High school hazing on The Early Show

[LatinaAlumna]

I'm sorry, but what the hell is wrong with this school? There is no excuse for the school to have not been on top of this mess. When I was in high school, there was none of this. My high school was low-perfoming and gang-ridden, but my high school officials were ON TOP OF EVERYTHING. When they heard that two girls planned to fight at our powderpuff game, they CANCELLED IT. End of story. If a couple of people couldn't get along, it was spoiled for everyone. This was not popular with the students, but hey - NO ONE GOT HURT. Who cares if a school has national accolades if it can't even keep it's students safe? And since we were provided with a history of this "event' dating back to the 70s, no one at the school can say they were not aware of this possibility of hazing for this year's powderpuff.

And please don't say that this is only in the media because these kids are from an affluent area and they did something heinous that was caught on tape. Please...every night when you turn on the news you see low-income kids who have committed crimes, too...and of all the "teen crime" stories, these are shown the most. This is in the media, because like teenage gang shootings, or teen vandalism, TEENS HAZING each other IS WRONG. That is why it's in the news.

[DeltaBetaBaby]

Originally posted by AXJules
Yes, I think the students of the ENTIRE area can be accused of being snobby and being handed much of what they have. But this incident had nothing to do with money- it has to do with pure stupidity. Powderpuff has been going on for 26 years, and nothing has ever happened like this. Northbrook has always been an affluent area, and the people haven't changed. Something went wrong in the raising of the 3 girls who brainstormed ways to torment the juniors. As for the rest of the crew, they were sheep. "They did not sit there and go, Mommy and Daddy have a lawyer so I'll get away with this." Instead, they too were pressured to do what was depicted as "bad ass" by a few of the popular girls. If these girls didn't have any money, it probably still would have happened. In high school its all about what a few people say- what would have happened to them if they didn't go along with it??? Its so easy to tell them to not participate, but until you have 40 people hunting you down you might not know how it feels.

I disagree. Having graduated from one of the schools you mentioned, I know quite a few kids whose parents bail them out of trouble again and again. Kids whose parents get them into the right college no matter their grades, hire a lawyer to make those DUI's disapper with a few hours of community service, and pay off the credit card bills because they ran themselves into debt every month.

The point is that these kids NEVER learn to take responsibility for their own actions. I realize that mob attitudes are powerful in any situation, but they are magnified when the leaders think that they are invincible.

I bet these kids graduate, go to a perfectly fine college, and join GLO's just like everyone else. They will probably get a slap on the wrist, like community service or a fine that mommy and daddy can pay no problem anyway.

[adduncan]

Originally posted by Megerts
I have to disagree with you whole heartedly! I knew these girls... If their parents gave them all they wanted they wouldn't have to rob a store to get drug money. Hell, one of the girls lived in a ghetto apartment. Her mom had to work and extra job just to keep her on the dance team. I honestly don't think money has anything to do with their actions.... People from unwealthy neighborhoods commit crimes like this all the time! When you turn on the news when isn't there a story about a robbery? Are you telling me that these people are all from Kingwood, River Oaks, and West U?? I don't think so!

As for parents being involved, puhlease! That's not what it was like at Kingwood high school at all. I can't tell you how many parents went to EVERY SINGLE game or performance their children had. There were even many that went to all the practices.

I can't help but think that you make these statemens without any knowledge as to what goes on in the lives of high schoolers no matter their economic situation... because I can tell you that high schoolers in farmersville, Illinois don't behave any better that the wealthiest of Texas (or any other place for that matter)...You just never hear about "farmersville"....

You're kidding, right?

You honestly believed that I even THOUGHT, let alone said, that all the people on the news committing robberies are from the upscale neighborhoods? Read the post again. We're talking about one subset of kids committing one subset of crimes. I think you know that. You don't need to "one up" me, we can agree to disagree. At least *I* can.

And regardless of what you "can't help but think" I know these things because I AM involved with kids in high school programs. That's where my opinion comes from whether GC posters agree w/ it or not.

