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Bowdoin Forfeits NESCAC Championship due to Hazing
- Thread starter AldenPartridge1819
- Start date
PrezdeJohnson09
Proud supporter of Osmirwich hockey
Re: Bowdoin Forfeits NESCAC Championship due to Hazing
Wow. Kudos to Bowdoin for making a very strong statement against hazing.
Wow. Kudos to Bowdoin for making a very strong statement against hazing.
Last edited:
norm1909
Larry Normandin
Re: Bowdoin Forfeits NESCAC Championship due to Hazing
Today, Bowdoin and by virtue of association, the NESCAC has earned significant respect. I still find the remarks by Middlebury's "president" that I previously quoted to be obnoxious, but this action by Bowdoin shows class and determination to stand up for their beliefs. KUDOS to them!!!
Today, Bowdoin and by virtue of association, the NESCAC has earned significant respect. I still find the remarks by Middlebury's "president" that I previously quoted to be obnoxious, but this action by Bowdoin shows class and determination to stand up for their beliefs. KUDOS to them!!!
Re: Bowdoin Forfeits NESCAC Championship due to Hazing
Bowdoin is definitely a "class act". Too bad all institutions from Middle Schools to the Pros don't apply this same level of accountability to their athletes and teams. We would all be far better if this was the rule rather than the exception.
Bowdoin is definitely a "class act". Too bad all institutions from Middle Schools to the Pros don't apply this same level of accountability to their athletes and teams. We would all be far better if this was the rule rather than the exception.
The Real Georgia Peach
Registered User
Re: Bowdoin Forfeits NESCAC Championship due to Hazing
The Bowdoin Community seems to be nearly unanimous in their support of the decision. Kudos to them..
The Bowdoin Community seems to be nearly unanimous in their support of the decision. Kudos to them..
GoBullDogsGo
New member
Re: Bowdoin Forfeits NESCAC Championship due to Hazing
Hats off to the Bowdoin College and student body for taking this stand against "Hazing". It's hard to understand why in this day and age why these incidents continue to pop up sporadically. We had one here in Windsor with the Spitfires a couple of years ago and the same strong message was sent at that time. I hope that other teams and schools can learn from Bowdoin's example and that this will be one of the last times any student athlete is subject to this humliation process.
Hats off to the Bowdoin College and student body for taking this stand against "Hazing". It's hard to understand why in this day and age why these incidents continue to pop up sporadically. We had one here in Windsor with the Spitfires a couple of years ago and the same strong message was sent at that time. I hope that other teams and schools can learn from Bowdoin's example and that this will be one of the last times any student athlete is subject to this humliation process.
PrezdeJohnson09
Proud supporter of Osmirwich hockey
Re: Bowdoin Forfeits NESCAC Championship due to Hazing
It appears there is strong support for the sanctions rendered against the Bowdoin hockey team. I certainly agree there was definitely some form of hazing and there needed to be consequences. The administration could not turn a blind eye. But, I contend that the punishment was far too harsh for the crime.
There are degrees of hazing and deciding the severity of hazing is very subjective. Hazing to some may conjure up images of extreme physical, emotional and mental abuse. On the other hand, standing up and having to sing or perform in front of peers is a benign form of hazing. I think it would be naïve to believe that there exists no form of hazing according to definition and I believe most teams, associations or organizations have such rituals that can be construed as hazing. Where was the Bowdoin hockey team on this continuum? According to some sources the hockey initiation activity has been passed down from year to year and apparently, in recent years the activity had been modified to a vastly more “acceptable level”. There was clearly no physical abuse and arguably minimal emotional damage. This team was following a set of group norms that had been established long before they were part of the college. Were these players the “chosen” group to break tradition? The administration must have had an inkling of initiation activities on campus. Was there a way an enlightened administration could have proactively led this or other groups out of this socially binding contract?
Was this an opportunity for the school to send a message to all teams and organizations on campus? If so then this team was the “sacrificial lamb”. The administration chose to forfeit this team’s accomplishments on the ice to make a statement. It seems a very high price to pay for the individual hockey players and the team as a whole. Again, my point isn’t that there should not have been consequences but to strip the hockey team of its first NESAC championship is extreme. I believe there were more appropriate and creative means of seeking justice such as social probation, suspensions and community service to name a few. Also, being the cynic I am, was this a convenient way for Bowdoin to espouse its superior moral code and elevate its reputation within the academic circles.
