Running Head: HAZING

Hazing: A Look Into Today’s Schools

Masters in Education Administration

Jeremy Hurd

South Dakota State University

EDAD 735--School Law
Hazing: A Look Into Today’s Schools

When the majority of people think about the word “hazing”, a graphic image of fraternity pledges binge drinking, participating in daring stunts, and the dehumanizing by verbal abuse is stereotypical. However, hazing in the past year has become more increasingly focused upon high schools around the nation. Hazing in today’s schools has turned into a vicious cycle that includes seniors in high school hazing new athletes when joining teams, eighth-graders being initiated before their entrance to high school, and many other so called “traditions” in particular high schools. As the increase in awareness of hazing is beginning to occur around the nation, so is the increase of administrators, school officials, and teachers to prevent this type of behavior from occurring in the future. In this paper, I will take a closer look at the beginnings of hazing, what hazing is defined as, how hazing is affecting the policies and responsibilities of today’s school systems, and what the future holds for hazing prevention and education.

Many might think that the issue of high school hazing is a relatively recent issue. However, in a book written by Hank Nuwer called High School Hazing (1990), he refers to an incident that occurred back in 1905 in Lima, Ohio where a 13-year old died from pneumonia after students allegedly put snow down the student’s back. However, in today’s society with advances in medicine, it is unlikely that a student today would die from such an incident. It does show a relationship to something that many students have experienced at some time on a playground. Most people would refer to this act as “bullying” where a student or group of students pick on another individual, which leads to teasing, fighting, and other degrading acts. Activities such as bullying are eventually taken to a higher level with regards to school hazing. Such activities in recent news include an incident in Illinois where some older students of Glenbrook North High School forced some younger students at a school sponsored Powder-Puff flag football game to eat raw fish, pet food, and dirt. They also kicked and beat the victims during the incident. One of the victims received stitches to her head and another suffered a broken ankle. In addition, the whole event was caught on tape. This tape helped to provide evidence of an out of control, violent, disgusting, and morally degrading ritual of hazing at the school. The fact is that hazing isn’t just a part of fraternities anymore; hazing begins in today’s middle and high schools.

One of the main questions that many are curious about is “What is the definition of hazing?”. The StopHazing.org website gives a definition created by the FIPG (Fraternity Insurance Purchasing Group). The term is specific to fraternities, but can be changed to fit most schools and is defined as:

“Any action taken or situation created, intentionally, whether on or off fraternity premises, to produce mental or physical discomfort, embarrassment, harassment, or ridicule. Such activities may include but are not limited to the following: use of alcohol; paddling in any form; creation of excessive fatigue; physical and psychological shocks; quests, treasure hunts, scavenger hunts, road trips or any other such activities carried on outside or inside of the confines of the chapter house; wearing of public apparel which is conspicuous and not normally in good taste; engaging in public stunts and buffoonery; morally degrading or humiliating games and activities; and any other activities which are not consistent with fraternal law, ritual or policy or the regulations and policies of the educational institution."

Most fraternities around the nation have adopted this policy for sole purpose of eliminating hazing practices within their organizations. This definition is also relative to schools and can be a good starting point when school districts may be looking to eliminate hazing themselves. As schools look to eliminate or prevent hazing from occurring, they must first look at what is defined as hazing. This is necessary so that school systems can educate their students about the acts that are prohibited by the school. This proactive approach can help schools avoid legal litigation, help prosecute hazing acts committed by students to authorities by setting up punishment for committing these acts, and be proactive in their elimination of the acts conducted by students. Schools who ignore this issue open themselves up to numerous lawsuits from parents and students who are victims of hazing acts. The worst-case scenario in any hazing incident would be the death of a student. The death of a student is not a responsibility that any school should be willing to take.

In a book written by Hank Nuwer called Broken Pledges (1990), he talks about a student named Barry Ballou who died in an alcohol overdose of a fraternity-hazing incident. One of the troubling things for the parents was that hazing had been a part of their lives even before their son’s death in college. Not realizing to inform their son of the dangers of hazing, Barry had endured hazing as a freshman on the Johnsonville High School varsity football team. He was forced to drink cheap beer, strip, and run nude around the football field. Barry’s mother stated, “Even in middle school the children expect to be initiated.” The question here is whether or not students become accustomed to hazing before they even reach college? Many people think that hazing starts in college as a fraternity tradition, but cases such as Barry Ballou show that after enduring acts of hazing in high school, Barry was not aware of the dangers that hazing could have on his life in the future. So why has it taken until this past year to bring hazing into the forefront? Why has this been an issue ignored in high schools when fraternities and other organizations have been working on preventing hazing for many years? The fact is that schools can no longer ignore hazing as a harmless activity, and are now forced to look at the topic proactively. Hazing education can not only have an impact on students in high school, but can also have an effect on safeguarding students from being victims in hazing incidents in the future. This type of education will benefit the reduction of hazing incidents across the nation and reduce the deaths and torments of young people across the country.

