From: rte@cco.caltech.edu (Tim Eakin)
Newsgroups: rec.sport.swimming
Subject: Swim team hazing incident
Date: 12 Nov 1992 19:40:53 GMT
Organization: California Institute of Technology, Pasadena
Distribution: world
NNTP-Posting-Host: alumni.caltech.edu
Summary: Freshmen swimmers abused ?

Well, this is actually about swimmers rather than about swimming, but it
raises questions about the role and value of initiation rituals in developing
team spirit, motivation, bonding, etc., and it involves a team that has won
four of the last five NCAA championships.  The following is excerpted from a 
front page article of today's (Thursday's) Daily Texan.  Keep in mind that
it is a student reporter's story in a student newspaper, so there is no
guarantee of absolute accuracy ...

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[ by Meridith Battle, Daily Texan staff }


  The day after an alleged early morning hazing incident in a campus
dormitory, University officials are questioning members of the UT swim
team and warn findings of misconduct could lead to the expulsion of the
participants.
  At 12:01 Tuesday morning, UT police responded to complaints about loud
noises coming from the East Hall's fourth floor in Beauford H. Jester Center,
and found several freshmen swimmers clad only in diapers and smeared with
peanut butter and flour, said UT police Capt. Rollin Donaldson.
  The officer reported he witnessed the end of what he believed was an
initiation in which 11 freshman swim team members were forced by three
upperclassmen to put on condoms and walk down a dark hallway singing
The Eyes of Texas, Donaldson said.
  In a nearby study lounge, police discovered an ice chest, some bananas and
a bucket containing goldfish that participants had apparently been eating,
he said.
  No one was injured and no arrests were made after the incident, UT police
Lt. Ron Stalder said.
  But state laws may have been violated, which could ultimately lead to
prosecution of the students by the county attorney, said Doug James, assistant
director of housing.
  Charges are pending and may be filed by University police with County
Attorney Ken Oden if the Dean of Students' Office deems it necessary, Stalder
said.
  University sanctions could range from probation to permanent expulsion of
the involved parties, according to Dean of Students Sharon Justice.
  "I don't know when the investigation will be complete," Justice said.
"We're currently interviewing anyone who has information regarding the 
incident."
  "Everybody on the team has gone to the dean and her staff to explain what
happened," said swim team coach Eddie Reese.
  "All I know about the incident is what the swimmers have said.  The campus
police tell me that by definition, any initiation is hazing," Reese said.
  "I'm just waiting to see what kind of damage has been done," he continued.
"Even if they are absolved of all blame, I don't think the guys will do
anything like this again just because of the problems they've caused.  But I
don't expect that any action will be taken by the dean's office or myself."

           [ ... etc. ... ]

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Newsgroups: rec.sport.swimming