Hazing Court Case Analysis

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I was deeply disturbed as I read through some of the court cases provided by the NIAAA (“National”, 2011, p. 10-15). I never experienced or witnessed hazing during high school or college. Recently, it was revealed that the football team at Lake Zurich High School, IL had a major hazing scandal that lasted decades (Keilman, 2017). The sexual acts and violence that coaches allowed to happen is unbelievable. I remember when the story broke on the radio I was shocked to the point where I didn’t feel comfortable describing what occurred to my female teaching partners.
Hazing almost always involves a group of perpetrators because it is an initiation process into a group. According to Caudill (2014) “hazing has a tendency to be an institutionalized …show more content…

However, hazing can occur through different means. According to Allan and Madden (2008) “Hazing is any activity expected of someone joining or participating in a group that humiliates, degrades, abuses, or endangers them regardless of a person’s willingness to participate” (p.14). The high profile cases usually involve alcohol and violent behavior but according to most definitions degrading and humiliating people is considered hazing. This could include forcing people into humiliating or embarrassing situations. Forcing students to run without clothes on would be an …show more content…

If you degrade or embarrass them this would be hazing. However, allowing upperclassmen seat selection on the bus is not hazing because they earned it. Coaches need to make it clear that this privilege can be taken away. Some of the rituals in sports for first year players are fun and I believe innocent. For example, rookie pitchers carry a backpack full of candy for the veterans. We did this in college and I think it was a fun tradition. I am interested; do any of you see this as hazing?
Finally, off campus training without supervision is not wise. First, if the coaches are aware of this situation and do not supervise they may be negligent if something were to happen. I think off campus trips or camps are great but coaches need to be there to supervise. Rockford Lutheran goes on a trip to southern Illinois every year. This is a great bonding experience for the guys and a great way to start the year but we are also diligent in monitoring their behavior not only for hazing but to make sure they are respectful to

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