I don’t see this punishment as doing more than building resentment and mistrust amongst the student body and leaving the team, particularly the hockey graduates wondering how quickly they were devalued as members of the Bowdoin community.
Does the punishment fit the crime?
It appears there is strong support for the sanctions rendered against the Bowdoin hockey team. I certainly agree there was definitely some form of hazing and there needed to be consequences. The administration could not turn a blind eye. But, I contend that the punishment was far too harsh for the crime.
There are degrees of hazing and deciding the severity of hazing is very subjective. Hazing to some may conjure up images of extreme physical, emotional and mental abuse. On the other hand, standing up and having to sing or perform in front of peers is a benign form of hazing. I think it would be naïve to believe that there exists no form of hazing according to definition and I believe most teams, associations or organizations have such rituals that can be construed as hazing. Where was the Bowdoin hockey team on this continuum? According to some sources the hockey initiation activity has been passed down from year to year and apparently, in recent years the activity had been modified to a vastly more “acceptable level”. There was clearly no physical abuse and arguably minimal emotional damage. This team was following a set of group norms that had been established long before they were part of the college. Were these players the “chosen” group to break tradition? The administration must have had an inkling of initiation activities on campus. Was there a way an enlightened administration could have proactively led this or other groups out of this socially binding contract?
Was this an opportunity for the school to send a message to all teams and organizations on campus? If so then this team was the “sacrificial lamb”. The administration chose to forfeit this team’s accomplishments on the ice to make a statement. It seems a very high price to pay for the individual hockey players and the team as a whole. Again, my point isn’t that there should not have been consequences but to strip the hockey team of its first NESAC championship is extreme. I believe there were more appropriate and creative means of seeking justice such as social probation, suspensions and community service to name a few. Also, being the cynic I am, was this a convenient way for Bowdoin to espouse its superior moral code and elevate its reputation within the academic circles.
I don’t see this punishment as doing more than building resentment and mistrust amongst the student body and leaving the team, particularly the hockey graduates wondering how quickly they were devalued as members of the Bowdoin community.
Does the punishment fit the crime?
d3follower
Registered User
Re: Bowdoin Forfeits NESCAC Championship due to Hazing
My sentiments, Fan3. I've been a little bit surprised at all the cheer leading on this website and the Bowdoin website for the imposition of this punishment in this particular case. After all, it seems highly unlikely that this was the first year that freshmen hockey players were initiated in some way at Bowdoin. And even more unlikely is the idea that the Bowdoin hockey team is the only team at Bowdoin with initiation rituals. The only thing that is unique is that this is the first time it happened after winning the NESCAC championship for the first time ever. And then you have the Bowdoin President saying that no one was harmed and that the people who were involved were "good" people, so I question whether this punishment fit the crime and whether the hockey team was being used by the administration to send some kind of a message to the team and the larger community. I might think otherwise if I learned that these rituals were truly abusive but I have heard nothing to that effect other than that drinking was involved . .
My sentiments, Fan3. I've been a little bit surprised at all the cheer leading on this website and the Bowdoin website for the imposition of this punishment in this particular case. After all, it seems highly unlikely that this was the first year that freshmen hockey players were initiated in some way at Bowdoin. And even more unlikely is the idea that the Bowdoin hockey team is the only team at Bowdoin with initiation rituals. The only thing that is unique is that this is the first time it happened after winning the NESCAC championship for the first time ever. And then you have the Bowdoin President saying that no one was harmed and that the people who were involved were "good" people, so I question whether this punishment fit the crime and whether the hockey team was being used by the administration to send some kind of a message to the team and the larger community. I might think otherwise if I learned that these rituals were truly abusive but I have heard nothing to that effect other than that drinking was involved . .
Re: Bowdoin Forfeits NESCAC Championship due to Hazing
A bright solid line which says nothing of this nature will be tolerated is not a bad thing. It may hurt for the players involved, but I bet that such events don't EVER take place on campus again - and in my opinion, having seen the way a fuzzy line is approached, that's a good thing. Sucks to be them, but the long run value is a lesson for all. I've seen the fall out from hazing episodes, and it ain't pretty.
