Hazing athletes at Yale: an unspoken problem

It's not supposed to happen. Chapter One, section "S" of Yale University's Undergraduate Regulations clearly bans "any act of hazing...whether it occurs on or off the campus." But acts of initiation for varsity athletes, including events involving embarrassing, illegal, and dangerous situations, are rampant at Yale and around the country. Last fall, Alfred University released a study indicating that 79 percent of athletes were hazed nationally. "We trust that our varsity athletes are keeping each other safe," Colleen Lim, the associate director of varsity sports and the University's NCAA compliance coordinator, said. "But we're not blind."

SHAWN CHENG/YH

Many athletes were hesitant to discuss specifics of their rites of passage, but admitted that alcohol was involved. While all had some sense that initiations, and certainly underage drinking, were banned, many were quick to defend their practice. "We try and make sure at least one upperclassmen is always sober in case something goes wrong," one varsity athlete, who only agreed to speak on conditions of anonymity, said. A recently initiated freshman said, "It is kind of fun to have to be wild. It helps you bond, particularly with members of your class." Another freshman added, "I felt that I wasn't really pressured into anything. It was a good experience."

Perhaps of greater concern than the hazing itself is the seeming ignorance on the part of student-athletes about the rules governing such activities, and the possible consequences for participating. "We recently had a speaker meet with our captains and coaches," Lim explained. " We want our teams to be responsible." And Penelope Laurans, the associate dean and assistant to the president as well as a member of the Faculty Committee on Athletics noted,"When the Faculty Committee on Athletics met with the captains, it was one of the subjects that came up."

But despite the University's wishes that coaches and captains play a crucial role in educating their peers, that process has not been tremendously successful. When asked whether their captain or coach had spoken with the team about the dangers and consequences of initiations, only one of nearly a dozen athletes interviewed for this article remembered such a conversation taking place. Even then, the conversation was more of a formality than a legitimate warning. "We talked about the policies that could be implemented and what the punishment might be," the athlete said. "And our captain mentioned to us that officially we weren't having an initiation and not to call it that if people asked." Even one captain, whose team has an initiation involving alcohol, did not recall receiving any information on hazing, let alone passing it on to his teammates. That said, he admitted, "I guess I wasn't at all of the captain's meetings."

Hazing and initiations are not covered in the student-athlete handbook, a further reason why many student-athletes are simply not aware of what the rules are and what the repercussions might be. "It's not brought up at all during the student-athlete meeting," one athlete said. As a result, some are not even aware that their actions constitute violations. "We never make freshmen drink," another athlete said. A freshman who has already experienced his team's initiation added, "I don't see it as hazing if you do it of your own free will." The University and the state of Connecticut see it differently. As per the Connecticut General Statutes, "The implied or express consent of the victim shall not be a defense" against state and university punishments. And many students were surprised to learn that the NCAA does not have rules covering hazing or initiations, which leaves such policies and their enforcement up to member institutions, making it all the more necessary for the University to explain its positions and punishments.

When informed that captains and coaches were not relaying information to their teams in many instances, Laurans was obviously concerned. "If that is so, that is a big gap in our educational process and we need to correct it," she said. Lim seemed less surprised. "We need to do a better job of educating," she admitted, and suggested that steps were already being taken to convene a coaches group to discuss the matter in the near future. In response to the omission of information in the handbook regarding hazing, Laurans noted, "We look at the handbook each year. We need to do more and this is how you learn we need to do more. You want to straddle the fine line between overregulating and not being absolutely clear enough." But, she added, "It is a University regulation that applies to all students without a doubt." Frank Keefe, coach of the men's swimming team, doubted that it was ignorance of the rules that led athletes to conduct illegal initiations. "We talk about that kind of stuff, that there [are] not supposed to be any initiations, kids aren't supposed to be forced to do anything," he said. "But I can't be responsible for my athletes 24 hours a day." Other coaches were not available for comment.

Students and administrators alike insist that athletes are not alone. "I'm sure that athletes aren't the only ones," Keefe said. "I don't think athletes should be singled out," one athlete said. "Singing groups, secret societies, and fraternities all have initations as well." Regardless, all agree that the University may need to do more to explain and enforce its regulations. "It's a matter that needs to be brought to the attention of everyone," Laurans said. "Not only by the athletic department, but by the University."

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