Andover High School has been quite popular in the news recently due to its repulsive hazing incident. The incident occurred at a basketball camp with Hoop Mountain organization at Stonehill College this past summer. Nine members of the Andover High basketball team attended the camp over the summer in which two younger players were persuaded into playing a game in one of the dorm rooms. The game was called "wet biscuit," a game in which the loser of the game had to eat an Oreo cookie covered in bodily fluid. One of the victimized players, who was wheedled into playing this game, allegedly transferred to another school.
Sources told The Eagle-Tribune that the two “ringleaders” of the hazing incident were the ones who are being expelled from the school. Meanwhile, the other players involved received suspensions and would be unable to participate in any school sports for the rest of the school year. Many students who have spoken of the incident described it as “very disturbing’’ and “disgusting.” Annie Gilbert, the Chairperson of Andover’s School Committee has also commented on the recent issue. She states “We have zero tolerance policies in place regarding bullying and hazing. A full investigation is underway and we will enforce those policies"(Gilbert).
Should the other players be more heavily disciplined than just a suspension from school and sports?
Should they be terminated completely from all sports for the rest of their high school years?
What are your thoughts on this incident?
If this had happened to you, would you have waited until now to report the incident like the victim did?
Read more: http://www.myfoxboston.com/dpp/news/local/hazing-allegations-at-andover-high-20111125#ixzz1fOZRBcTt
http://www.gloucestertimes.com/sports/x229380624/Alleged-hazing-at-Andover-High-involved-sex-game
http://bostonherald.com/news/regional/view.bg?articleid=1384732&position=3
This hazing incident is an absolute shame. Children now grow up in an era where hazing, for the most part, has been eradicated, yet there still remain incidents here and there of hazing at the collegiate and high school level. The students who instigated this one-on-one game should have known better than to force other student to do things that no one would ever want to do. The other players who participated in the game should definitely be more heavily disciplined that just a suspension from school and sports. In my opinion, they should be disciplined the same amount as the players who instigated the hazing. They were present at the hazing incident, and yet they did nothing to stop it or report it to authority figures. With that being said, I believe that expulsion is a bit extreme for this hazing incident. However, I do believe that all students should receive the same punishment of being completely terminated from all sports for the rest of their high school years. If this had happened to me, I would not have waited this long to report the incident. I would have told my parents immediately following the incident and then transferred schools. No student should ever feel the pressure of hazing under any forum.
ReplyDeleteLike Lloyd, I also feel that expulsion is an extreme measure for the hazing incident. I also feel that all of the players should get the same punishment. However, I do not feel like they should all be terminated from sports for all of their years at high school. These sports can be valuable for all sorts of things, such as gaining scholarships. Still, obviously, the kids deserve to be punished. I feel like suspension and temporary banishment from sports would maybe be enough. I also want to say that it is somewhat the kids' faults for going along with it. I understand that under pressure like that, it can be hard to stand up for yourself. Still, if one person could have stood up against the two "ring leaders", then probably more people would have stood up, and the entire thing would not have taken place. If this had happened to me, I probably would not have reported it at all, in all honesty. I know I should, but I really doubt that I ever would, for fear of backlash. If I felt so strongly, however, I could use that energy to make sure that it never happened again by going against the ring leaders the next time they tried to make people do this. Kids who cannot speak up for themselves should be able to depend on their older friends to get them out of these situations, not to pressure them into it. But when these people are absent, it is necessary to be able to stand up for yourself.
ReplyDeleteI have not heard much about this incident, but from reading this, I find it disgusting. I think that depending on what the other players’ stories should determine their discipline. In the article, it says the “two ringleaders”, meaning there were two kids that definitely hazed the students. However, that could mean they persuaded the other players to join, or the other players wanted nothing to do with it but were not allowed to leave. Despite that even if they took no part in the hazing, they did do nothing to stop it and I think that makes them just as guilty to the hazing. I do not know if they should be terminated completely from all sports for the rest of their high school year, though. In a way, I do feel they should because they could easily do it again, but again, it could depend on their stories as to why they were a part of the hazing in the first place. If this had happened to me, I would not know when the right time to tell anyone about this. Maybe the victim was too scared as to what they players would do him if he told, maybe they had threatened him, or maybe he was too embarrassed. Either way, I feel it should have come out sooner. No one should have to deal with this kind of disgusting behavior or even deal with someone capable of thinking it up.
ReplyDeleteI remember seeing this incident on the news about a week or two ago, and being absolutely disgusted by it. Back in my high school, when we all had signed up for high school sports, within the first week of practice we were forced to read a hazing contract and sign it at the bottom. This contract stated that we were aware of how seriously hazing is taken in high school and the consequences if we had chose to break the contract. I feel as though if the Chairperson for Andover's School Committee commented on the incident stating there is "no tolerance for hazing and bullying", then the players were clearly given some contract or lecture about the seriousness of hazing. Furthermore, the "ringleaders" of the incident should absolutely be expelled, because they did was flat out wrong and extremely disturbing. It is hard to give the rest of the team the same punishment of suspension from school and sports, because I am sure there were absolutely some players against this hazing and did not want to participate. It is also hard to say how I would deal with this situation if I was part of it. Being the victim, it is sometimes hard to be upfront and tell people the situation that occurred. The victims were most likely disturbed, embarrassed, and afraid to get the older teammates severely punished. It would have been in the victim's best interest to report it much sooner though.
