February 12, 2008

A month ago I attended the 2008 NCAA Conference in Nashville, TN. All my scheduling was last minute, but the experience will definitely last the rest of my life. I served on a student-athlete panel with 6 other athletes who either just graduated or are in the process of graduating this year. The sports varied, the gender varied, the ages varied, but the experiences sounded pretty similar. The 7 of us were put on this panel to speak on the topic of Hazing on college campuses. I would be lying to say hazing does not exist, but although we may not always see it, it does not mean it does not exist. One of the main objectives to this hazing summit was to address a solution to ending Hazing on college campuses both within the student-athlete community as well as in general on campus. By making this big deal, a big deal we already allow ourselves to lessen the chances of our university falling the wrath of a news headline or to be the front issue on badjocks.com. The reality is not every team hazes. The reality is not every college athlete in their freshmen year is hazed. The truth is, there is enough of a chance for a potential college graduate to have his/her dreams cut short, their career cut short, and sadly even their life cut short all due to the effects that hazing can and does have.

This is an attempt to briefly educate to anyone who might read this. This is not a lecture but an effort on my part to put what I was sent to Nashville for into working progress on this campus. Try these statistics on for size.

Of Hazing related incidences reported:
Over 60% participate in drinking games.
Of those 60%, 20% will drink to the point of sickness.
Hazing is more than underage and forced drinking:
Deprivation of sleep…
More than 25% of hazing incidents reported had to do with
wearing embarrassing clothing.
40% of coaches and advisors are aware of this behavior.
22% of them are involved.
It is not just a college issue…
There is 30% of high school students who have reported being
Hazed or that hazing takes place.
This is the shocking for even me…
1 out of 2 women in a 2005 Division 1 study reported being hazed.

All these statistics were generated from the study in 2005 on Division 1 athletes by Colleen McGlone.

It is not important where these statistics came from or what schools were sampled, the importance is that aazing is a big enough deal that conferences are held about it. Instead of just administrators, coaches, or athletic staff attending these summits, what better of a way to learn about hazing than from those that see it, hear about it, and or live it?

Why does hazing happen? That is too big of a question to tackle. I can say that there are stigmas that go with hazing. Hollywood convinces viewers that hazing is fun and a right of passage. Movies that range from "Animal House" to "She’s a Man," portray hazing as part of the college experience both for brotherhood and team unity. The truth is, the movies have deceived its viewers. If a team suggests that “freshmen initiation” is a team tradition or requirement, question if it really is a requirement or an excuse to show power, rank, instill humiliation, embarrassment, and putting the newbies “into place” or “letting them know who’s boss”. What does hazing have to do with the team? It has to do with humiliation.

There is this new term called HIDDEN HARM. Hidden Harm basically means that the experiences, traumatic events or memories, history of abuse: physical, sexual, emotional, or mental, personal experiences prior to college are unknown, etc. Therefore although a bruise may not be visible, or a thick scar, mental and emotional wounds regardless of the years that have passed in between the initial abuse or suffering to the moments stepped on campus is indifferent. Looks can be deceiving. I know no more of your life and you do of mine, why take the risk and resurfacing harm someone has once faced and is now facing again as they are now being hazed as an attempt of “team unity”.

It is not worth it. Hazing is not worth it. This type of bonding even outside of drinking, singing out loud, embarrassing clothing and etc. is not worth it.

I suggest that if a university wants to know the definition of hazing… ask your student-athletes what it means to them. UCR does a good job of defining it in our student-athlete agendas.

Kristie