Needham Girls HS Hazing

[Unregistered]

The truth is the girls participated in a "tradition" of hazing. You can spin it all you want and call it "team bonding" or whatever, but under the statute IT IS considered hazing. The consequences are the girls were suspended from a game, albeit a very important state tournament, and were suspended anywhere from 2-5 days. That should be the end of it-plain and simple. As for the coach, it happened under his watch (he is ultimately responsible for the actions of his team regardless of whether he was aware of the situation or not). Pleading ignorance to what constitutes hazing is ridiculous. You'd have to be living in a hole for the last few years to not realize the emphasis on bullying and hazing. To now direct the blame on administrators in the town sounds like the involvement of lawyers who are trying to defend their clients and find any loophole to acquit them.
There was an op-ed column in the globe yesterday which addressed the issue of the girls and any potential ramifications this should have on their college acceptances. Write their college essay on this exact experience, and what they have learned from it. I think that would be a much better topic than say " My experiences abroad" (translated: Daddy and Mommy paid for my trip to Europe).

[Unregistered]

http://www.boston.com/yourtown/needh...g_is_never_ok/

[Unregistered]

Sorry to burst your bubble, but as I've said at least a dozen times, I'm not from Needham, but I do know there are 2 D1 scholarships on the team. Also, reports in the newspaper now indicate the dog collar should be singular. So in 6 sentences you managed to insert 3 facts that are wrong. You don't work for WBZ do you?

There are two D1 players. One of the players is going D1 to a program (Patriot league) that does not give out scholarships so that leaves one player going to a D1 program that does award scholarships and as BTDT often points out you have no idea if she is receiving a scholarship. I guess we should all be relieved that there was only one dog collar involved?? Unbelievable. And no, I don't work for WBZ. Stop whining and just take the rap. The kids would be better for it.

[Unregistered]

There was an op-ed column in the globe yesterday which addressed the issue of the girls and any potential ramifications this should have on their college acceptances. Write their college essay on this exact experience, and what they have learned from it. I think that would be a much better topic than say " My experiences abroad" (translated: Daddy and Mommy paid for my trip to Europe).

That would work, except some apps and essays may already have been submitted. No changing now.

[Unregistered]

There is no "truth" dopey. That's the point. You are looking for the "truth" and someone you can blame. This was a major misunderstanding with a whole lot of people involved that got blown out of proportion thanks to misinformation from a news report. Yet you dopes want a coach fired and girls given long term suspensions and the loss of their scholarships. You are the definition of a vigilante.


Definition of VIGILANTE
: a member of a volunteer committee organized to suppress and punish crime summarily (as when the processes of law are viewed as inadequate); broadly : a self-appointed doer of justice


"Vigilante justice" is sometimes spurred on by the perception that criminal punishment is either nonexistent or insufficient for the crime.

Persons seen as "escaping from the law" or "above the law" are sometimes the targets of vigilantism.

Violence is not a necessary criterion. Vigilante behavior may differ in degree of violence. In some cases vigilantes may assault targets verbally.

Are the walls closing in around you? Is the room getting smaller and smaller? Did your dog just start talking... warning you about things? Are just a little more paranoid than you were yesterday?

Signed Dopey

[Unregistered]

"Don't do the crime if you can't face the time"

Sincerely,

Baretta

[Unregistered]

http://www.boston.com/yourtown/needh...g_is_never_ok/

Thanks for posting this. Excellent article and I'm going to print it for my girls. Really I don't personally care about anybody in Needham - I don't know them but hope they all turn out fine. This whole business is a great teaching moment for my kids and I hope many others.

[Unregistered]

http://www.boston.com/yourtown/needh...g_is_never_ok/

Great column!! Thanks for posting it. There is just no excuse for this stuff any more. The underlying message is too insidious and our society is now moving past this.

[Unregistered]

Sorry to burst your bubble, but as I've said at least a dozen times, I'm not from Needham, but I do know there are 2 D1 scholarships on the team. Also, reports in the newspaper now indicate the dog collar should be singular. So in 6 sentences you managed to insert 3 facts that are wrong. You don't work for WBZ do you?

Oh , only 1 dog collar. I guess that this is not hazing now. Damn, I had it all wrong...

....is your name Todd white?

[Unregistered]

The truth is the girls participated in a "tradition" of hazing. You can spin it all you want and call it "team bonding" or whatever, but under the statute IT IS considered hazing. The consequences are the girls were suspended from a game, albeit a very important state tournament, and were suspended anywhere from 2-5 days. That should be the end of it-plain and simple. As for the coach, it happened under his watch (he is ultimately responsible for the actions of his team regardless of whether he was aware of the situation or not). Pleading ignorance to what constitutes hazing is ridiculous. You'd have to be living in a hole for the last few years to not realize the emphasis on bullying and hazing. To now direct the blame on administrators in the town sounds like the involvement of lawyers who are trying to defend their clients and find any loophole to acquit them.
There was an op-ed column in the globe yesterday which addressed the issue of the girls and any potential ramifications this should have on their college acceptances. Write their college essay on this exact experience, and what they have learned from it. I think that would be a much better topic than say " My experiences abroad" (translated: Daddy and Mommy paid for my trip to Europe).

Can you be hazed if you are a willing participant? Just wondering because I understand that there was a similar incident at another school, but the participants wore the dog collar willingly.

[Unregistered]

There are two D1 players. One of the players is going D1 to a program (Patriot league) that does not give out scholarships so that leaves one player going to a D1 program that does award scholarships and as BTDT often points out you have no idea if she is receiving a scholarship. I guess we should all be relieved that there was only one dog collar involved?? Unbelievable. And no, I don't work for WBZ. Stop whining and just take the rap. The kids would be better for it.

Wrong again. The Patriots League does give scholarships these days.

[Unregistered]

Can you be hazed if you are a willing participant? Just wondering because I understand that there was a similar incident at another school, but the participants wore the dog collar willingly.

Imagine what the press will do if they catch hold of that one!

[Unregistered]

Can you be hazed if you are a willing participant? Just wondering because I understand that there was a similar incident at another school, but the participants wore the dog collar willingly.

How can you possibly distinguish "willing participant" from someone who was coerced or faced retribution for not being "willing". That's why there should be no gray area.

[Unregistered]

Can you be hazed if you are a willing participant? Just wondering because I understand that there was a similar incident at another school, but the participants wore the dog collar willingly.

These girls were willing too. Willingness has nothing to do with it. The act of hazing was against school rules regardless of the attitude of the participants. You could bring all that up in a court of law if someone was charged with a crime, but this is simply a matter of breaking school rules against hazing.

[Unregistered]

These girls were willing too. Willingness has nothing to do with it. The act of hazing was against school rules regardless of the attitude of the participants. You could bring all that up in a court of law if someone was charged with a crime, but this is simply a matter of breaking school rules against hazing.

But the action must involve harassment or humiliation and if you don't feel harrassed or humiliated, how can that be hazing?