HSU Men’s Soccer Season Canceled, Women’s Team Under Investigation – August 21, 2012
“I was truly taken aback by this incident and the number of students involved,” said Peg Blake, HSU’s Vice President for Enrollment Management and Student Affairs. “It’s just so counter to the culture of caring and social responsibility at HSU. We need to be clear that hazing needs to be reported by those who know about it, who see it happening or who are targets. We all have a role to play. For the students involved in this, our goal is to make sure they stay on track academically. That’s the most important thing, that they do well in their classes and make progress toward earning their degrees.”
President Richmond has directed campus offices to create new programs and expand existing efforts related to hazing. These include random alcohol and drug testing of student-athletes, ensuring that NCAA best practices related to hazing are closely followed, new annual reporting and procedures within Intercollegiate Athletics, a strict requirement that all hazing and other student code violations be investigated by Enrollment Management and Student Affairs, and a revision of the Life Skills class taken by student-athletes.
The incident was reported to University officials on Aug. 6, prompting a detailed investigation by HSU’s Office of Enrollment Management and Student Affairs, in close cooperation with the University’s Intercollegiate Athletics Office. There was also consultation with HSU Athletics Faculty Representative Jeff Borgeld as well as the CSU Chancellor’s Office.
Campus police were informed of the investigation, and provided assistance where requested, and the Arcata Police Department was also informed. There have been no criminal complaints related to the incident, but that remains a possibility.
Due to privacy laws, individual disciplinary actions will not be made public. The student-athletes will face the same punishments that non-athletes would have faced for similar infractions.
The team punishment of a full suspension of the season resulted from violations of the code of conduct within Intercollegiate Athletics. There are no plans to withhold scholarships or eligibility.
“We just cannot have this sort of thing happening. It’s dangerous and it’s unacceptable,” said HSU Athletics Director Dan Collen. “I’ve made that clear to the coaches and players I’ve talked to, and I’ll continue to make that point throughout the year. Our student-athletes have been tremendous representatives of Humboldt State over the years, and this incident tarnishes that record. I expect better, the whole Humboldt State community expects better, and we won’t accept excuses.”
Hazing, broadly defined, is an activity expected of someone joining a group that humiliates them, degrades them, or risks emotional or physical harm. It is hazing regardless of whether the person is a willing participant. Hazing is illegal, and violates HSU’s student code of conduct as well as its student-athlete code of conduct.
Extensive information and resources about hazing are available at StopHazing.org. The organization cites, among other things, advice from Will Keim on making decisions about hazing.
- If you have to ask if it’s hazing, it is.
- If in doubt, call your advisor/coach/national office. If you won’t pick up the phone, you have your answer. Don’t B.S. yourself.’
- If you haze, you have low self-esteem.
- If you allow hazing to occur, you are a ‘hazing enabler.’
- Failure to stop hazing will result in death…
Resources related to hazing
- NCAA handbook on preventing hazing, includes tips for players and coaches (http://hsujacks.com/documents/2012/8/20/NCAA_Hazing_Handbook.pdf?id=757)
- StopHazing.org – an organization dedicated to ending hazing.
August 21, 2012
HSU Investigating Possible Hazing in Women’s Soccer
Humboldt State University is investigating multiple members of the Women’s Intercollegiate Soccer Team for alleged hazing, as well as other possible violations of student and athletic codes of conduct.
The allegations come as a hazing incident in the men’s soccer program has led the University to cancel all of that team’s games for the entire 2012-13 academic year. HSU officials stress that they take issues of hazing very seriously, and hope that the firm punishment will send a clear message to all students that hazing is unacceptable and will not be tolerated.
The investigation of the women’s soccer team is focused on a recent off-campus party. Disciplinary action could range from written warnings to expulsion.
HSU’s Office of Enrollment Management and Student Affairs has taken the lead role in the investigation, with close cooperation from Intercollegiate Athletics.
Hazing is both illegal and violates the student and athletic codes of conduct. Student-athletes receive education on hazing, and are frequently reminded that it is not tolerated.
As with the men’s soccer team, the University will make public general information about any disciplinary action. If there are individual sanctions, they will remain confidential.