ReplyDeleteI have heard about this incident and it has a connection with me. Stories from my friends fathers who played hockey for their local high school used to haze the new hockey players all the time by forcing them to walk across the locker room with cookie in their rear and if they dropped it they forced to eat it. With this incident i believe that all the kids that part took in the "game" should be expelled from the school. The victim probably did not want to open his mouth because maybe he thought they would beat him up or make him do it again so they victim had the sense of fear just as a rape victim would have. If I was that kid, I would have told right away but then again I would not have played the game.
ReplyDeleteTHE GAME.
ReplyDeleteThis incident was terrible, and as far as the punishment, I believe the students were punished appropriately. The two students that lead the whole game were expelled, and the others who went along with the game were suspended and cannot play sports for the year. To ban these students from sports for the rest of their high school careers would be too extreme, as it would end the dreams of ever playing a collegiate sport. If I were a victim of a hazing situation, it is my thought that I would report it right away. However, the victim in this situation could have been threatened into not reporting. Hazing is a illegal in 44 states, including Massachusetts, and must therefore be reported. It is good to know Andover High School has a zero tolerance policy for hazing and bullying and more importantly, that the school officials stood by these policies in dealing with this situation. If these students were let off with only a minor punishment, this type of harmful bullying behavior could continue to the next group of younger players.
ReplyDeleteThis was a disturbing incident. I heard bits and pieces about it on the news last week. I can't even believe anyone would participate in that game. I think the two students who have been expelled deserved it. As for the rest i agree with their punishment. I'm sure they were just going along with the two ring leaders. Like Lindsey said, my high school also had a hazing form we had to sign before we could play any sport. I'm sure Andover had one too. If I was the victim right now I think I would stand up for myself, but I honestly do not think I would know for sure until I am in the situation. I hope Andover implements more seriously hazing standards to prevent this from happening in the future.
ReplyDeleteI watched the news story about this incident, and was appalled. As a high school student, I could not imagine enduring that kind of hazing ritual. Like those before me, hazing policies and punishments were explained explicitly in our school handbook, which we had to read and sign. I do think the bullies were punished appropriately. It was according to Andover High's policy, and the ringleaders got heavier punishments. I doubt that schools they attend in the future will be eager to put them on sports teams. I hope the bystanders learned from the incident as well. Sure, it is difficult to stand up to something like this, especially due to fear that you will be the next victim, but it is ultimately worth it to prevent things like this from happening in the future.
ReplyDeleteThis hazing incidence is ultimately disturbing. I believe that the punishments are appropriate for the crime. Hazing is an extreme form of bullying and if a school has a no bullying policy then it is fit that the “ringleaders” be expelled because one student allegedly transferred schools. This being said, I don’t believe that the students who partook in the hazing that weren’t the “ringleaders” should be terminated from all sports, unless they do it again, because if it wasn’t their idea in the first place then it can’t really be that fair. It’s true they edged it on and stood there and watched, but banning them from sports for the rest of the year is sufficient. If this happened to me it’s hard to say what I would do. You like to think that you would report the incident right away but then you have to go through even more shame because you’re “the kid that told.” I might have also waited to report the incident, the same as the student, out of fear or embarrassment. Perhaps he only reported it because students who took part in the hazing were taunting him.
ReplyDeleteWhen i learned of this incident, i found it to be very disturbing. I think the punishment of expulsion for the two ring leaders of the game is a sufficient punishment. I think they should have to face the consequences for their actions and the hazing that was done. I think the punishment for the other kids that participated in the game is also fair. I think that suspension from school is fair however i do not think that the kids should be suspended from sports for the rest of high school. I think that the kids should face a suspension from sports for only the year. Sports in high high school are key to kids being active and if you suspend them from all sports, these kids could go down the wrong path and get into trouble if they have too much free time on their hands. Sports will help keep them active and they will occupy their time.
ReplyDeleteWhen I heard about this incident, I could not believe it took place in the next town over from Merrimack. I do think the punishments are fair. However, being expelled and being unable to play any sports again is extremely harsh. What if sports are the only thing going for these boys? I think a year, or a season, would be more fair. The media attention has probably already ruined their lives. They deserve the humiliation, but maybe they deserve the chance to start over new somewhere, like at a different school. I know hazing is still prevalent in high school sports teams, but I had no idea it was this bad. Maybe the victims did not want to report it because they were embarrassed. I know I would be embarrassed. Hopefully this incident can be a learning experience for other hazers out there.
