Hazing has always been associated with fraternities and sororities. However, studies reveal that it could also happen in college sports. While most would consider drinking contests or anything that has to do with alcohol during initiations, there is still a significant amount of humiliating hazing that occurs in college campuses. Numerous deaths and injuries have been tagged as hazing related, and despite widespread reports of sports hazing, many college coaches do not consider it as an issue they face on their teams. Educational institutions and associations are addressing this issue by sending anti-hazing messages, educating people about the hazards of hazing, implementing anti-hazing policies, and imposing stricter measures on campus hazing.
Hazing is any act inflicted upon another individual with the intent of humiliating the person in front of others, regardless if these individuals consented to the act or not. It may also be in the form of bodily harm, which sometimes leads to death. Other forms of hazing include acts that could cause mental anguish on an individual involved in the act (Peluso). Examples of activities used in hazing rites include “being thrown in water or mud, eating disgusting things, wearing embarrassing clothing, drinking alcohol, destroying property, and being beaten” (Waldron). It is often associated with initiation because of the nature of its purpose, that is, to admit individuals into a club or group “with a special or secret ceremony” (Peluso). Both terms are actually the same, although the term “hazing” resorts to more violent means of accepting members.
Some groups resort to hazing in the belief that it is a harmless rite of passage that could help develop respect and camaraderie among the members. The truth is these rituals often pose physical, emotional, and mental dangers and could even put relationships at risk. It has negative effects not only on the victims, but on the participants as well considering that it can lead to feelings of mistrust, apathy, and isolation, among others. It can also exacerbate psychological illnesses such as anxiety, depression, and stress disorders as it destroys an individual’s self-esteem. Hazing rites that involve the use of illegal substances may even lead to negative body image issues, anorexia, alcohol poisoning, and tobacco abuse. For athletes, these psychological experiences could lead to the individual’s inability to maintain relationships as well as quitting their sport (Waldron).
If hazing causes all these physical, emotional, and mental stresses, then why do people resort to hazing in the first place? The sense of belongingness is a human need because people are social beings. Hazing victims believe that being part of the athletics group could help improve their self-worth. On the other hand, the members performing the hazing rites feel a sense of superiority over those joining the organization and thus, have a retaliation attitude towards applicants. In addition, these same people think that hazing is a form of bonding among members.
Even though college coaches refuse to acknowledge that hazing occurs in their teams, the number of hazing reports is high according to a study conducted by Alfred University, “at least one out of every twenty athletes faced acts of hazing during their middle school years” (Peluso). While this number may show a high occurrence of hazing in sports teams, this is still not the actual figure because not all cases were reported by the victims out of fear of possible consequences of their reporting. It has also been found out that hazing also occurs in female athletic clubs, unlike the previously thought out notion that only male athletes are capable of committing such acts.
Hazing is very much similar to bullying as it resorts to harassment and intimidation techniques in order to assert power over another individual. The effects on the individuals being hazed or bullied are the same, although how and why the act is committed varies. For one, bullies torment victims to exclude them from their circle, while in a hazing situation, the acts are part of the initiation rites into the group. As in athletics groups, hazing also occurs because some members want to assert themselves as the leaders in the group. Brooks (n.d.) claims that a December issue of Sports Illustrated noted while many Americans believe it is a rising phenomenon in the nation, the reality is that hazing “ is firmly entrenched in an American sports culture that values tradition, team bonding, leadership hierarchies and assertiveness” (Brooks). People believe it as part of an acceptance rite into a group, thus, although an individual has reservations about participating in embarrassing situations, he or she has no choice but to subject himself or herself to any degrading or abusive acts.
Why is the subject of hazing important to understand? Just like victims of bullying and harassment, for instance, hazing victims have a tendency to keep the truth of what happened to them for fear of retribution from supposed “superiors”. Thus, whether the victim underwent physical or mental torture, they remain hushed and suffer quietly. As a result, they are burdened by feelings of inadequacy, insecurity, and fear, and thus, tend to isolate themselves from family and friends, turn to alcohol abuse, miss classes, or feel depressed.
What then can be done to prevent such incidences from occurring? Ensuring that universities have policies regarding hazing is the first step in improving the situation. When the educational institution educates its students, including all members of the school, about the harmful effects of hazing to an individual, the level of awareness increases and the more students will become vigilant about the incidences related to hazing. This should also involve the parents so that they understand the repercussions of joining in sports hazing in schools (Brooks). In addition, prior to the start of the sports season, the same rules and regulations must be discussed again to both the athletes and their parents to ensure that everyone has a clear understanding of the school’s policies on hazing. In this light, students must then sign a contract that confirms their understanding of the policy and its corresponding consequences. In the event that hazing occurs, coaches must ensure to look into what happened and determine if there indeed was a violation according to policies stated in the anti-hazing guidelines. If there was, the school must enforce the consequences if they want to gain the trust of the students, including the parents. To prevent such occurrences, the best way is to foster an environment of brotherhood based on positive actions, team spirit, and cooperativeness. This can be done in the form of team building sessions, team dinners, outside school trips, and community services (Waldron).
Hazing is damaging to an individual’s character. It can crush a person’s beliefs and could lead to fits of mental and psychological problems. Instead of building character, strength, and discipline, hazing only makes individuals vengeful. Therefore, those in the position to help in understanding what hazing is and its effects on individuals and teams must work in ensuring that athletic clubs remain hazing-free. Thus, by encouraging positive environments, a team becomes cohesive and works towards a common goal.
Works Cited
Brooks, R. “Hazing: Rituals of Bonding or Humiliation?” Robert Brooks, PH.D. Web. 14 November 2013. <http://www.drrobertbrooks.com/writings/articles/0404.html>.
Peluso, A. R. “Hazing in Sports: The Effects and Legal Ramifications.” The Sport Journal. Web. 13 November 2013. <http://www.thesportjournal.org/article/hazing-sports-effects-and-legal-ramifications>.
Waldron, J. J. “Reducing Hazing in Sports.” Association for Applied Sport Psychology. Web. 13 November 2013. <http://www.appliedsportpsych.org/resource-center/resources-for-coaches/reducing-hazing-in-sport-teams/>.
