The Northwestern Hazing scandal
Background:
It is human nature and considered healthy to seek acceptance from peers. People are social creatures and forming an alliance with a group in which they identify is motivationally salient. When members feel a part of a larger whole, they associate feelings of safety, protection and identity.
Group affiliation solidifies the “us versus them” mentality and protection from outsiders. However, many issues arise when the traditions of joining the group and seeking acceptance inflict physical and/or emotional harm to the body.
Group affiliation solidifies the “us versus them” mentality and protection from outsiders. However, many issues arise when the traditions of joining the group and seeking acceptance inflict physical and/or emotional harm to the body.
Overview:
In the article “Northwestern suspends women’s program while it investigates hazing incident”, Gary Davidson explicates an in depth account of the horrific events that occurred one night at Northwestern University. After reading this, it occurred to me that freshman on this team epitomize this exact problem…
In 2006, the Northwestern women’s soccer team was suspended indefinitely after horrific hazing rituals were revealed via social media. Unlike traditional hazing incidents, these senior women unleashed a fury on younger teammates, transforming the situation from virtually harmless to demoralizing and abusive.
One night, at a team gathering, freshmen players on this team were “forced” by upperclassmen to undergo various atrocious activities.
These behaviors include being “blindfolded with their hands taped behind their backs” and “being forced to do calisthenics.” While blindfolded and bound by tape, some freshman were mandated to “[kiss] each other and, in two cases, performing lap dances on men.”
Not only did the novice players endure these mortifying activities, but they also did so while wearing only “T-shirts, underwear and knee-high socks”. So in addition to the humiliation, the young women also degraded their bodies by dressing as naughty schoolgirls because the senior teammates dictated to do so.
To add insult to injury and increase their embarrassment, the upperclassmen decided to capture the unsettling events on camera and posted them on a well-known file-sharing website for all to see.
Another website called badjocks.com, which panders to stories of athletic misconduct and crime, found the pictures and posted them on their website as well.
Apparently, the coaching staff and media became aware of the events that took place after the hazing incident was exploited and broadcasted on the bad jocks website. The Athletic Director, Mark Murphy, then canceled the team’s entire 2006 season.
In 2006, the Northwestern women’s soccer team was suspended indefinitely after horrific hazing rituals were revealed via social media. Unlike traditional hazing incidents, these senior women unleashed a fury on younger teammates, transforming the situation from virtually harmless to demoralizing and abusive.
One night, at a team gathering, freshmen players on this team were “forced” by upperclassmen to undergo various atrocious activities.
These behaviors include being “blindfolded with their hands taped behind their backs” and “being forced to do calisthenics.” While blindfolded and bound by tape, some freshman were mandated to “[kiss] each other and, in two cases, performing lap dances on men.”
Not only did the novice players endure these mortifying activities, but they also did so while wearing only “T-shirts, underwear and knee-high socks”. So in addition to the humiliation, the young women also degraded their bodies by dressing as naughty schoolgirls because the senior teammates dictated to do so.
To add insult to injury and increase their embarrassment, the upperclassmen decided to capture the unsettling events on camera and posted them on a well-known file-sharing website for all to see.
Another website called badjocks.com, which panders to stories of athletic misconduct and crime, found the pictures and posted them on their website as well.
Apparently, the coaching staff and media became aware of the events that took place after the hazing incident was exploited and broadcasted on the bad jocks website. The Athletic Director, Mark Murphy, then canceled the team’s entire 2006 season.
My opinions:
In his article, Davidson did not state any of his own opinions of the event, so my commentary on this piece pertains solely to the events that occurred.
While hazing is a “tradition” that many see as a rite of passage, the activities that transpired during this night were absolutely daunting. I can’t help but question, why didn’t the girls just say “no”?
As I stated earlier, seeking acceptance is a vital part of human nature. Our desire to be “grouped” comes from our basic survival instincts. However, having to endure such brutal and demeaning actions for acceptance and admission to a group is completely irrational.
Almost every act of hazing committed that night, with the exception of the clothing, are considered violent abuse. Bondage, alcohol consumption, physical restraints and performing sexual acts all endanger these women’s emotional and physical health. Nonetheless, these young ladies chose potential acceptance over their health and safety.
In addition, the Northwestern freshmen claimed these activities to be “forced” by the upperclassmen. However, I find that statement not entirely true. I have been a freshman on a collegiate women’s soccer team. I understand the psychological emotions these players endured.
“Forced” to these ladies means immense peer pressure and threatened isolation by teammates if they did not participate. Although unhappily, these women still endured these actions by choice for fear of rejection.
While hazing is a “tradition” that many see as a rite of passage, the activities that transpired during this night were absolutely daunting. I can’t help but question, why didn’t the girls just say “no”?
As I stated earlier, seeking acceptance is a vital part of human nature. Our desire to be “grouped” comes from our basic survival instincts. However, having to endure such brutal and demeaning actions for acceptance and admission to a group is completely irrational.
Almost every act of hazing committed that night, with the exception of the clothing, are considered violent abuse. Bondage, alcohol consumption, physical restraints and performing sexual acts all endanger these women’s emotional and physical health. Nonetheless, these young ladies chose potential acceptance over their health and safety.
In addition, the Northwestern freshmen claimed these activities to be “forced” by the upperclassmen. However, I find that statement not entirely true. I have been a freshman on a collegiate women’s soccer team. I understand the psychological emotions these players endured.
“Forced” to these ladies means immense peer pressure and threatened isolation by teammates if they did not participate. Although unhappily, these women still endured these actions by choice for fear of rejection.
For example, in some pictures found of the incident, freshmen were “performing lap dances on men” and “forced to do calisthenics”. People are not puppets. You cannot physically force a person to give a lap dance or to run. However, you can threaten and intimidate.
I have said this many times in other blog posts, but hazing constitutes an incredibly pervasive and overwhelming problem in athletics. And because of player’s immense fear of rejection and a code of silence, it will continue to invade and devastate novice’s everywhere.
I know exactly how it feels to want to feel a part of something and accepted by my group. I played soccer for fifteen years. However, there comes a point where you should say “no”.
I cannot imagine being the mothers of these young women and seeing the horrific pictures that were posted online. This could have easily been avoided if the freshman just stood up for themselves. People should not succumb to violent harassment as a way to make friends.
Is this problem going to stop? Or do we, as a culture, crave acceptance unconditionally?
I have said this many times in other blog posts, but hazing constitutes an incredibly pervasive and overwhelming problem in athletics. And because of player’s immense fear of rejection and a code of silence, it will continue to invade and devastate novice’s everywhere.
I know exactly how it feels to want to feel a part of something and accepted by my group. I played soccer for fifteen years. However, there comes a point where you should say “no”.
I cannot imagine being the mothers of these young women and seeing the horrific pictures that were posted online. This could have easily been avoided if the freshman just stood up for themselves. People should not succumb to violent harassment as a way to make friends.
Is this problem going to stop? Or do we, as a culture, crave acceptance unconditionally?