hazing

[concernedinlv]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Nevada.
My son has been accused of hazing another member of the football field. The victim walked into the locker room hold duct tape and asked who wants to be taped up. Well a few of the other players took the tape from him and taped him in the chair. Everyone including the victim was laughing throughout the whole scenario. Team mates proceeded to loosely tape his wrists and ankles to a rolling chair then pushed him into the quad area and walked away from him, two other team members helped him remove the tape. The whole time the victim was laughing, not once was force used, there were no physical signs of force on the victim and not once did the victim tell them to stop. He considers it a joke which I have in writing from him. Two of the teammates who were suspended did nothing but assist him in removing the tape, why are they being punished. How can the kids be accused of hazing when even the victim says it was a joke and in fun. The coach even took a players phone and deleted pics of the event. Why? Because its hard to say its hazing when there are photos floating around showing the victim with a huge grin on their face. No harm, either physical, emotional nor mentally occurred to the victim he has tried to tell the school this. The event does not even fall within the definations of hazing as posted on that school website as well as the districts website. I feel my childs character has been attacked. The schools punishment is suspension for some, complete expulsion for some and threats of not letting seniors graduate. The event in no way was intended to be harmful, was not any type of initiation and the victim at no time was embarrassed, degraded nor harmed. This will go into my childs file, which will affect any other schools or colleges he may apply to. None of the kids involved are trouble starters, they dont have behavioral records - they were just having fun. Can I fight to get the charge of hazing removed from my sons school records.What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)?

 

[Proserpina]

How exactly was your son involved?

You've made no reference to your son's involvement. Why is that?

 

[concernedinlv]

He saw them put the kid in a chair without using excessive force, my son that put his hand over the victims wrist lightly, not even with pressure. When they pulled out the tape my son removed his hands and himself from the actual physical contact/taping of the victim. The victim could stand up even with his wrists and ankles taped thats how loose it was - he was even able to break the tape holding one ankle, so he was not taped to the point he could not free himself, he did not attempt to free himself.

 

[Proserpina]

He saw them put the kid in a chair without using excessive force, my son that put his hand over the victims wrist lightly, not even with pressure. When they pulled out the tape my son removed his hands and himself from the actual physical contact/taping of the victim. The victim could stand up even with his wrists and ankles taped thats how loose it was - he was even able to break the tape holding one ankle, so he was not taped to the point he could not free himself, he did not attempt to free himself.

So your son was heavily involved initially, and didn't do anything to help afterwards.

Since you weren't there, you of course only have your son's version of events - and there's a good chance you're not getting the exact truth here.

I'm going to refer this thread to someone who is familiar with education law. Please stand by.

 

[CdwJava]

You can appeal the discipline through the appropriate channels at the school and through the district. If need be, you can pay for an attorney to assist you.

The problem is that if hazing is against the rules, and this activity is concerned hazing, it really does not matter that the "victim" of the hazing was okay with it. I bet that you can find a good number of college fraternity lads who were made to leapfrog naked through a quad at some university who would also claim they were okay with it ... peer pressure has a way of turning one's opinion.

Ask yourself, would it have done any good for the kid in the chair to have said no? Had he fought the others off, would he still have been accepted as an equal on the team? I'll wager, not. This is one of the reasons why hazing is unacceptable.

But, you and your son have a right to appeal any discipline so you might want to learn about the district's policy and take the necessary steps immediately.

 

[concernedinlv]

I have not only heard my sons story I have heard some of the others - it is all over a social network for the kids - the victim even has said it was all a joke and the school and parents wont listen, he says none of this should be happening. What happened is no different than the things you see posted on you tube and funny videos where a group of kids choose to do something they consider "fun" they chose to do it on school property, had they done it at one of their homes it wouldnt be classified as a hazing it would have been known as a stupid stunt.

 

[Proserpina]

I have not only heard my sons story I have heard some of the others - it is all over a social network for the kids - the victim even has said it was all a joke and the school and parents wont listen, he says none of this should be happening. What happened is no different than the things you see posted on you tube and funny videos where a group of kids choose to do something they consider "fun" they chose to do it on school property, had they done it at one of their homes it wouldnt be classified as a hazing it would have been known as a stupid stunt.

And even in the home, "stupid stunts" can be legally actionable.

 

[stealth2]

The problem is that if hazing is against the rules, and this activity is concerned hazing, it really does not matter that the "victim" of the hazing was okay with it. I bet that you can find a good number of college fraternity lads who were made to leapfrog naked through a quad at some university who would also claim they were okay with it ... peer pressure has a way of turning one's opinion.

Ask yourself, would it have done any good for the kid in the chair to have said no? Had he fought the others off, would he still have been accepted as an equal on the team? I'll wager, not. This is one of the reasons why hazing is unacceptable.

Did you actually read this?

 

[Humusluvr]

You can appeal the discipline through the appropriate channels at the school and through the district. If need be, you can pay for an attorney to assist you.

The problem is that if hazing is against the rules, and this activity is concerned hazing, it really does not matter that the "victim" of the hazing was okay with it. I bet that you can find a good number of college fraternity lads who were made to leapfrog naked through a quad at some university who would also claim they were okay with it ... peer pressure has a way of turning one's opinion.

Ask yourself, would it have done any good for the kid in the chair to have said no? Had he fought the others off, would he still have been accepted as an equal on the team? I'll wager, not. This is one of the reasons why hazing is unacceptable.

But, you and your son have a right to appeal any discipline so you might want to learn about the district's policy and take the necessary steps immediately.

This is the classic definition of hazing, and the school was right in suspending students. If the school didn't, then the next time a group decides the haze a student, and the student dies from the duct tape - the school would have said this is acceptable behavior. This is obviously NOT acceptable behavior.