August 21, 2012
(Send at 12:30 p.m.)
From: President Rollin Richmond
To: All faculty, students, staff
Subject: Decision to cancel men’s soccer season
Over the last two weeks, HSU has been investigating troubling allegations of hazing and excessive alcohol consumption at a recent party held by many members of our men’s soccer team.
We have concluded that a hazing incident did indeed occur. Furthermore, this incident placed the lives of two students in real jeopardy.
Because of this, I have decided to suspend the team’s 2012-13 season effective immediately. The team will not participate in any California Collegiate Athletic Association games or any University-sanctioned games for the entire academic year.
We have also begun an investigation of alleged hazing by members of the women’s soccer team. That investigation is in its early stages.
Given my understanding of what occurred with the men’s team, I am immensely relieved that all of the students involved are safe. I hope that the team discipline, along with individual disciplinary actions, send a clear message that this was unacceptable. Hazing is not tolerated at Humboldt State, not in Athletics and not in any other area.
It is vital that our student-athletes, and our entire campus community, understand the seriousness of the situation. Hazing is illegal, and it is prohibited by the student and student-athlete codes of conduct. It has no place at our University.
Going forward, we will be implementing a series of additional steps to ensure that students learn about the risks involved with hazing. I will insist that every unit on campus participate in this effort as appropriate, and that they do so cooperatively and seriously.
The full details of my decision can be downloaded here. Two good resources about hazing are the NCAA handbook on preventing hazing and StopHazing.org, an organization dedicated to ending hazing.
August 20, 2012
President’s Decision on Athletics Hazing Incident
An alleged incident of hazing on August 4, 2012 by the Humboldt State University men’s
soccer team was reported to administrators in the Office of Enrollment Management and
Student Affairs on August 6, 2012. Following careful investigation including interviews
with team members, the University has concluded that an incident of hazing did occur,
and that it placed the lives of two students in real jeopardy.
As the President of Humboldt State University and the person ultimately responsible for
ensuring that such incidents do not occur in the future, we will take the following steps:
1. The Humboldt State University is suspending the men’s soccer team for the
2012/2013 season effective immediately. The men’s team will not participate in
any California Collegiate Athletic Association games or any Universitysanctioned
games for the entire season. Hazing will not be tolerated at
Humboldt State University. Those who have knowledge of hazing, observe
hazing, or are the targets of hazing and do not make efforts to stop it and do not
report it to the appropriate authorities are also complicit in the incident. As
explained in the Student Code of Conduct, hazing includes any method of
initiation or pre-initiation into a student organization that is likely to cause
physical harm, personal degradation or disgrace resulting in physical or mental
harm. Neither the express or implied consent of a victim of hazing, nor the lack of
active participation in a particular hazing incident, is a defense. Apathy or
acquiescence in the presence of hazing is not a neutral act and is also a violation of
the Student Code of Conduct.
2. The Office of Enrollment Management and Student Affairs will initiate
disciplinary proceedings for individuals on the men’s soccer team as would
occur whenever it appears a student has violated Humboldt State University’s
Student Code of Conduct.
3. The Athletic Director will report annually (in June of each year) to the President’s
Office on the timing and content of programs to address hazing and other kinds of
student-athlete misconduct. The Athletics Department administration will follow
the procedures and annual timeline as summarized in the attached National
Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) document, Building New Traditions, pp.
14 and 15.
4. Any alleged hazing incidents or other violations of the Student Code of Conduct
must be promptly reported to and investigated by the Office of Enrollment
Management and Student Affairs. Coaches or athletic administrators who do
not follow this directive will be subject to disciplinary or other personnel
actions. The Athletics Department must collaborate fully with the Office of
Enrollment Management and Student Affairs. The Athletic Director and Vice
President for Enrollment Management and Student Affairs must meet regularly
to review issues of concern to them both.