When looking at prevention, one must look at the reason students participate in these rituals knowing that sometimes they don’t know what will happen to them. In an article posted online from an Alfred University study on hazing (2000), the study found that 91 percent of the students surveyed had belonged to some form of group in the high school and among those students, 48 percent of those students reported being subjected to hazing activities. In addition, both female and male students reported high levels of hazing, although male students are at highest risk for the more dangerous hazing activities. The study also found that hazing starts at an early age and about 25 percent of those who reported being hazed were first hazed before the age of 13. This is a substantial number at such a young age for hazing to occur. The study also showed that substance abuse in hazing is prevalent in high school at about 23 percent and increases in college to 51 percent. Over one-third of the students said that they would not report hazing primarily because "There's no one to tell," or "Adults won't handle it right." Lastly, over half of the students surveyed said that they participated in hazing activities because it was fun and exciting and also that they felt closer to the group. So what can schools take from this evidence?

In summary from the study, first hazing starts early, thus prevention at an early age is needed. Second, it is not specific to any gender and affects both males and females. Third, hazing doubles from high school to college, most likely showing a trend of acceptance of hazing among the students into college. Fourth, students don’t report hazing because they don’t feel it is wrong or that any adult figure will handle the situation. Lastly, students believe that hazing is fun and makes them feel part of a group. So, based on evidence from this study, what is it that schools can do based on these findings?

The Alfred University study (2000) asked many of the students what they felt could be done to change the trend of hazing. Most students felt that adults needed to intervene to stop it. When asked to choose from multiple strategies to prevent hazing, sixty-one percent of the students surveyed stated that strong disciplinary measures for known hazing incidents would be effective and fifty-one percent of the students said that police investigation and prosecution of hazing cases would also be the best prevention strategies. When asked about other strategies, the students responded by stating that changes within the culture of the school and the elimination of so called “tradition” was the only way to stop it. Others felt that school officials needed to stress equality, self-respect, and respect for others to their students. The students felt there was a need for the student population in general to have good role models, parenting, and early learning, with support and rewards for good behavior and for those students who speak out against hazing.

Thus, this study shows that prevention starts with adults educating the students of the harmful effects of hazing. Students suggested that as a prevention method, they could receive more information through classes on hazing, including the harm it can cause. They also mentioned making students more aware of previous hazing accidents that had a shock value such as something similar to the mock car crashes that schools do to educate students on the dangers of drunk driving. Others felt that if they knew that it was illegal and that they could be punished for it, such as an alcohol violation, that students would think twice about participating in such activities.

So what can schools do to prevent hazing? It is evident that not only school districts, but also states can be proactive in making laws that ban hazing in any organization in the state. Currently, forty-two states have anti-hazing laws in place. The only states without hazing laws include: Alaska, Hawaii, Idaho, Michigan, Montana, New Mexico, South Dakota, and Wyoming. Starting with the legislature, many states have required that each public school have an anti-hazing policy in place that follows specific guidelines for the schools and their approach to this topic. Once addressed at the state level, schools can work to develop policies and approaches to teach their students about the dangers of hazing. Schools can also provide speakers from colleges or those who have experienced hazing to talk about the subject. To prevent hazing at school-sponsored activities, supervision can be in place at all events. Other suggestions from the Alfred University study (2000) include educating all individuals in the school system about hazing and its harms, involving parents with written contracts by them and their students about hazing participation, ban students from activity participation if hazing occurs, and involving law enforcement in the event hazing occurs. Schools need to keep in mind to take a proactive approach to the situation making sure that the trend and vicious cycle of hazing discontinues. This will keep the students within the school district safe and also keep the school out of legal liability from a lawsuit from this type of activity.

In a most recent decision, a USA Today (2004) Internet article reported on a Pennsylvania judge who sentenced two of three New York teens accused of sexually assaulting teammates at an overnight football camp to juvenile detention facilities. The teens were charged with numerous felonies for allegedly sodomizing three younger teammates with broomsticks, pine cones and golf balls at the summer camp in Preston Park, north of Philadelphia. A fourth player was recently charged on January 28 regarding the incident. In relation to the Glenbrook North High School incident, charges were filed against twelve girls and three boys for their part in the hazing incident and they will face misdemeanor battery charges. The students, all 17-year-old and 18-year-old seniors, will be charged as adults in the May 4th incident. What could have happened if these schools had been more aware of what the students were doing? What could have happened if the schools had been more proactive in educating their students? The answer is unknown, but if you take the time to read about the Glenbrook North High School incident in particular, you will find that the parents in these cases defended the actions of their children. The parents reacted to the situation by filing charges against the school for the suspension of their kids. A lawyer for one of the students involved stated that “it wasn’t the crime of the century” and that “the media has made a bigger deal out if this than it really is”. The reality is, had a student died in the taping of this incident, the incident could have brought felony charges against these students for homicide. School officials, parents, and the community need to realize the severity of these acts and begin to teach their students that these types of activities are illegal.

In conclusion, schools are facing greater challenges today than they ever have before. The prevention of hazing rests within the state legislature and school districts to make sure that hazing is eliminated from the culture of their school. Watching movies such as 1993’s Dazed and Confused which was set in 1976 detailing the lives of a group of high school students the last day of school, the visual picture of cruel acts of hazing are glorified. This gives students the wrong impression about hazing and its dangers. Students themselves are not mature enough to know the dangers of hazing because they think it is harmless and more like a fun right of passage to a group or organization. It would be devastating for a student or school district to have the death of a student occur from a violent act of hazing because they didn’t take the necessary precautions to prevent something like this from happening. There can be no apologies or a turn of the clock that can bring back the life of a human being.