You weren't there. You don't know that this kid didn't get harmed. He could be telling his football buddies one thing, then crying because he's being harassed. YOU DON"T KNOW. If he stood up to these "bullies," he could have been harmed further.

The school did the right thing. Your son did the wrong thing, in not stopping the hazing.

 

[concernedinlv]

The so called victim was already part of the team, THE victim entered the room and jokinly asked "Who wants to get taped up?" It was his own tape, he initiated it with the question at no time was he forced into anything, he was having a good time, he did not struggle, no one used force on him nor said anything degrading during the situation - my issue is that the actions during the situation due not fall into the schools nor the schools districts definations of hazing. It is a stunt they could have and should have pulled off of school property. My issue is that this hazing charge is going in all these kids files and it was not actually a hazing. My issue is that two kids that all they did was help the so called victim remove the tape are being accused of it as well. What type of message is that sending to other kids? Dont help other fellow students or you will be accused of being a part of the situation. Their actions do not deem the punishment being given by the school. The school forfeited the rest of the football season, there was no reason to do that, they had enough players to finish the season without the ones involved. I signed a paper at the beginning of the year stating my child would be supervised at all times during practice and games at school or away...apparantly someone failed to supervise them or that person would have been able to tell these kids that they cant horseplay like that at school..I agree they should be punished for their foolish stunt at school I feel the punishment is to harsh and unmerited

 

[I'mTheFather]

The so called victim was already part of the team, THE victim entered the room and jokinly asked "Who wants to get taped up?" It was his own tape, he initiated it with the question at no time was he forced into anything, he was having a good time, he did not struggle, no one used force on him nor said anything degrading during the situation - my issue is that the actions during the situation due not fall into the schools nor the schools districts definations of hazing. It is a stunt they could have and should have pulled off of school property. My issue is that this hazing charge is going in all these kids files and it was not actually a hazing. My issue is that two kids that all they did was help the so called victim remove the tape are being accused of it as well. What type of message is that sending to other kids? Dont help other fellow students or you will be accused of being a part of the situation. Their actions do not deem the punishment being given by the school. The school forfeited the rest of the football season, there was no reason to do that, they had enough players to finish the season without the ones involved. I signed a paper at the beginning of the year stating my child would be supervised at all times during practice and games at school or away...apparantly someone failed to supervise them or that person would have been able to tell these kids that they cant horseplay like that at school..I agree they should be punished for their foolish stunt at school I feel the punishment is to harsh and unmerited

Your only recourse was explained in post #5 by CDW. Nuff said.

 

[Humusluvr]

The so called victim was already part of the team, THE victim entered the room and jokinly asked "Who wants to get taped up?" It was his own tape, he initiated it with the question at no time was he forced into anything, he was having a good time, he did not struggle, no one used force on him nor said anything degrading during the situation - my issue is that the actions during the situation due not fall into the schools nor the schools districts definations of hazing. It is a stunt they could have and should have pulled off of school property. My issue is that this hazing charge is going in all these kids files and it was not actually a hazing. My issue is that two kids that all they did was help the so called victim remove the tape are being accused of it as well. What type of message is that sending to other kids? Dont help other fellow students or you will be accused of being a part of the situation. Their actions do not deem the punishment being given by the school. The school forfeited the rest of the football season, there was no reason to do that, they had enough players to finish the season without the ones involved. I signed a paper at the beginning of the year stating my child would be supervised at all times during practice and games at school or away...apparantly someone failed to supervise them or that person would have been able to tell these kids that they cant horseplay like that at school..I agree they should be punished for their foolish stunt at school I feel the punishment is to harsh and unmerited

So, you're suggesting they should have duct taped this kid to the chair, but just not have done it at school? Great mom.

You're not a school admin. Obviously, they feel your son should be punished for what he did at school. I agree.

 

[concernedinlv]

That is the whole point - he wasnt harmed!!! Not in anyway shape form NOTHING! Apparantly he has a past of some kind as he has stated this happened to me before, not sure what that means - the definition of hazing is per the athletic handbook at the school is;HAZING An activity in which a person intentionally or recklessly endangers the physical health of another person for the
purpose of initiation into or affiliation with a student organization, academic association, or athletic team of a school.

There was no initiation onto the team hes been part of it all year - no one had the intentions to endare the physical health of this kid. so how is what they did hazing? NO harm done except they were seen on school camers

 

[Humusluvr]

That is the whole point - he wasnt harmed!!! Not in anyway shape form NOTHING! Apparantly he has a past of some kind as he has stated this happened to me before, not sure what that means - the definition of hazing is per the athletic handbook at the school is;HAZING An activity in which a person intentionally or recklessly endangers the physical health of another person for the
purpose of initiation into or affiliation with a student organization, academic association, or athletic team of a school.

There was no initiation onto the team hes been part of it all year - no one had the intentions to endare the physical health of this kid. so how is what they did hazing? NO harm done except they were seen on school camers

They intentionally and recklessly endangered the physical health of the victim, and were all part of the football team. Your son did EXACTLY what is the definition of hazing.

 

[Proserpina]

That is the whole point - he wasnt harmed!!! Not in anyway shape form NOTHING! Apparantly he has a past of some kind as he has stated this happened to me before, not sure what that means - the definition of hazing is per the athletic handbook at the school is;HAZING An activity in which a person intentionally or recklessly endangers the physical health of another person for the
purpose of initiation into or affiliation with a student organization, academic association, or athletic team of a school.

There was no initiation onto the team hes been part of it all year - no one had the intentions to endare the physical health of this kid. so how is what they did hazing? NO harm done except they were seen on school camers

You are completely, I feel, missing the point.