According to the NCAA, 74 percent of student-athletes experience hazing while in college. It’s time for administrators, coaches, parents, and students to work together to end this despicable practice.
Courtesy: MySuburbanLife.com
–In 2015, a hazing incident involving the swim program at Drury University (MO) led to an investigation and adoption of a plan to deal with hazing.
–In response to a 2016 hazing incident, five Wheaton College (IL) football players accepted plea deals.
–In 2017, the Colgate University (NY) rowing team was penalized for hazing.
–In 2020, LaSalle University (PA) placed the women’s soccer team on probation after it found hazing incidents involving first-year students.
–Ursinus College (PA) canceled the remainder of the season for the men’s and women’s swim team for violating the school’s anti-hazing policies. The coach was also placed on probation.
Hazing in college sports has long been a concern, as depicted in ESPN’s detailed history of hazing incidents back to 1980. According to a recent survey conducted by the NCAA, 74% of athletes say they have experienced some form of hazing throughout their athletic careers. It’s a disturbing and problematic statistic.
Hazing has become all too common for at least three reasons.
First, alcohol is involved in many of these instances. Second, institutional penalties aren’t always enacted and–even if they are–sanctions may not carry serious consequences. And third, a culture of thinking “hazing is acceptable” is an all-too-often ‘normal part’ of athletic competition.
According to Susan Lipkins, a psychologist and expert in hazing, hazing is often used to maintain discipline and exercise power over others. When hazing is allowed– and, at some schools, is considered a tradition–student-athletes are often afraid to speak up for fear of retribution and ridicule. That results in athletes suffering in silence or–in some cases–quitting college sports.
Jim Thompson, founder of Positive Coaching Alliance and author of “Elevating Your Game,” says, “many of the injustices in the world happen because observers stand idly by because they lack moral courage. Moral courage is standing up publicly for what you believe is right, even when others–including sometimes your friends and teammates–don’t.”
James Franklin, Penn State U’s head football coach, and several players have been named in a lawsuit filed by a former player. The former player alleges that he was the subject of hazing and retaliation after it was reported (Source: CBS Philly with photo by Corey Perrine/Getty Images)
Getting hazing rituals to become a thing of the past requires several things. There must be a change change, such that it’s considered wrong for older team members to abuse new/younger players. For that to happen, coaches must set an example. They can’t ignore–and certainly shouldn’t encourage–hazing practices. Instead, coaches need to set standards for team behavior, including making it clear what will happen to players if they haze.
Hazing in college sports is a problem! And, unfortunately, many victims suffer recurring problems. As one victim said when interviewed years later: “I’ll never forget that difficult experience!”
Because hazing has long-lasting effects on student-athletes, it’s time for administrators, coaches, parents, and students to work together to end this despicable practice.
Read the story of the hazing Bart Starr endured at the University of Alabama, that will change the mind of anyone who thinks hazing is just a harmless collage tradition. It needs to be stopped, I can’t believe school officials and coaches are still allowing hazing to be “a thing”…