Adrienne (PNAM-2003)

[AXJules]

Officials really can't prevent it.
The teachers always keep their ears open every year, and tell the dean when we're going to do it.
That's the reason they don't pick the location until the morning of. We always emailed each other and called each others cell phones 10 -15 minutes before. You'd have to be God to know where we were going to do it.
A few times it took almost 20 minutes to get there, just by walking over railroad tracks, through trees...very well hidden, location very well kept secret.
Grant and Lee is in the middle of a few million dollar houses about 3 miles off a main road. There's like, no traffic that passes it.
And the school really can't suspend them, if so I"m sure THEIR parents would sue, which would be totally sick. We have an honor code that we use...the only thing the school can do is take kids off of their sports teams (for next year.)
Although, now that they're going to be charged as criminals, i'm sure a few could be held from walking across the stage at graduation.

[VirtuousErudite]

AXJules your description of what "normally" goes on doesn't really seem that far off from what happened this time. This is really disgusting and I think the seniors should be prosecuted. I mean what would even make someone think its normal or acceptable to throw piss or feces on someone. These girls seem demented honestly and they need some psychological help. One girl in particular seemed to be really insane running around screaming kill kill on the tape. She needs to be in the pscho ward in my opinion.

[AXJules]

Originally posted by DeltaBetaBaby
I disagree. Having graduated from one of the schools you mentioned, I know quite a few kids whose parents bail them out of trouble again and again. Kids whose parents get them into the right college no matter their grades, hire a lawyer to make those DUI's disapper with a few hours of community service, and pay off the credit card bills because they ran themselves into debt every month.

The point is that these kids NEVER learn to take responsibility for their own actions. I realize that mob attitudes are powerful in any situation, but they are magnified when the leaders think that they are invincible.

I totally agree that there are kids on the north shore that are constantly bailed out of trouble and have no sense of responsibility. But what I'm saying is that even with those kids, who have lived there since before I was born, this has never ever happened. These are not a few snobby kids who went over the line. They're sadistic sick people who need professional help and a few statistics for their permanent record.

[Peaches-n-Cream]

Originally posted by AXJules
Officials really can't prevent it.
The teachers always keep their ears open every year, and tell the dean when we're going to do it.
That's the reason they don't pick the location until the morning of. We always emailed each other and called each others cell phones 10 -15 minutes before. You'd have to be God to know where we were going to do it.
A few times it took almost 20 minutes to get there, just by walking over railroad tracks, through trees...very well hidden, location very well kept secret.
Grant and Lee is in the middle of a few million dollar houses about 3 miles off a main road. There's like, no traffic that passes it.
And the school really can't suspend them, if so I"m sure THEIR parents would sue, which would be totally sick. We have an honor code that we use...the only thing the school can do is take kids off of their sports teams (for next year.)
Although, now that they're going to be charged as criminals, i'm sure a few could be held from walking across the stage at graduation.

The school officials could have prevented this type of behavior. They could have said to the students that if this hazing occurs, they will be suspended, cannot attend the prom or any extracurricular activity, and their parents will be called. That would have shown these students that their actions have consequences. Now the consequences will involve a criminal investigation and possibly a record that will follow them around for the rest of their lives. Not to mention the public humiliation that the school has suffered.

[AXJules]

Originally posted by VirtuousErudite
AXJules your description of what "normally" goes on doesn't really seem that far off from what happened this time.

Are you serious????
I'm sorry but there is a TOTAL difference between having paint and honey rubbed around in your hair, and being made to eat human feces.
I am SO glad I never got involved in it..
This year was malicious, in the past its all been in good fun. The girls know what they're getting into- this year they were caught totally off guard by some sickos that made things go out of control.

[LatinaAlumna]

All your posts make a lot of sense now that I see this:

AXJRules wrote:

That's the reason they don't pick the location until the morning of. We always emailed each other and called each others cell phones 10 -15 minutes before. You'd have to be God to know where we were going to do it.

From the looks of this comment, it seems that you were an actual participant in "your day."

