Last week, the men's soccer team's practices were cancelled for four days in the aftermath of a Sept. 25 party after which a freshman player ended up in the hospital for dehydration and alcohol poisoning. Three players were suspended from UB after they allegedly hazed the freshman player. Hazing is a serious issue on college campuses, and the Athletics Department and the university took swift and appropriate steps to investigate the matter and punish the appropriate players.
However, despite the seriousness of this incident, the Athletics Department failed to notify any media outlets on campus or locally, effectively sweeping the matter under the rug. To appropriately deal with this dangerous occurrence, the university should have been more forthcoming so that students could see the consequences of such actions.
Hazing is seen as a way to initiate new team members and build team spirit, but often it wreaks havoc on the team. The lives of innocent students are lost every year and those involved are subject to life-altering criminal proceedings. Those that survive such humiliating tasks as forced nudity and simulated sex acts suffer ridicule and embarrassment among their peers.
In this incident, the men's soccer team, which began the season with an undefeated record, will face the suspension and campus judicial proceedings for several of its members.
A 1999 study by Alfred University found that 79 percent of student-athletes were subject to some form of hazing. Fortunately, UB has a clear definition of what constitutes hazing in the Student Code of Conduct. Activities range from seemingly harmless activities to more serious offenses like whipping, beating, or branding. The forceful consumption of alcohol is explicitly prohibited.
It was important that the athletic department take an authoritative stance on this issue. While this is the first incident of athletic hazing this year, it can be inferred that it is more widespread than UB officials know. Most incidents of hazing are not reported due to the embarrassing circumstances involved.
Hazing is best eliminated through preventative activities. Athletes must be discouraged from participating in hazing activities through an open discussion between coaches and players. Teams must understand that this activity is not permissible by university standards and that they will be subject to severe consequences by allowing these activities to happen.
A thorough investigation into the allegations must be completed to ensure that all who were actively and passively involved are punished. It is necessary to send a message that even those who witnessed the activity should be held accountable. They were enablers in a dangerous situation.
UB Athletics must use this unfortunate incident as a way to institute a strong stance on hazing. The opportunity to fully expose the harmful nature of these incidents and the consequences for those involved was missed when the department failed to notify fellow athletes and the press.
A Division I team was suspended for several days, many players were suspended, and one student ended up in the hospital - yet, it appears the Athletics Department would have said nothing. The department issued comment only after being contacted by The Spectrum. In order to let students know hazing is dangerous and will be punished, the university would be wise not to be hush-hush about incidents.
By establishing a confidential reporting system and pledging to educate players the university has taken the lead. They must continue to keep watch and control of the issue to prevent further incidents, and be forthcoming about hazing on campus and how it is punished.
