A hazing event involving alcohol abuse among members of the Carleton women’s soccer team this year resulted in one first-year student being sent to the hospital. The university suspended the team for two games as a consequence. This punishment was strict, but fair. Carleton teams should heed this as a warning when organizing season-opening celebrations in the years to follow.
Rookie parties should be about celebrating the addition of new teammates and encouraging team bonding. There is no need to pressure rookies into dangerous initiation activities, such as excessive drinking.
Fortunately Carleton’s women’s soccer team learned a harsh lesson without any fatalities. But history has shown that hazing incidents can be lethal. For instance, at Western Illinois University in 1990, a rookie of the varsity lacrosse team died after a drinking initiation exercise.
Carleton’s incident could have had similarly serious consequences, so good on the university for taking a zero-tolerance approach to this sort of irresponsible activity. The university’s prompt and firm response also softened the blow to the school’s healing reputation.
Varsity players need to keep in mind that they are idolized and respected by other students and when they behave dishonourably they bring down support for varsity sports.
These people are supposed to be standout representatives from our university when they play other teams across the country, but now they have a cloud over their heads.
Athletes need to remember these sorts of actions go against the athletics code that all players have to read and sign to represent Carleton at varsity and competitive levels.
The women’s soccer team’s screw-up and subsequent punishment should serve to remind students that hazing is no joke. The Ravens should consider themselves lucky that the dangerous incident didn’t cause them to lose more than two forfeited games.