counter taking shot, after shot, after shot, until they were gone, no stopping, no breaks. By this time we were all pretty much plastered. This was the last ritual thing they had us do and the last point of the night I actually remember outside of pictures. But for the rest of the night we were just partying and being ordered to chug beers and get upperclassmen refills. The last person standing was the winner (Personal Interview).
Hazing is a growing problem within the country. To try and prevent it forty-four states now have anti-hazing laws; Alaska, Hawaii, Montana, New Mexico, and South Dakota are the states with out these laws. Florida’s anti-hazing law is considered to be one of the toughest in the nation (Florida Hazing Law, 2006). It has made hazing a serious criminal offense. If the act is minor it will be considered a misdemeanor charge and the person found guilty could receive a fine between one hundred and five thousand dollars, time in a county jail, or both, depending on the crime. If the act of hazing results in a death, serious bodily injury, or psychological problems, it becomes a third degree felony. This will result in jail time in a state prison. According to this new Florida law, the judge has the right to order a defendant to attend and complete a four hour hazing education course that may impose a condition of alcohol or drug probation (Stop Hazing).
The law was inspired by the death of a freshman at the University of Miami named Chad Meredith. He died while trying to swim across a lake after he had been subjected to drinking during the hazing process in 2001 ( Florida Hazing Law, 2006). This law has made extra rules regarding hazing. Within the law, it states that any organization that receives financial assistance must adopt a written policy regarding the prevention on hazing. If the organization is a community college or even a state university, they need to adopt the penalties of fines, no distribution of diplomas or transcripts, probation, suspension, or dismissal from the school. If an organization does not follow this law and disregards it, the organization will not be allowed to operate (Stop Hazing). This new law is being tested for the first time regarding a fraternity case mentioned earlier. As of right now the Kappa Alpha Psi in FAMU could receive anywhere from probation to five years in prison (Florida Hazing Law, 2006).
Hazing is not the only way to get to know someone. There are other ways to bond with new member of an organization such as:
• All participating in a community service project.
• Participating in campus and community activities.
• Creating a mentoring program.
• Involve pledges in the community with tasks such as fundraising.
In order to prevent hazing one must notice the act, identify it as a problem, learn skills to take action, and actually do something about it. Educating the population it the most important step in preventing hazing. Schools can accomplish this by creating pamphlets that give information on how to identify hazing and how to report it. Also these pamphlets should include incentives to prevent hazing (Stop Hazing). In a survey done by Alfred University, they found that ten percent of their teenagers they surveyed were first hazed before they were nine years old (Hoover, 2000). The earlier that someone takes action the better because “If you are not part of the solution, you are part of the problem” (Stop Hazing).
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Research Paper
For my research paper, I decided that I wanted to see what types of hazing there are and where they are located. Before giving specific examples of hazing that has occurred, I wanted everyone to know the actual definition of hazing and the laws against it. Hazing is mainly located within college, so my ethos is that I am college student and hazing is located everywhere around me. The pathos in my paper involves the horror stories in which there have been deaths because of hazing. Finally the logos in my paper are all of the actual stories that have been reported regarding hazing
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