{"id":130,"date":"2014-07-28T20:49:57","date_gmt":"2014-07-28T20:49:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/laverne.edu\/step-up\/?page_id=130"},"modified":"2019-10-22T10:44:04","modified_gmt":"2019-10-22T17:44:04","slug":"hazing","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/laverne.edu\/step-up\/hazing\/","title":{"rendered":"Hazing"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u201cHazing\u201d refers to any activity expected of someone joining a group (or to maintain full status in a group) that humiliates, degrades, or risks emotional and\/or physical harm, regardless of the person\u2019s willingness to participate.<\/p>\n

Scenario<\/h2>\n

You are on Facebook and see some of your teammates\u2019 posts about upcoming \u201cinitiation\u201d for this year\u2019s freshmen, as well as pictures from last year. You know it\u2019s actually hazing and you\u2019re not comfortable with what they are planning.<\/p>\n

It seems they push the limit a little more every year but justify it by saying it\u2019s what makes the team close, that it\u2019s \u201ctradition.\u201d You want to say something but feel intimidated and don\u2019t want them to think less of you. What do you do?<\/p>\n

Questions<\/h2>\n
    \n
  1. How many would now consider a team activity, by definition, hazing?<\/li>\n
  2. How could you break a long-standing \u201ctradition\u201d? What activities could be introduced to start a new tradition and replace a questionable one?<\/li>\n
  3. How do hazing activities get passed on? Have you been hazed? If yes, do you think it means you are permitted to pass it on to the next class? Is there an expectation to participate?<\/li>\n
  4. How could the competitive or risk taking nature of being a student-athlete impact a hazing situation (alcohol consumption, water chugging, high risk activities AFTER alcohol consumption)?<\/li>\n
  5. Does your team have a unique culture? If yes, what is it? How does hazing fit into that?<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Considerations<\/h2>\n

    Team building\/initiation \u201ctype\u201d activities can be a good thing and very beneficial. They should be serious and challenging, help the person find an identity in a group of athletes and give them a sense of belonging. These types of activities, however, are different from hazing in very fundamental ways. Without careful consideration, they can too often degenerate into hazing where they humiliate, embarrass, degrade or endanger people. Ask yourself:<\/p>\n