Humboldt State hazing incidents affect Washington state players

The state of Washington has eleven soccer players affected by recent hazing incidents at Northern Caifornia’s Humboldt State University.

The Men’s soccer season has been completely abandoned while the women’s season remains under a cloud and an investigation.

Lumberjack players from the state of Washington who will not have a soccer season are: Jordan Zogg (Kirkland), Eric Baumgardner (North Bend), Samuel Wahl (Lynnwood), Jason Bechtel (Sammamish), Zach Hammond (Redmond), and Braxton Griffin (Issaquah).

Hanging in the balance are the seasons of Washington players Amber Wilcock (Maple Valley), Madi Null (Edmonds), Karley Pate (Seattle), Madison McJannet (Seattle) and Terri Tigert (Bellingham).

The suspension of the men’s soccer season stems from a party held off-campus Aug. 4, which involved more than 20 members of the soccer team. There were multiple instances of hazing designed to humiliate and degrade certain players. There was also highly dangerous level of alcohol use and underage drinking, though no students received medical attention.

HSU has also begun investigating a recent allegation of hazing by members of the Women’s soccer team.

The school issued this press release:

Humboldt State University has cancelled the 2012-13 Men’s soccer season and initiated disciplinary proceedings against a number of players for hazing and underage drinking at a party two weeks ago. Players were found to have violated rules in the student and student-athlete codes of conduct.

The team will not participate in any California Collegiate Athletic Association games or any University-sanctioned games for the entire academic year.

HSU has also begun investigating a recent allegation of hazing by members of the Women’s soccer team.

The suspension of the men’s soccer season stems from a party held off-campus Aug. 4, which involved more than 20 members of the soccer team. There were multiple instances of hazing designed to humiliate and degrade certain players. There was also highly dangerous level of alcohol use and underage drinking, though no students received medical attention.

University officials stressed that hazing is not tolerated at HSU, and expressed hope that the firm punishment would reinforce that message.

“Given my understanding of what occurred, I am first of all relieved that all of the students involved are safe,” said HSU President Rollin Richmond. “I hope that the team and individual disciplinary actions send a clear message that this was unacceptable. Hazing is not tolerated at Humboldt State, not in Athletics and not in any other area. Going forward, we will be implementing a series of additional steps to ensure that students learn about the risks involved with hazing. I will insist that every unit on campus participate in this effort as appropriate, and that they do so cooperatively and seriously.”

“I was truly taken aback by this incident and the number of students involved,” said Peg Blake, HSU’s Vice President for Enrollment Management and Student Affairs. “It’s just so counter to the culture of caring and social responsibility at HSU. We need to be clear that hazing needs to be reported by those who know about it, who see it happening or who are targets. We all have a role to play. For the students involved in this, our goal is to make sure they stay on track academically. That’s the most important thing, that they do well in their classes and make progress toward earning their degrees.”

President Richmond has directed campus offices to create new programs and expand existing efforts related to hazing. These include random alcohol and drug testing of student-athletes, ensuring that NCAA best practices related to hazing are closely followed, new annual reporting and procedures within Intercollegiate Athletics, a strict requirement that all hazing and other student code violations be investigated by Enrollment Management and Student Affairs, and a revision of the Life Skills class taken by student-athletes.

The incident was reported to University officials on Aug. 6, prompting a detailed investigation by HSU’s Office of Enrollment Management and Student Affairs, in close cooperation with the University’s Intercollegiate Athletics Office. There was also consultation with HSU Athletics Faculty Representative Jeff Borgeld as well as the CSU Chancellor’s Office.

Campus police were informed of the investigation, and provided assistance where requested, and the Arcata Police Department was also informed. There have been no criminal complaints related to the incident, but that remains a possibility.

Due to privacy laws, individual disciplinary actions will not be made public. The student-athletes will face the same punishments that non-athletes would have faced for similar infractions.

The team punishment of a full suspension of the season resulted from violations of the code of conduct within Intercollegiate Athletics. There are no plans to withhold scholarships or eligibility.

“We just cannot have this sort of thing happening. It’s dangerous and it’s unacceptable,” said HSU Athletics Director Dan Collen. “I’ve made that clear to the coaches and players I’ve talked to, and I’ll continue to make that point throughout the year. Our student-athletes have been tremendous representatives of Humboldt State over the years, and this incident tarnishes that record. I expect better, the whole Humboldt State community expects better, and we won’t accept excuses.”

In regards to an ongoing investigation of hazing in the Lumberjack women’s program, the school says:

ARCATA — Humboldt State University is investigating multiple members of the Women’s Intercollegiate Soccer Team for alleged hazing, as well as other possible violations of student and athletic codes of conduct.

The allegations come as a hazing incident in the men’s soccer program has led the University to cancel all of that team’s games for the entire 2012-13 academic year. HSU officials stress that they take issues of hazing very seriously, and hope that the firm punishment will send a clear message to all students that hazing is unacceptable and will not be tolerated.

The investigation of the women’s soccer team is focused on a recent off-campus party. Disciplinary action could range from written warnings to expulsion.

HSU’s Office of Enrollment Management and Student Affairs has taken the lead role in the investigation, with close cooperation from Intercollegiate Athletics.

Hazing is both illegal and violates the student and athletic codes of conduct. Student-athletes receive education on hazing, and are frequently reminded that it is not tolerated.

As with the men’s soccer team, the University will make public general information about any disciplinary action. If there are individual sanctions, they will remain confidential.

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