Students, adults must oppose hazing [The Republican]

Wednesday, June 06, 2007
Asoccer player's head is forced into a toilet. A freshman football player is attacked and hit in the stomach until it turns red. A student is forced to drink alcohol until he vomits. These are all forms of hazing, a way a group employs humiliation and danger to initiate new members.

A 2000 Alfred (N.Y.) University study indicates that 48 percent, or 1.5 million students report having been subjected to some type of hazing activity each year. Forty-three percent report that the incident was humiliating; 29 percent participated in a potentially illegal act and 23 percent indicated that the activity involved some form of substance abuse.

Hazing incidents happen because being part of a group is a basic human need. Forming a sense of identity and belonging is a major developmental task for teenagers and adolescents. During the adolescent developmental stage, teens are often in a situation where they are much more vulnerable to peer pressure. They want to make friends and be accepted.

As teens spend less time with adults and more time with their peers, the need for acceptance increases. In addition, because some view hazing as a harmless tradition or kids just having fun, it is often overlooked or dismissed by parents and school authorities.

But most teens don't feel hazing is an issue. Only 14 percent felt that they were hazed, even though 48 percent participated in an activity defined as hazing. They also don't tell an adult for fear of retaliation and harassment and the assumption adults won't do anything about it. The three new football players who were sodomized during a weeklong training camp in Pennsylvania one summer were at first not immediately taken seriously when they reported the incident. They were then intimidated and harassed before officials finally intervened. The attackers were prosecuted, the coaching staff was let go and the football season was canceled as a result of the incident.

Hazing is not a harmless tradition. It is a form of abuse and victimization. Seventy-one percent of the students who were part of a hazing incident reported negative consequences, such as fighting, a decline in school performance, hurting other people, having difficulty eating, sleeping or concentrating and being confused or embarrassed. Thirteen percent of the students reported that they did not join a group because they were afraid of being hazed or left a group because of hazing or both.

Any student is at risk of being a target of hazing, although male students are much more likely. It is estimated that 24 percent of all athletes participate in some type of hazing activity. Students with lower grade point averages are also at a greater risk.

The study also found that 24 percent of students involved in church groups were part of a hazing activity, so even activities that may be viewed as safe or positive can also fall into this category.

It is felt by some that these rituals and traditions can't be curtailed because they are so ingrained into our culture. Respondents to the survey felt that strong disciplinary action would be the most effective way to curb hazing (61 percent), followed by legal prosecution (50 percent), positive, bonding activities (43 percent) and increased awareness (37 percent). To keep kids safe, a clear anti-hazing message, supported by the school and community, needs to be sent. Respondents suggested sharing stories of students involved in hazing incidents similar to the mock car crashes that are done to deter driving under the influence.

Fortunately hazing is not tolerated in any form in our educational system. School systems publish anti-hazing policies in their policy books. Additionally, the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association, which oversees interscholastic athletics in the state, has taken a strong stand against hazing. All adults involved with athletics are mandated to report such incidents. Failure to do so will result in a fine.

Hazing will continue until victims come forward to report the behavior and school leaders, coaches and adults who run other teen groups adopt a zero-tolerance policy.
While it may seem like fun and harmless kids play, hazing is much more complex. Kids deserve to participate in activities free of teasing, tormenting or hazing. Let's ensure this is the case.
Additional information about hazing and its negative effects can be found at www.alfred.edu/hs_hazing or at www.StopHazing.org Robert Bardwell is a school counselor and director of student support services for the Monson Public Schools. He is the president of the Massachusetts School Counselors Association. He also is an adjunct professor for the school counseling programs at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and Springfield College. His column appears monthly during the school year.

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