The herald., 1895-05-02
Hazing in the Southern CalifOr-
mia University
THE VICTIM A THEOLOGIAN
The Hazers All Punished by the
Faculty
Il Occurred on Wednesday Night Of Last
Week, Immediately Following the
Illuminated Parade of La Fiesta


has had its first case of genuine hazing,
the victim being 6. w. Bollen, a student
in the theological class. who is entered
upon the books of the institution as hail
ing from Murrietta.
Bolen entered the university only few
weeks ago, his object being to work "
his way through college. His strong
hobby appeared to be strong antagon-
ism to the Catholic church. and to Cath
olcs as a sect. He claimed to Lave made
an especial study of his subject, and was
wont to regale his fellows, SO they assert,
with most wonderful tales of his pet aver
sion. Some of his fellow Students
about twenty of them, SO it is in
conceived the idea of taking the
starch out of Bollen." as is the way
they put it, by initial ng him into
the secret workings of what purported to
be the A. G. A., (Anti-Catholic associa-
,ion.) The invitation Bolen eagerly ac-
cepted. with the result that on Wednes
DAY night, during Fiesta week, immedi-
ately after the parade, the young
theologian was met by committee of
young cons p1ators who escorted him to
what he supposed was to have been the
temple of the secret organization of which
he aspired TO become member. Here
the victim, after being blindfolded. was
walked through several fields, across
empty lots and lifted over fences. The
preliminaries in the initiation had taken
place in the basement of the university
building, where the victim, after being
entirely disrobed. was branded with Il
was chased along Figueroa street
for several miles. Bollen was next low
cred slowly into large windmill tank.
Then his hands and feet were tied and he
was raised into an eucalyptus tree, being
laid across the branches without support.
His tormentors stood grouped about under
their victim to rescue him in case he
should fall from his position. After
Bollen had been again taken to the
lodge room" he was given two seidlitz
powders, and then came the taking of
the oatE.
Bollen having been again bandaged,
once more faced his tormentors. The
A. G. A. constitution was then read to
him and he was made to swear that he
would during the whole of his term do
everything in his power to withstand
Catholic influences in the college. 1t was
with difficulty that he spoke, because the
powders would continually boil up and
choke his utterances.
After this he YVES ven the signs, grip,
out to him as rabid Catholics; and he
was cautioned tnat of these he must be-
ware. Bolen remarked that he could lick
any three Catholics in the school.
Nitrate of silver was the ointment
used by the fellow students upon Bollen,
who neglected to remove it from his per-
son. with the result that a few DAYS later
he was complaining of a pain in the
chest. The victim had by this time be-
come aware of the alleged 'joke'' prac-
ticed upon himself and he straightway
laid complaint OF the facts before the
faculty of the university. The latter made
an investigation into the matter; every
Club was submitted to a vigorous
cross-examnatioE, all claiming en-
ulre ignorance OF the proceedings
until the name of G. L. d. Ballou, a stu
dent hailing from Montalvo, was reached.
Ballou broke down, and as result OF his
confession he himself was suspended for
one day, while Philo Jones of Ontario
Thomson of this city, c. E. Mort of Ri
alto, G. E. Carver and P. H. Newman of
Vista, San Diego county; G. T. Heinman
of Long Beach and W. I. Petit of Ven
tura were each suspended for ten days
The resG of the hazers, some fifteen other
students, were not punished at all.
The students accused insist that they
had not the least idea of harming Bollen,
and he is himself inclined to be some
what charitable i'll the premises as he
yesterday made Business Manager Jones
of the University Courier the following
statement:
So far as it concerns the seriousness of
the injury done me. the story of the haz-
ing is not altogether true. The whole
thing, L now know, was a college joke.
Barring the fact of the results OF the
brand placed OH my breast, which were
entirely unforeseen, there was nothing
done to which L would take serious OBJ
lection.
Il am confident that the bows had no
idea that the liquid would cause any
harm, and as soon as it became necessary
Tor me to consult a physician they voun-
tarlly offered to bear the expense, and
this all before the faculty had taken any
hand in the matter.
81 have to say, further, that the district
'attorney did not put me Off as | told
him distinctly that did not then desire
to have complaint issued. | am entirely
satisfied in the matter now. since the
boys did the square thing in Offering to
sassume my DOCTORS bill.
Some one Is making an unwarranted
fand unauthorized fuss about this matter.
l did not desire that it should be taken
,up, even by the faculty. The whole thing
has been made entirely too much of as it
was all only collge initiation in which |
myself would have willingly engaged as
lnltator, excepting the placing of
liquid on my breast, the powers of which
were not entirely understood, and this |
consider as having been done simply and
purely without any suspicion that it
would have any unpleasant result. | an
ticipate no permanent effect, and in fact
am about all right now
The physician in attendance upon
Bollen does not consider his injuries Sc
rious. The victim of the hazing at first
sought to institute criminal proceedings
against his tormenters but he has given
up this idea, and may proceed against
them for civil damages. The students
responsible for the presumed fun in
the matter have been glad enough to pay
for Bollen's medical attendance.