A pair of sophomores from the state of Idaho are caught up
in hazing controversy at Humboldt State University in Arcata, Calif., where the
men’s soccer season has been cancelled and the women’s team is under
investigation.
The university announced the cancellation of the 2012-13 men’s
soccer season Monday and that it has begun disciplinary proceedings against
players for hazing and underage drinking that allegedly occurred at a party
held off-campus August 4. The incidents are in violation of the northern
California school’s student and student-athlete codes of conduct.
The school also announced it is investigating a similar incident
involving the women’s soccer team.
“Given my understanding of what occurred, I am first of all
relieved that all of the students involved are safe,” said HSU President Rollin
Richmond in the school’s announcement. “I hope that the team and individual
disciplinary actions send a clear message that this was unacceptable. Hazing is
not tolerated at Humboldt State, not in Athletics and not in any other area.
Going forward, we will be implementing a series of additional steps to ensure
that students learn about the risks involved with hazing. I will insist that
every unit on campus participate in this effort as appropriate, and that they
do so cooperatively and seriously.”
"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,"
Richmond said in a letter to the campus, according to an AP report.
Due to privacy laws, individual disciplinary actions will
not be made public. The student-athletes will face the same punishments that
non-athletes would have faced for similar infractions. Those punishments range
from written warnings to expulsion from the state's university system. While
the individual proceedings continue, members of the team will retain their
athletic scholarships despite the team being on probation.
Though the university and its officials refuse to release
the list of individuals involved on either side of the hazing, the rosters of both
teams are available online and include a pair of players from the Inland
Northwest. Mitch Butt of Boise, ID is among
the players on the men’s team that will miss the 2012 season. On the women's team is
Allie Swanson of Eagle, ID.
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