5. Our athletic administrators and coaches must be responsible for the culture that
Page 2 of 2
exists within our athletics programs and recognize that they are the principal
means of preventing hazing and student-athlete misconduct. In this context,
coaches must work with their teams to develop team rules on an annual basis that
are written down, reviewed by the Athletic Director, given to the student-athletes
and submitted to the Athletic Director’s files. Humboldt State University coaches
will follow the recommendations in the attached NCAA document, Building New
Traditions, pp. 5-7. In the meantime, coaches will ensure that current team
captains and all student-athletes discuss and understand the material on pp. 8-13
(also attached to this document) no later than September 17, 2012. In future years,
student-athletes must be educated about these materials by September 1of each
year. New student-athletes to a team must also do so before they engage in any
team activities.
6. The Athletic Department will institute a policy of random drug and alcohol testing
of student-athletes. Each student athlete will be required to sign a Non-Hazing
Agreement each year that they participate in sports.
7. The Life Skills course now taught by the Department of Kinesiology and
Recreation Administration must be revised to include training on hazing in
consultation with members of the Athletics Department. Responsibility for
this revision rests with the Chair of Kinesiology and Recreation
Administration and the Athletic Director.
Rollin C. Richmond
President
Humboldt State University
14
I
Appendix
An Annual Timeline to Address the
Issue of Hazing Prevention
During the Recruiting Process
• Provide your institution’s and specifically your team’s written policy to all recruits and hosts that defines
hazing, consequences of participation, ways to avoid participation, and methods of reporting incidents
without fear of retribution!
Before the Preseason and Throughout the Year
• Conduct a leadership workshop and regular meetings for your captains to give them the knowledge
and skills necessary for being successful and effective team leaders. Include the athletics department’s
and your team’s responsibilities and expectations to fulfill their role as captains.
• Provide information on hazing that student-athletes will use as a reference and reminder of what is
appropriate student behavior.
At the First Team Meeting
• Discuss, develop and distribute current anti-hazing policies of the team, institution, conference and
NCAA.
• Provide student-athletes with a written definition of what constitutes hazing.
• Have each student-athlete sign a Code of Conduct form that includes hazing prevention.
Early During First Week or Preseason
• Conduct an educational program on hazing through use of NCAA speakers, your own campus
experts, national programs, and/or Power Point presentations. All programming should be designed to
generate thought and discussion!
• Provide an orientation seminar for first-year student-athletes on this issue and be sure to include
written procedures for reporting potential hazing situations and incidents, and methods to be used in
avoiding a hazing environment!
Periodically Throughout the Season
• Use constant reminders of the institution’s view on anti-hazing through posters, bookmarks and
handouts, and the resultant consequences for participation in these types of activities.
• Provide anti-hazing messages on team handouts, itineraries, game plans, scouting reports and other
publications. (See Appendix III.)
15
An Annual Timeline to Address the Issue of Hazing Prevention
Before All Trips and Travel
• Before spring trips and during semester breaks when teams spend their time on campus, be sure
to reiterate the policies on hazing.
• Remind all team members that hazing policies are in effect everywhere, 24 hours, seven days a week.
Start of Second Semester
• At the first team meeting,
reiterate your position on
team rules and re-emphasize
the anti-hazing message.
Start with a recent
press article from some
other institution, which you
can find under News at
www.Stophazing.org.
• Be sure any new student,
transfer or mid-year
admitted students are provided
all written material on
hazing and team rules, and
that your position is heard
very clearly.
End of the Year
• Conduct exit interviews with graduating and departing students for the purpose of hearing about team
conduct and behaviors that are related to hazing. Ensure those you have interviewed that the information
is for educational endeavors and not punishment or discipline purposes!
• Use information from the interviews in your planning process for new programs and initiatives for the
coming year.
5
Hazing A
The Role of Co4aches in
wareness and Prevention
Coaches:
• Your attitude and willingness to address hazing will be a major factor in its prevention on your
team!
• Understand the reasons why hazing happens!
• Know the differences between what hazing really does versus what your student-athletes
believe it does!
• Send an appropriate anti-hazing message that spells out the consequences for non-compliance!
• Your policies need to be
communicated, distributed
in writing, and
enforced openly if an incident
occurs!
• Your anti-hazing program
must start during the
recruiting process, and
needs to be emphasized
all year long.
• Be sure that everything
you do contributes to an
environment of civility, respect and dignity for everyone!
What Should Coaches be Responsible for?
