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New Trier News

The student news site of New Trier High School

New Trier News

The student news site of New Trier High School

New Trier News

Hazing allegations hit Maine West

New Trier administrators efforts to warn students about the consequences of new team or club member initiation, also known as hazing, was given an added punch recently with news reports from Maine West High School.

Six members of the boys soccer team have been charged with misdeamenor and battery after allegations arose that they hazed a teammate during summer camp.

According to Des Plaines police and ABC 7, five coaches, including two teachers, have been temporarily reassigned.

On Sept 20 a letter was sent to New Trier students and parents by Ms. Anne James-Noonan, the performing arts coordinator, reminding students, as per New Trier policy, that no school club or sports team can meet officially without the presence of a coach or club sponsor.

Several administrators made it clear that the letter was not in response to the incident at Maine West or anything that has happened at New Trier, but rather as a reminder about New Trier’s zero-tolerance policy for hazing.

This strong rhetoric has been met with unhappiness from some students who believe that out-of-school activities without adults present are essential to team and club solidarity and bonding.

Common activities range from “kidnapping” new members at early hours and taking them to events such as a surprise breakfast, scavenger hunts, and TPing of houses.

According to principal Timothy Dohrer, all these activities are unquestionably against school policy. “Any kind of activity that places one student in power over another student is hazing,” Dohrer said. “Every few years we need to remind students of that in a stronger way.”

One of the most popular activities when new club or sports members are initiated is to have them wear shirts made by senior or varsity members that often say something like “we love our seniors” or “seniors rule.” That too, according to Dohrer is a violation of New Trier’s hazing policy.

In response to those who wonder why shirts like those are a violation, Dohrer responds with a question: who benefits from that? “Certainly not freshman or sophomores,” Dohrer added. “It’s a power play for varsity or seniors to show who has the power.”

Team initiations are an integral part of sports teams, but they also have a significant presence in clubs and performing arts. Many students on Lagniappe-Potpourri, the iconic fall variety show put on by New Trier’s performing arts department, have grown deeply attached to bonding activities like morning kidnappings.

While not harmful, as most individuals consider hazing to be, this too is against the rules.

Senior Leah Neustadt, Lagniappe’s co-producer this year, points to the timing of the announcement, just two days before the cast and crew were scheduled to have their bonding night, as causing the most frustration amongst Lagniappe members.

“Some people feel like because of the timing of the announcement, we were not able to have our bonding while other clubs and sports were still able to,” Neustadt said. Administrators emphasize that harmless activities such as driving at 4 or 5 A.M. are not only against school-policy, but can also be illegal.

It is against Illinois state law for any individual younger than eighteen to be driving after 11 at night or before 6 in the morning, unless it is with the intention of going straight to one’s home.

Since some initiation activities occur at late hours, students are by default breaking the law.

As far as ways for students to participate in bonding activities in the presence of a coach or sponsor, Dohrer insists that there are still plenty of fun options.

“There are a lot of very positive team bonding activities that can happen with a coach or sponsor in the room,” Dohrer said. “One popular idea is a carbo-fest before a big game or event, where everyone is included.”

It is possible for students who happen to participate in the same activity to hang out with each other outside of school without the presence of an adult, as long as it is not a school function.

Administrators want to make it clear that these rules are put in place to protect the emotional and physical safety of all New Trier students. “Initiations do not make students feel comfortable, or included,” Dohrer said. “Our obligation is to make sure that that does not happen.”

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