Author: Henry Meier
The Occidental Mens’ Soccer Team was supposed to start its season playing La Sierra last Wednesday, but was forced to forfeit its season opener due to allegations of hazing. After having evidence presented to her early last week, and upon determining that the Athletic Department’s hazing statute had been violated, Athletic Director Jaime Hoffman immediately met with the captains of the team.
Following this conversation, the team met first as a group and then with Hoffman to discuss the allegations. At that meeting, players and representatives of the Athletic Department collectively discussed proper consequences and the Tigers were forced to forfeit their first pre-season game.
In an interview with Hoffman, the Athletic Director expressed her disappointment with the situation but praised the team’s maturity in handling the aftermath of the events. “The Men’s soccer team has been nothing but cooperative and forthcoming with all the information we have requested from them,” Hoffman said. “They have recognized what they did and have been both profoundly respectful and apologetic for their actions.”
Occidental Soccer Coordinator Colm McFeely expressed similar sentiments about the team’s actions in the wake of the hazing incident. “The boys have accepted their punishment and are trying to see this as an opportunity to learn from their mistakes,” McFeely said.
While the Athletic Department has put the events behind them and finished with its review of the situation, the players are still undergoing a review from the Student Affairs office, and could face further punishment. Because this process is ongoing, members of the team have kept quiet about the issue, choosing to let the review run its course before speaking out publicly.
Hazing at Occidental, especially in regards to sports teams, is an issue that has been given added attention this year. “For the first time during the mandatory team eligibility meetings this year, we put in a section about hazing,” Hoffman said. “It’s unfortunate that right after we did this a situation like the one with the men’s soccer team had to arise.” The Athletic Department defines hazing as:
Any act committed against someone joining or becoming a member or maintaining membership in any organization that is humiliating, intimidating or demeaning, or endangers the health and safety of the person.
Hazing includes active or passive participation in such acts and occurs regardless of the willingness to participate in the activities! Hazing creates an environment/climate in which dignity and respect are absent.
This definition was created to encompass a wide variety of actions, even actions where the individuals were willing participants.
While both Hoffman and Coach McFeely didn’t want to see a situation like this happen, they also see this as a way to raise awareness about the issue of hazing on a broader scale.
“There are positives that come from this situation,” McFeely said. “Full attention to this topic may not have been given in the past, and if this situation can be used as an attention-getter, then this can be a good learning experience.”
In the hopes of further raising awareness, Hoffman posted a message on the Athletics Web site addressing her concerns. “We were fortunate that no one was injured in a situation that easily could have spun out of control,” the message said.
Long-time Oxy faculty, staff and coaches remember a tragic 2002 hazing incident involving a long-distance scavenger hunt in Las Vegas that resulted in the death of ATO pledge Greg Davis ’05 and the hospitalization of four other students,” Hoffman said. “In the long run, we hope that this incident will help educate all Occidental students about the dangers and consequences associated with hazing.”
McFeely also notes that a little adversity can often bring a team together. “Hopefully they can use this to grow as a team and become a tighter group of individuals,” he said. “Once this is over, they will be able to move forward with their season and focus on soccer.”
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