Hazing ritual leads to program suspension
- by Paul Kennedy @pkedit, Aug 24, 2012
[HUMBOLDT STATE] Division II Humboldt State suspended its men's program for the 2012 as a result of a hazing ritual at an off-campus party where new players
were ordered to perform humiliating acts and engage in heavy drinking.
"Following careful investigation including interviews with team members, the university has concluded that an
incident of hazing did occur, and that it placed the lives of two students in real jeopardy," Humboldt State president Rollin Richmond said in a letter to the
campus.
The announcement followed an investigation into the Aug. 4 incident of hazing and underage drinking at the party attended by more than 20 players from the Northern California
school.
The Lumberjack men were 5-13-0 in 2011. Players won't lose any eligibility because of the lost season, meaning seniors can return in 2013 if they wish.
Humboldt State
was also investigating women's players for alleged hazing, as well as other possible violations of student and athletic codes of conduct.
C.J.
Johnson coaches both the men's and women's teams. The women are scheduled to begin their 2012 season Thursday at Dominican.
5-13-0, says it all doesn't it. The team should have spent more time training and less time boozing.
Every High School and College program gets the pre-season speech of no hazing. There's no excuse for this other than upper class players on an ill fated power trip.
Shame the whole team gets punished (including the freshmen victims). If I were the coach, I'd wash out the guilty parties so this would never happen again.
Bravo for Humboldt State, a very classy little school. Too bad it rains so much.
azusa Pacific should do the same with hazing that happend...