• Take an emphatic position about treating everyone with total respect at all times from the
moment they set foot on your campus, even during recruiting. This message needs to be
heard by all team members, frequently! (See Appendix III, Anti-Hazing Messages.)
The Role of Coaches in Hazing Awareness and Prevention
• Conduct open discussions to help you understand your team’s views and activities. Alumni
sources may be willing to elaborate! Confirm that any alumni you engage in programming fully
understand hazing issues so that they do not perpetuate harmful traditions.
• Avoid addressing new team members using power terms such as “rookie.” This says to the
new player, “You’re not the same as everyone else!” Avoid any other words or actions that
create division between your veterans and new players.
• Address the issue of hazing annually and consistently, and put your team rules in writing. It is
a “must” conversation for you and your team, regardless of how uncomfortable it may be. Spell
out the consequences for non-compliance and what your expectations are for your team members
toward each other on and off the field of play! (See the Annual Timeline in Appendix I.)
• Involve your team in discussions about this issue and dispel the myths they believe about hazing!
Students believe that there is a clear and distinctive difference between someone being
“forced or seriously pressured” to participate, versus someone who volunteers. They
believe if there is no force, it is not hazing! They need to know that passive participation can
make one a contributor! And that “consent” does not rule out hazing.
• Explain that hazing occurs when there is an expectation, whether implicit or explicit, that
to be accepted or part of the group, student-athletes must participate in the activity. An
expectation can subtly coerce athletes to do things they would not normally do.
• Ensure that your team is involved with establishing the policies and procedures that deal
with this issue. They need to take ownership of the definitions.
• Reinforce the message that what counts most is your players’ work and dedication. The
desire to be on your team renders the new athlete powerless when confronted by an upperclass
teammate. New students will take the path of least resistance. They need to hear you
talk about demonstrating a positive attitude, having the initiative to do what is needed, and
displaying a strong work ethic. The coach is the determining factor on who makes the team
and who plays, not their teammates. They need to be told to walk away from any hazing
and know that you will support their actions!
6
The Role of Coaches in Hazing Awareness and Prevention
• Help your team develop positive traditions that are significant and meaningful and that
contribute to their bonding and coming together as a group. This important strategy will help
reduce the temptation to use hazing as a means of team bonding.
• Support leadership training for your captains
and define your expectations for their role within
the team. Be sure that you have the right person
to step up to that responsibility, even if it
means you make the captain an appointed
position. Other than yourself, the captain will
be the most significant person in the prevention
of hazing within your team!
• Talk about what it is you expect from your athletes
besides what you get on the field. You
expect to build character — what does it
mean? You expect a sense of good values —
what are they? Demonstrate in your own
actions that caring about one another may be
the most valued characteristic you may want
them to acquire. It doesn’t happen if you don’t
care or talk about it!
“This leadership training
program helped me think
about myself and my
core values — what I
believe and want to instill
in my teammates. This is
very valuable in helping
me better understand my
teammates, helping me
lead in a positive manner,
and not to be afraid to
ask for help.”
• Accept this responsibility as part of your job. Hazing incidents that end in tragedy or a lawsuit
can ruin the careers of athletes and coaches! One hour at the start of each season on
hazing prevention could prevent a season of disaster. Be emphatic, be patient, but be persistent
in your attempt to erase this kind of activity from athletics and all of our campuses.
• Take all of the above SERIOUSLY!
7
5
The Role of Student-Athletes
in Hazing Prevention
What You Should Know
Hazing
• Has caused a team’s season to be cancelled at various NCAA institutions!
• Has caused a student-athlete’s institutional eligibility to be taken away!
• Has caused student-athletes to be arrested, because it is against the law in most states!
• Has caused student-athletes to have to appear in the court system at their own expense!
• Has caused teams to be torn apart and fragmented!
• Has caused serious physical and psychological injuries, and even deaths!
Team Discussion Questions
1. What makes you feel accepted by your teammates and coach?
Is it playing time?
Is it being socially included at all times?
Is it interest in you as a person from upper-class teammates, aside from being an athlete?
Is it having your coaches give you “the time of day”?
Do you need to have your coaches and teammates talk to you off the field or court?
