Many athletes were introduced to questionable initiation rites prior to college. Respondents were asked the age at which they were first hazed. Since far more athletes reported hazing behaviors than those who said they were actually hazed, the incidence of hazing behavior among high school and middle school students may also be much higher than these figures suggest. This finding requires further study. For a recent example of alleged athletic hazing in high school, see article in Asbury, NJ, Park Press .
Younger athletes seem to be notably desensitized to hazing.
The majority of students undergoing these experiences, the freshmen and sophomores, often do not acknowledge they were hazed. Juniors and seniors were significantly more likely to report hazing incidents, many of which occurred when they were 18 or younger. Many athletes wrote comments on their response forms. All the kids get accepted when it's over 90 percent of the time, it's a one-time deal and it's over. Leave it alone.