By Brandon Miles
Taking part in hazing can create un-safe environments for participants. On Friday, July 10th, 2009 two men were charged in the hazing death of Cal Poly freshman Carson Starkey. Starkey was involved with the football program and underwent an initiation that involved drinking large amount of alcohol in a short period of time. Sadly, he died from alcohol poisoning.
This incident is a prime example of negative hazing and with any luck it will have a domino effect by representing what not to do.
According to the NCAA.com, hazing is defined as, "Any act committed against someone joining or becoming a member or maintaining membership in any organization that is humiliating, intimidating, demeaning, or endangers the health and safety of the person." For more info on legal ramifications of hazing click www.thesportjournal.org
Hazing is prohibited by the NCAA and if a complaint is filled they are forced to investigate and implement disciplinary action if needed.
Although hazing is frowned upon, college teams across the U.S. are participating in them. According to insidehazing.com more than 250,000 students experience some sort of hazing to join a college athletic team. Also, 20% of athletes who participated were subjected to alcohol-related hazing. Alcohol hazing is known to be the most dangerous of all hazing based on the fact of over consumption.
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In recent years hazing has become part of college sports. Some perceive hazing to be ruthless and unlawful, “In fact, if taken to a high level it can emotionally traumatize a person." said BSU football coach Adrian Dunn.
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| Former BSU football players James Trash and Gerald Timsley |
At BSU, the athletic coaches and staff take hazing very seriously and have literally put an end to it since the incidents that went on in 2006. Head football coach Jeff Tesch said, “During the 2006 season we had a major problem with the upperclassmen and the freshman. The older guys would pick fights and paddle the freshman to the point that these young guys couldn’t even come to practice. Another problem is that a lot of the freshman went on to tell the parents about these negative experiences so I got an earful from them”
According to Tesch, this problem lasted throughout the whole year creating a dilemma for the team, which ultimately led to the dismissal of three senior players.
Aside from the football team there were several hazing incidents involving the men and women’s basketball team. According to athletic Director Rick Goeb, “10 of the 30 basketball players received minor consumption tickets from the local police. I looked in to this problem and it was the result of a hazing prank.”
After the end of 2006 football season, Athletic Director Rick Goeb held an assembly for BSU athletes. During this assembly a former NFL football player came in and lectured the athletes about the negative outcomes of hazing. This assembly then ended with assertion that any player involved in hazing will be dismissed from team immediately.
Senior quarterback Derek Edholm said, “The assembly in 2006 really made its mark. It scared a lot of the guys but also created the right mind set to perform on the field.”
Hazing is prohibited by the NCAA and if a complaint is filled they are forced to investigate and implement disciplinary action if needed.
Although hazing is frowned upon, college teams across the U.S. are participating in them. According to hazing.com more than 250,000 students experience some sort of hazing to join a college athletic team. Also, 20% of athletes who participated were subjected to alcohol-related hazing. Alcohol hazing is known to be the most dangerous of all hazing based on the fact of over consumption.
All in all, Hazing is frowned upon at BSU and if any player chooses to break the current rules they will be dismissed from their current team.
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