Kansas law makes it a class B misdemeanor to commit any act that could foreseeably result in bodily harm, disfigurement or death as part of an initiation of membership into an organization. Yet, this does not stop sports teams in Kansas from forcing potential players to go through traumatic hazing rituals. It is a school’s responsibility to take actionable measures to prevent sports team hazing, such as:
Proactive anti-hazing protocols. Preventing hazing is always better than punishing students after the fact. A college should have proactive rules and systems in place to prevent hazing, such as strict and clear penalties for rule breakers.
Proper student and youth sports supervision. During recruiting season for school sports, sports teams should be carefully supervised for suspicious hazing activities. Everyone on a team should be aware that they are being watched and that there are punishments for hazing.
Reporting methods and prompt investigations. A school should have clear reporting protocols that victims can follow without fear of retaliation by those responsible for hazing, such as anonymous reporting measures. If a school receives a report of hazing, it should investigate and take remedial action immediately.
Unfortunately, many schools in Kansas turn a blind eye to hazing rituals by fraternities and sports teams. They may conceal known information about hazing on campus from parents, for instance, or bury reports of hazing to protect their own reputations. In some cases, administrators at the school may see hazing as character building or just star athletes “having fun.” Negligence by a school in preventing hazing could give you grounds to file a civil lawsuit against the institution.