Binge drinking, violent behavior, lewd sex acts and kidnappings may seem more appropriate for an episode of "The O.C.," but this type of behavior isn't new to high school or college kids — sometimes it's just referred to as hazing.
The most recent high-profile hazing case involves Northwestern University's women's soccer team. On May 16, university officials learned that photographs from the team's initiation rites — which involved alcohol, wearing skimpy attire and giving lap dances to the men's soccer team — were posted on the Internet.
The team has been suspended while investigation continues.
Women's soccer at Northwestern wasn't the only team at the university reprimanded for hazing, said the university's Athletics Director Mark Murphy in a statement on Northwestern's Web site. The men's swimming team and the students who perform as the mascot, "Willie the Wildcat," were suspended for inappropriate behavior, involving underage drinking, swimming in Lake Michigan when the
beach was closed and fake abductions.
MSU Athletics Director Ron Mason said the university hasn't had any major hazing incidents in his memory as athletics director or previously when he was the men's hockey coach.
"I've been here as a coach for 23 years, and I'm in my fourth year at this position," he said. "There hasn't been anything major that I can recall."
He said the university makes its stance on hazing known to athletes every year.
"We have an orientation program each fall for our student athletes that covers date rape, hazing, (and) just behavioral issues in general," he said. "At that time, they are told exactly what hazing is all about and the fact that we don't tolerate it."
Hazing at MSU
There's been at least one hazing incident that caused MSU to be thrust into the spotlight.
The MSU women's soccer team held national attention in 2003 when a freshman member of the team attended a hall meeting with spray paint on her legs. She said she was part of a soccer initiation ceremony in which she was covered with adult diapers and spray painted red and white to resemble a giant tampon. She then had to sing the "Michigan State Fight Song" for an hour.
Her story was published on http://www.badjocks.com — the same site that propelled the Northwestern soccer team into national news. Bob Reno, publisher of the site, said in an e-mail that the MSU hazing story was one of his first hazing exclusives.
Some MSU athletes have different opinions of the pictures posted on the site.
Nina Mastracci, a 2006 graduate and former MSU soccer player, said the Northwestern team deserved to be suspended.
"I'm sure they're not the only school that does hazing," she said. "It's really unfortunate that that happened to them, but it's their own fault. They're the ones who initiated the hazing; it's an appropriate punishment for them."
Kristin Dunn, a member of the field hockey team, said the Northwestern soccer incident could have been blown out of proportion.
"They just take pictures — the media has the power to take the pictures and make their own story," she said. "It's not like anyone knows what's really going on."
Another hazing incident occurred in April 2002 when the MSU chapter of Pi Kappa Pi forced new members to wear sleeveless pink shirts with "Capt. Gay Sex" and "Fag Hairstylist" written on them as they walked through the Mason and Abbot Hall cafeterias.
The fraternity was suspended, and its members were evicted from the fraternity house.
More sadistic
Glenn Stutzky, a clinical instructor at MSU's School of Social Work who specializes in bullying and hazing, said hazing has become more sadistic over the years. He added the process is continuing because society hasn't provided any healthy forms of hazing.
"Public at large is split with whether it's a good thing or a bad thing or just something to tolerate," he said. "Half say it's no big deal — 'I went through it. Your grandfather went through it. You're going to go through it.' The other half says 'No, it's not something you just have to go through to be a part of a club or organization.'"
He said because most initiation ceremonies are shrouded in secrecy, it's difficult for violent practices to be made public.
"We've got to break the silence, and there's a tremendous silence around hazing … if you break that, you're a traitor, and you might as well turn over your membership," he said. "If it's a good thing, you shouldn't have to hide it."
Since 2004, hazing that results in physical abuse has been illegal. According to the law, anyone who causes physical injury while hazing could be charged with a misdemeanor and sentenced to 93 days in prison and a $1,000 fine.
Death due to hazing is a felony and can lead to 15 years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
Compromising the team
Hazing offers no benefit to athletic teams, and those who participate should be dropped from the team, said Walt Drenth, men's track and field and cross country head coach.
"I don't see how it helps the team," he said. "I can't imagine keeping someone on the team if they compromise someone like that."
Women's gymnastics head coach Kathie Klages said MSU teams are well-informed on the repercussions of hazing.
"We have a lot of education on the subject and really try to discourage our teams from participating in hazing activities," she said. "But just because we ask them not to do it, it doesn't mean it doesn't go on."
Drenth said he doesn't think MSU has a hazing problem, but coaches can never be absolutely sure.
"We, as coaches, have a pretty good idea of how our teams behave away from competition," he said. "But we don't know everything."
Stutzky said hazing can become dangerous because of the number of people involved.
"Once you keep that group mentality, hazing can go beyond what even those who planned it had planned," he said. "There's certain things you wouldn't do, but once you get into a big mob, all of a sudden you're picking up a bottle and throwing it at a police car. You wouldn't normally do that."
He added that hazing tendencies continue throughout life, and if adults don't have a hand in developing positive initiation practices, the negative hazing cycle will continue.
"With hazing, I'd bring it out into the open. It's something to celebrate," he said. "You made the team, you've been brought in, and we're glad to have you and we're not even going to humiliate you."
