Wilfred Laurier University men’s varsity baseball team will be permitted to play the remainder of their season games after being suspended from four games for hazing according to a university press release Sept 24.
The university has a tough stance on hazing, with a zero-tolerance hazing policy and orientation sessions for all Wilfred Laurier sport teams on understanding hazing and the consequences that come with it, the press release stated.
All team members also signed off on a no-hazing policy prior to the season on Aug. 27.
“If teams defy the university’s zero-tolerance policy on hazing, then they will be denied the privilege to play for the Golden Hawks,” said Peter Baxter, Laurier’s director of Athletics and Recreation.
“It is a tough lesson that must be learned but a necessary one so that we ensure the culture of hazing is eradicated.”
To keep their suspension to the four-game minimum and not for the entire season, the baseball team made a presentation to the university’s athletic director and interuniversity athletics co-ordinator.
In the presentation, members of the team apologized for a hazing party, volunteered to raise awareness of and do peer-to-peer education about related issues, and committed themselves to upholding the university’s athletic code of conduct, the release said.
“These young men obviously dedicated themselves to some serious reflection and discussion over the past few days,” said Peter Baxter, Laurier’s director of Athletics and Recreation.
“I am convinced that the members of our baseball team now appreciate why any form of hazing is unacceptable. I believe they have learned from their mistakes and will carry these learnings forward into the rest of their season and beyond.”
“The real measure of their commitment will be their follow-through, and we plan to hold them accountable to it,”
The four games that were forfeited were against the Western University Mustangs and the University of Waterloo Warriors. The team has a 4-8 record so far this season, including the four games that were forfeitted.
