McGill University has chosen to cancel the remainder of its football season early after an investigation into its Aug. 27 rookie night revealed that allegations of hazing made by a player were true. The player has subsequently left the team and the university.
The CBC also recently reported that the general manager and head coach of the OHL’s Windsor Spitfires, Moe Mantha, has been slapped with a one-year suspension as general manager and a 25-game suspension as coach for reports of hazing that involved team stripping down and crowding into the bathroom at the back of the team bus.
While initiation rituals may forge close relationships between players and encourage a sense of camaraderie, they can also create an atmosphere tinged with the threat of ostracism and isolation. At no time should any individual feel pressured into doing something he or she is uncomfortable with, and neither should he or she worry about the repercussions for refusing to participate.
The responsibility for establishing such a non-coercive and safe environment falls on people in positions of authority, like coaches and team captains. Mantha has in fact come forward and taken responsibility for the actions of his players, which is commendable. Coaches who are aware of hazing events should warn players against taking it too far and establish a team culture that discourages degrading rituals. However, coaches are only able to enforce so much. Ultimately, players are most capable of influencing the actions and behaviour of their fellow teammates.
The media attention over these two isolated cases of initiation gone awry has reflected poorly on sports rookie nights in general. However, hazing is not limited to sports teams and it is unfortunate that incidents involving athletes received most of the attention. On many teams it is possible for athletes to refuse to participate without fear of ostracism. In order for rookie nights to be positive experiences that create close-knit teams, players must be made aware by coaches and team captains that each individual has the inherent right to say “no.”
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