Do you feel respect from the rest of the institution, or are you looked at as a non-contributing
student?
2. Why is it that you chose to participate in athletics?
You chose to be involved with athletics to:
a. Challenge yourself physically and emotionally.
b. Enjoy the excitement of competition.
c. Develop friendships and the camaraderie of teammates.
d. Set goals and work toward accomplishment.
e. Enhance one’s self-confidence and pride.
f. Build on the value of community.
g. Enjoy the experience and have fun!
3. What do you think will be the most positive outcome of your participation?
The most positive, lasting outcomes of athletics are the relationships established through
mutual respect with teammates and coaches, which last a lifetime!
8
The Role of Student-Athletes in Hazing Prevention
4. What do you know about traditions and why do they exist?
Traditions are time-honored acts that repeat the customs and beliefs of a culture. They are
honorable and instill a sense of pride in its members!
5. What purpose does an initiation serve and what place does it have in athletics?
Initiations are designed to instruct new members in the principles of an organization. They
are ceremonial in nature and often carry a spiritual significance, and should be instructive. By
joining an athletic team, one should expect to learn customs and procedures, but should
never have to prove his or her right to be respected and treated with dignity at all times.
6. What do you believe that the hazing of a teammate or yourself accomplishes?
• Hazing does not bond a team, quite the opposite it tears it apart!
• Hazing does not instill pride in the team … it humiliates the victims and the team!
• Hazing does not allow freedom of choice to participate; it creates an environment of expectations,
leaving the victim powerless to choose!
Here is a team captain’s quote after her softball team was involved in and sanctioned for hazing!
“…The intention was to have a fun night of team bonding,
not to humiliate or embarrass anyone…. We realize it didn’t
benefit us, or improve our skills. It didn’t make us close as
a team, in fact just the opposite occurred! Our fall season
was cancelled as was our Spring Break and our team is on
probation. Playing is a privilege not afforded everybody
and with the privilege comes a responsibility to our team,
our school and ourselves.”
9
The Role of Student-Athletes in Hazing Prevention
What you can do to prevent hazing among your teammates:
1. Review the list of questions that would clarify if activities are hazing. (See Appendix VII, The
Hazing Test.)
2. Understand what constitutes hazing and insist that this is discussed with coaches and teammates.
(See Appendix V, The Myths and Truths of Hazing, and Appendix VI, Examples of Hazing.)
3. Plan alternative activities for your team that will enhance team bonding and be sure that all players
and coaches are involved. (See Appendix IV, Alternatives to Hazing.)
4. Make caring about one’s teammates a high priority for success and be conscious of any potential
hazing incidents that may occur within your team! Talk about what it means to care!
5. Discuss among your coaches and teammates how and who you would report potential incidents
that could be considered, or lead to, hazing. Any team’s problems will reflect poorly
on your institution!
6. From day one, understand
that acceptance by the
team you are joining and
your contribution to its success,
will be developed
through:
• A strong work ethic;
• A positive attitude; and
• Your initiative.
Seek advice from your coaches, administrators, athletic trainers, professors, student
affairs officers, Life Skills personnel or even your parents!
10
6
The Role of Team Captains in
Hazing Prevention
What Should the Team Captain be Responsible for?
1. Your first responsibility is to meet with your coach and define the expectations of your position.
With the expectations should come the identification of skills and knowledge that you need
and how you will acquire the necessary information. You might request a seminar on leadership,
administered by your institution, for all captains.
2. As a captain, you can be held accountable for hazing activities within your program and as
such, could be legally charged in a hazing incident.
3. Be familiar with all the terms that help
to understand why hazing occurs:
• Passive participation;
• The path of least resistance;
and
• Athletic identity.
(See Appendix II, The
Terminology of Hazing.)
4. Make sure discussions about hazing
occur with your team, including the
coaches! Encourage members to
speak up without fear of retribution!
Simply defined, hazing is:
• Any act committed against a student
who is trying to join a new
group that is humiliating or
demeaning, or endangers the
student’s health and safety.
• Hazing can occur regardless of CONSENT or WILLINGNESS to participate. If you chose
not to take part but knew what was going on, you are part of the problem!