Even if the location was selected at the last minute, where was the school district safety patrol? Don't they cruise up and down the streets all day looking for trouble? You said that the teachers told the dean what day it would be on. Why isn't there heightened patrol or security on that day? To me, this looks like a school that is scared of busting the kids of "influential parents."

Edited to say: Okay, now that I see your next post, you say you are "SO glad you were never involved in it." So why did you mention that you would email and call each other's cell phones before it happened? And what about how "You'd have to be God to know where we were going to do it." What were those comments about? Or did you mean "THEY"..."THEY would call each other's cell phones..."???????

[FuzzieAlum]

I was just wondering the size of all of your schools?? Did you belong to any organizations?? And there is NO need for an attitude (eye rolling!)...

Sorry for the sarcasm. But if you never went to a hazing-free h.s., how can you know if the experience can be good or not? You can argue of course equally that I cannot know what I am missing out on. That doesn't give you the right to assume my experience sucked. I don't assume yours did.

For the record, my high school had about 1600 students at the time. I was involved in, let me count ... almost a dozen high school clubs.

[AXJules]

Originally posted by Cream
The school officials could have prevented this type of behavior. They could have said to the students that if this hazing occurs, they will be suspended, cannot attend the prom or any extracurricular activity, and their parents will be called. That would have shown these students that their actions have consequences. Now the consequences will involve a criminal investigation and possibly a record that will follow them around for the rest of their lives. Not to mention the public humiliation that the school has suffered.

The thing is, no one has ever complained (at least in the past 8 years). So if they know we're spreading food on each other and everyone does it willingly, how can they threaten to expel or keep you from prom/graduation?????????
There are too many parents that are lawyers to get away with that. It all has to do with the honor code we sign. They can't control what you do thats not on school property.

[AXJules]

Originally posted by LatinaAlumna
All your posts make a lot of sense now that I see this:

AXJRules wrote:


From the looks of this comment, it seems that you were an actual participant in "your day."

Even if the location was selected at the last minute, where was the school district safety patrol? Don't they cruise up and down the streets all day looking for trouble? You said that the teachers told the dean what day it would be on. Why isn't there heightened patrol or security on that day? To me, this looks like a school that is scared of busting the kids of "influential parents."

Well Northbrook is a pretty big area with a lot of forest, people's backyards are huge, etc. Seriously if you walk for 10 minutes, go behind the railroad tracks, take the back way into a huge forest preserve, they'd never know. After 20 years we figured it out...and they came last year, saw that everyone was just having a food fight, and told them to clean it up and leave.
And no I didn't participate, completely. No one wanted to kick my ass my junior year. My senior year I really wanted to do it b/c we swore that there wouldn't be any paddles/fighting, but I couldn't b/c of the rules. Instead I helped bring all the stuff to the house where the kegger was, and took a couple girls home to take showers and stuff. I was there, I witnessed it, but I did not participate.

[MoxieGrrl]

Originally posted by Megerts
If i'm not mistaken, i swear that one clip of a tape showed girls yelling for them to stop. I remember one girl crying and saying "please stop" then being smacked in the face and kicked...

Maybe i made that up??

I was relaying what I saw on national television, said by two juniors that were hazed. And I didn't make that up.

As for the not getting up and walking away... your on the ground covered in paint, human waste is being dumped on you, baskets are being thrown on you, and there's a girl pulling your hair and kicking you in the side... don't tell me that you aren't afraid of what they'll do if you got up and tried to walk away... even if you wanted to what if you were too hurt (girl with a broken ankle) ??? just trying to see if from the perspective....

I wouldn't get up and walk away. I would try my best to get up and kick the living sh*t outta those bitches. End of story. I don't care what was dumped on me. My adrenaline would be going. But I guess another person might not do the same. *shrugs* Everyone is different.

[Megerts]

Oh wait, I forgot!

You guys know what's "best"... I bow down to you the knowledge and right ones!

[MoxieGrrl]

Whoa, whoa, whoa.....no one said we "know what's best." I think that everyone is speaking theoretically from their own personal views, plus from the fact that the ins & outs of hazing have been drilled into us from day 1 of pledging a Greek house.