11/6/2009

Good from Bad

We were dismayed by some of the responses to the Aug. 21 hazing incident in a Beloit High School football locker room, when a senior football player applied a muscle relaxant to the body of a freshman teammate,

injuring him.

Too many people dismissed the occurrence under the "boys will be boys" excuse. They criticized

school and police officials as making a big deal out of some high school horseplay.

Thank heavens those comments were outweighed

by folks who rightfully treated the hazing

incident as criminal action -- inexcusable and subject to prosecution under the law.

The resulting police investigation led to one player, a senior, being charged with four misdemeanors.

He pleaded guilty and is awaiting sentencing.

Sunday's Journal featured an expanded piece by Tim Unruh on the subject of hazing and bullying.

He interviewed coaches, school officials and others. One of the more surprising details in the story comes from Hank Nuwer, a journalism professor

and author of four books on hazing.

Nuwer quoted statistics from a University of Maine study by Elizabeth Allen, who said that 48 percent of all high school students are hazed. That's an astonishing number, emphasizing how few of these incidents are reported.

It also shows that bullying remains a problem despite programs aimed at reducing these occurrences

in their many forms -- from hazing, to intimidation, to outright physical violence.

Experts say there are several reasons incidents go unreported. Subsequently, there is no single solution to this persistent problem.

One good way to draw attention to the consequences

of hazing and bullying can be found in the Beloit high school incident. It received plenty of attention from school officials and law enforcement. A football player won't participate in any school activities during his senior year and faces sentencing for four misdemeanors.

The more often that story is told, then the more likely bullies will pay attention to the consequences

of their actions -- and the more likely victims will see a way to end the mistreatment.

We understand that Beloit citizens would rather see this mess put behind them. But perhaps

there is some solace in knowing that good is coming from the incident.

-- Tom Bell

Editor Publisher

822-1491

tbell@salina.com

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