5. Become familiar with the myths and truths of hazing and utilize these concepts in team discussions
with your coaches! (See Appendix V, The Myths and Truths of Hazing.)
11
The Role of Team Captains in Hazing Prevention
6. Discuss team strategies to welcome new members. Set a climate and environment that insists that
everyone — from your new members to your veteran seniors — be treated with dignity and respect.
How do you do that and bond together at the same time? (See Appendix IV, Alternatives to Hazing.)
7. Ensure that new members know you will support them in resisting any participation in hazing activities.
Include a discussion about recruiting and hosting and the responsibility of hosts in setting a tone of
respect. (See Northwestern University Prospective Student-Athlete Recruiting Policy in Appendix VIII.)
8. Create “meaningful” traditions, ones that develop pride among the team and in which everyone’s dignity
is respected! (See Appendix IV.)
9. Along with your coaches, set guidelines for the team’s conduct and for the reporting of hazing incidents.
Reports should ultimately be made to the director of athletics. Reports can be initiated by
any of the following:
• Team Captains
• Coaching Staffs
• Athletic Training and Sports
Medicine
• Sports Information
• Athletics Administration
• Student Affairs
• Campus Security or Police
• Parents
• Faculty or Staff
• Equipment Staff
10. Emphasize that coaches do not play an athlete due to his or her willingness to be subjected to hazing!
Athletes play because they have:
a. A Positive Attitude;
b. A strong Work Ethic; and
c. An Initiative to do what is needed and what is right!
11. Use the Hazing Test and Examples of Hazing in team discussions. (See Appendixes VII and VI.)
12
The Role of Team Captains in Hazing Prevention
12. Support educational programs on the following topics:
• Understanding Team and Group Dynamics
• How to Effectively Communicate with the Team
• Recruiting/Host Policies
• Intervention Skills
• Listening Skills
• Decision-making Skills
• Health Issues (alcohol and other drugs, eating disorders, injury rehabilitation)
• Conflict Resolution Skills
• Codes of Ethical Conduct
• Expectations for Sportsmanship or Acceptable Standards of Behavior
• Rules and Regulations of the Institution and Community, and State laws
13. Recognize that you have tremendous power over the newest members of your team, but it would be
wise to use your influence with them to encourage their best performance rather than exert your
power status in an attempt to maintain a hierarchy!
14. Understand and accept your role as a leader and teammate and be proud that you were chosen
to lead or be on this team. Take the time to reflect upon the reasons why you have ascended to this
position and what it will mean to you now and forever!
One team captain’s quote after participating in Captains’ Leadership Training:
“It helped me to empathize and recognize similarities
between myself and others. I gained insight into the many
roles and responsibilities we have as leaders in the
athletics community. We can make a positive impact!”
13
From: President Rollin Richmond
To: All faculty, students, staff
Subject: Decision to cancel men’s soccer season
Over the last two weeks, HSU has been investigating troubling allegations of hazing and excessive alcohol consumption at a recent party held by many members of our men’s soccer team.
We have concluded that a hazing incident did indeed occur. Furthermore, this incident placed the lives of two students in real jeopardy.
Because of this, I have decided to suspend the team’s 2012-13 season effective immediately. The team will not participate in any California Collegiate Athletic Association games or any University-sanctioned games for the entire academic year.
We have also begun an investigation of alleged hazing by members of the women’s soccer team. That investigation is in its early stages.
Given my understanding of what occurred with the men’s team, I am immensely relieved that all of the students involved are safe. I hope that the team discipline, along with individual disciplinary actions, send a clear message that this was unacceptable. Hazing is not tolerated at Humboldt State, not in Athletics and not in any other area.
It is vital that our student-athletes, and our entire campus community, understand the seriousness of the situation. Hazing is illegal, and it is prohibited by the student and student-athlete codes of conduct. It has no place at our University.
Going forward, we will be implementing a series of additional steps to ensure that students learn about the risks involved with hazing. I will insist that every unit on campus participate in this effort as appropriate, and that they do so cooperatively and seriously.
The full details of my decision can be downloaded here. Two good resources about hazing are the NCAA handbook on preventing hazing and StopHazing.org, an organization dedicated to ending hazing.