ReplyDeleteFirst off, this is such an awful story. No person boy or girl should have to go through what these poor students had to go through. I feel that all of the kids involved should have been kicked out of this high school and sent to some sort of reform school instead. As for them not playing sports for the rest of the year they shouldn't be able to play sports again throughout their high school and college career. This matter is so serious and needs to be taking a bit more seriously. I feel that if I was the victim I would report but I'm not entirely sure how long it would take me to do so. I feel like these victims were too embarrassed and frankly I would be too. The fact of the matter though is that is shouldn't matter how long it took for the boys to report the incident but the fact that the participants should have faced more consequences.
ReplyDeleteThe hazing incident in question is utterly disturbing. I believe expelling the “ringleaders” was a sufficient consequence for their actions. I believe suspending the other participants in the hazing from both school and sports is fair. I think it would also be justified if the school suspended them from participating in sports for the rest of their high school careers. Partaking in hazing is an extreme form of bullying; I believe that if bullies are conducting such acts in a certain setting, whether it be during sports, band, or any club, they should be forbidden from participating in the activities for the remainder of their time in high school. To be completely honest, for me, nothing is worth enduring hazing. However, if I were presented with a situation such as this, I would be sure to say something right away. Being “the tattle-tail” or “snitch” in this situation would not be a terrible thing; judgment from anyone who sides with the hazers is absurd and their opinion would not matter to me. I understand, though, why the victim waited to report the incident; such situations spur embarrassment, worry, etc. No one should ever have to deal with bullying or hazing, and the sooner the incident is brought forth, the sooner actions can be taken against the bullies/hazers.
ReplyDeleteOne of the first things they teach kids when they play a college sport is the consequences of hazing. This incident is disgusting and I think all the athletes that made them do it should be suspended and not allowed to play sports for the rest of their career. Most colleges and other sport organizations take hazing so seriously because it is a form of bullying. They don't care how good the team is, or how good the athlete is, if it is done, the person will be expelled. I think the child who it was done to should have told someone earlier, but he was probably afraid his teammates would find out and do something worse. Being a freshman on an athletic team this year was rough because we had to do certain things just because we were freshman. When my coach found out at the end of the season, he was furious he didn't know earlier.
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, all of the people involved in this horrible hazing incident should be expelled from school. They got off way to easy for commiting such a horrendous act against another student.If not expelled from school then they should never be allowed to join any of the schools sports team for the rest of their time at Andover High. I think what those students did was sick. It takes a really sick mind to do that to another person, especially to someone as vulnerable as an underclassmen trying to fit in and feel accepted.If something like this ever happened to me I would've told a coach immediately. I wouldn't have let something like this go for so long because I would know that if I didn't tell my coach those kids could do this again to another underclassmen and I would feel horrible knowing that I could've stopped that from happening to someone else.
ReplyDeleteI have actually been following this incident for a quite awhile now. I generally listen to sports radio on the way to school, and this was a major topic of discussion. There are a number of things that I find disturbing about the incident. First off that these students would have this type of hazing. Second that the students would actually eat the oreo after losing the game is fairly shocking. To me this says two things, first that these athletes are in a position of great power compared to the underclassmen, and second that the other students refused to stick up for the players that were peer pressured into eating the cookie. I actually did some research on this and one of the ringleaders of the incident was actually dating the daughter of the head coach. Also on the first few days of practice all of the students were allowed to participate in the tryouts. This shows that the star basketball players were very much in power.
ReplyDeleteAnother interesting fact about this incident was that the captain of the team went on facebook and adamantly called out all of those persecuting him. Even though he is getting kicked out of school, and ruining his future he still feels enough in power to call everyone out. This speaks to a strong sense of entitlement. This sort of entitlement has become common in a lot of people involved in sports teams. Although it is not an equal comparison, Jerry Sandusky and Bernie Fine who have recently been in the news for molestation at major universities also have a sense of entitlement. There is a major flaw in society of putting stars in athletics on pedestal and this allows for rampant bad behavior.
I think I agree with everyone hear in that this act of hazing committed by these students is absolutely unacceptable. What they did wasn't funny, it was disgusting and inappropriate. They definitely deserved a very serious consequence and discipline. That being said I agree with Leanne in that I don't think these students should have been expelled. A suspension is very serious penalty but expulsion will affect the rest of their lives. What they did was wrong but they didn't kill anyone so I do not believe that action is worthy of an expulsion. They may not get into some colleges now because of it and being in that situation they were just kids who got carried away. I think expulsion is an over the top penalty. Expulsion is an appropriate penalty for kids who bring drugs or weapons to school but not this. These kids made one stupid bad decision. All of the kids who participated should have gotten the same penalty because none of them stopped it. These kids were trying to establish themselves as in charge of the team but there are much better and healthier ways to accomplish that. Putting myself in the victim's shoes, I could see why they waited to say anything because those were the team leaders and it can be very intimidating because you don't want to hurt the team. Also that kind of thing could be seen as just guys messing around so maybe the victim didn't think anything of it at first.
ReplyDelete