Officials: Hazing Not an Issue in Local High Schools' Sports Programs

This year, new student athletes need not worry about being forced to streak or play servant to veteran team members.

Local high school officials said hazing is not a problem.

“It’s not an issue here in our building or frankly our district,” said Principal Stephan Bild. “It’s wonderful we don’t have that. We have a great student body. There’s a great sense of camaraderie.”

If the school did come across an incident, Bild said the school’s coaches are “well-trained to know how to handle all kinds of situations.”

“Teams begin practicing this week and the coaches will be sure to go over with the students what they allow and don’t allow,” he said. “Certainly that’s a mention, but it’s never come up.”

According to the athletic handbook, hazing is defined as “any physical, mental, emotional, or psychological act which subjects student who is joining or affiliating with a student organization to any situation or expectation that may potentially abuse, mistreat, degrade, humiliate, harass, harm, intimidate a student, denigrate either an individual or another group or compromises a student’s inherent dignity as a person.”

Athletes who participate will face such disciplinary action as suspension or expulsion and police involvement as warranted.

Hinsdale South Athletic Director Tim Feigh said he doesn’t think it’s a problem at the school. During pre-season meetings, coaches discuss the athletic policy with the students.

“They go over the guidelines and expectations,” Feigh said. “They’re also covered on a daily basis (at practice).”

He said the 2003 Glenbrook North High School hazing incident put the issue on the radar in Illinois. During that incident, several junior female students were invited to participate in a powder puff football game but were later beaten and showered with mud, feces and garbage by seniors. Several girls were taken to the hospital. The incident was caught on videotape.

“Since then there’s been a lot of education here in Illinois,” Feigh said.