A bright solid line which says nothing of this nature will be tolerated is not a bad thing. It may hurt for the players involved, but I bet that such events don't EVER take place on campus again - and in my opinion, having seen the way a fuzzy line is approached, that's a good thing. Sucks to be them, but the long run value is a lesson for all. I've seen the fall out from hazing episodes, and it ain't pretty.
SB in the 'Seo
How 'bout a Fresca?
Re: Bowdoin Forfeits NESCAC Championship due to Hazing
First off, I definitely agree with and applaud the decision made by the Bowdoin administration.
Some questions that I recently thought in regards to this issue:
Maybe there are some precedents with this that I am not aware of, but wouldn't the NESCAC/NCAA need to accept this decision by the school administration (for records purposes.) If so, have they yet or what is the status of that?
For example, will NESCAC record books just have no champion awarded in 2011? Will NCAA record books say that Bowdoin participated in the NCAA tournament receiving an automatic birth as the NESCAC champion (but they didn't win the NESCAC, you can see how that becomes chicken or egg pretty quick)? Will they say they did not participate at all? So say the powers that be in the NESCAC are very proud of the fact they have awarded a champion in men's ice hockey X straight years but this decision kind of wrecks their streak. Can they say "no we don't accept this you're still the champion?" Or hell, maybe the president didn't even ask NESCAC to repeal it he just wrote a statement and that was that.
So I guess my point is yeh the school won't be hanging the banner in the rink, but if the NCAA/NESCAC doesn't accept this it wouldn't matter to those of us in hockey fan world as they would still be the champion on record.
First off, I definitely agree with and applaud the decision made by the Bowdoin administration.
Some questions that I recently thought in regards to this issue:
Maybe there are some precedents with this that I am not aware of, but wouldn't the NESCAC/NCAA need to accept this decision by the school administration (for records purposes.) If so, have they yet or what is the status of that?
For example, will NESCAC record books just have no champion awarded in 2011? Will NCAA record books say that Bowdoin participated in the NCAA tournament receiving an automatic birth as the NESCAC champion (but they didn't win the NESCAC, you can see how that becomes chicken or egg pretty quick)? Will they say they did not participate at all? So say the powers that be in the NESCAC are very proud of the fact they have awarded a champion in men's ice hockey X straight years but this decision kind of wrecks their streak. Can they say "no we don't accept this you're still the champion?" Or hell, maybe the president didn't even ask NESCAC to repeal it he just wrote a statement and that was that.
So I guess my point is yeh the school won't be hanging the banner in the rink, but if the NCAA/NESCAC doesn't accept this it wouldn't matter to those of us in hockey fan world as they would still be the champion on record.
norm1909
Larry Normandin
Re: Bowdoin Forfeits NESCAC Championship due to Hazing
It will show "VACATED". - Maybe this will help in the future.
It will show "VACATED". - Maybe this will help in the future.
Laker Ranger
Lakers Maritime Academy Grad
Re: Bowdoin Forfeits NESCAC Championship due to Hazing
Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain would deliver an outstanding salute to his alma mater for taking such measures in this matter. Well done, Bowdoin College - this is one DIII fan whose respect has grown by leaps and bounds for the Polar Bears' institution.
Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain would deliver an outstanding salute to his alma mater for taking such measures in this matter. Well done, Bowdoin College - this is one DIII fan whose respect has grown by leaps and bounds for the Polar Bears' institution.
Re: Bowdoin Forfeits NESCAC Championship due to Hazing
If this was a post NESCAC Championship hazing incident, then I do not feel the the punishment is just. They won it, have some stones and come up with an appropriate penalty of suspending players, coaches etc. If it occurred prior to the NESCAC Championship, then take it away and levy suspensions
If this was a post NESCAC Championship hazing incident, then I do not feel the the punishment is just. They won it, have some stones and come up with an appropriate penalty of suspending players, coaches etc. If it occurred prior to the NESCAC Championship, then take it away and levy suspensions
norm1909
Larry Normandin
Re: Bowdoin Forfeits NESCAC Championship due to Hazing
The rules existed and the participants played prior to and in the NESCAC Championship - hence the outcome. Better than penalizing players that had nothing to do with it. You sleep (or stay awake) in the bed you make (or should have made).
The rules existed and the participants played prior to and in the NESCAC Championship - hence the outcome. Better than penalizing players that had nothing to do with it. You sleep (or stay awake) in the bed you make (or should have made).