Shaved heads for sports teams: Do they promote unity or are they hazing

Shaved heads for sports teams: Do they promote unity or are they hazing?; Debate continues in Goodrich, Michigan
by RoNeisha Mullen | The Flint Journal

Tuesday July 01, 2008, 6:30 AM

GOODRICH, Michigan -- What started as a simple complaint about an unauthorized haircut at football camp has turned into a raging debate that's put one mom against dozens of area residents and coaches.

But one national expert says the mom is right: Football-camp haircuts are a kind of hazing.

The woman, whose son attends Goodrich High School, was upset and complained to the Board of Education when her son came home from football camp with his head shaved -- a haircut she didn't authorize.

Coaches and other teammates said all the players agreed to the cuts.

So, where do you draw the line? How do you differentiate bonding from hazing?

The expert says even with the boys' consent, the act is out of line.

"With the issue of hazing, consent doesn't matter because in most states, hazing is against the law," said Norm Pollard, dean of students at Alfred University in Alfred, N.Y. "Someone can say they wanted to do it, but that really doesn't matter."
Flint Journal extras

Thin line between haircuts and hazing
The law:

• In 2004, the Legislature passed a law that prohibits hazing at educational institutions.

• The law defines hazing as an intentional reckless act against an individual by a person or group of people who knew or should have known that the act would endanger the health or safety of the individual.

• The act must be committed for the purpose of participation in, affiliation with or maintaining membership in any organization.

Previous articles on this topic:

• June 29, 2008: Goodrich mom has good reason to worry about possible hazing incident, expert says

• June 25, 2008: Goodrich High School investigating alleged 'hazing' incident at football camp

One area coach said many high school sports teams have some type of tradition -- but for solidarity, not as hazing.

"It's something the team does. It's kids being kids," said Joe Delaney, varsity football coach at Grand Blanc High School.

"My kids come back on a regular day with haircuts that look strange, and I know they did it to each other," he said. "It's not hazing. It's something they enjoy, and they ask each other to do it."

A number of Flint Journal readers who posted comments on the Journal's Web site mlive.com/flintjournal think the act was all in good fun.

"Hazing is an unwanted act. This is just an example of team unity and good clean fun," wrote a person with the username "classball."

"It's parents like her that make good, respectable men and women hang up their whistles and quit coaching."

A reader identified by the username "ddhier" wrote that the woman should be happy her son came back with only a bad haircut.

"She is going to ruin it for more boys who go to camp. It's hair, for crying out loud. It will grow back," the reader wrote. "Some parents are way out of line when it comes to their children and sports."

"And be glad it was just shaving heads ... It could (have) been much worse."

Hazing is against the law in Michigan.

In 2004, the Legislature passed legislation that prohibits hazing activities at educational institutions and provides penalties of up to 15 years' imprisonment and a $10,000 fine for hazing that results in death.

But reports show hazing at high schools is a problem.

According to a report by The Associated Press in March, police launched an investigation against six high school baseball players in Johnstown, Colo., after they allegedly held down younger classmates and rubbed their genitals in their faces.

In 2000, Alfred University conducted a study in which about 48 percent of high school students surveyed nationwide reported being hazed.

Pollard said hazing may start with minor acts such as haircuts but evolves into something more serious.

"Shaving of the head may seem simple, but it escalates from there. Sometimes it results in death," Pollard said.

A comment posted on the Journal's Web site by someone with the username "kktactce" said the mother -- who did not want to be identified to protect her son's anonymity -- has every right to be upset.

"This parent is doing what she should be doing ... speaking up against something that she felt strongly against," the comment said. "It is not only her right as an American citizen to speak her opinion, it is her responsibility as a parent to speak up for her child."

John Johnson, communications director for the Michigan High School Athletic Association, said hazing is an issue in many high schools, but it's handled locally and is not something the association deals with. Johnson said the association has a policy against hazing.