1905
Lima, Ohio school
Hazing death alleged (not in chart)
Sketchy facts in a newspaper story
attributed the death of William Taylor,
13, to a death by illness (pneumonia)
allegedly caused when classmates
put snow down his back.
[Editor’s note: I've always thought this
case
needed far more fact to prove
Taylor’s WAS a hazing death, and that it
may not fit today's
accepted definition of hazing, although
I don't want to minimize its
historic importance
either. Perhaps some journalist or
student out there may wish to examine
the case closely. The death occurred on
Feb. 10, 1905.]

| Jensen (from tape): Who usually
does that to you? Rierson: Upperclassmen. Jensen: Upperclassmen do that? Now, do the coaches ever know about this? Rierson: Well, they know about it. Usually they say, "We're gonna have an initiation." Theywon't tell us about it. They kinda just walk out for a little bit, y'know? Jensen: ...Do they actually know what the upperclassmen are gonna do?" Rierson: Yeah, more or less. Jensen: Yeah? They do? Rierson: They just kind of let it happen. |
| Note from victim's mother to Hank Nuwer follows: As the mother of the only victim who "told" I thought you should have more of the details. Out of all the varsity players only two boys were not involved. the school only punished the two boys who admitted their involvement. According to the athletic director, if they (the players involved) were all punished, then the school would lose its varsity baseball team. The hazing took place on the school bus with three coaches present on the bus and a bus driver. The incident took place over a period of 90 minutes or so. None of the coaches did anything to stop the hazing and none were reprimanded in any way. The hazing was (sexual assault). The boys were given a choice of sucking a toe, nipple or touching the penis of one of the older players. The last two boys they were not given a choice and were forced to touch the older boy's penis. The boy who was expelled is now serving a year of probation after a plea bargain to the charge of aggravated indecent exposure. One other boy was charged and found guilty (the school did nothing to him), and it was not the boy who was suspended. The school refused to investigate the issue. It was investigated by the New Mexico State Police, (Agent Tom Salazar) charges were filed in San Juan County (Gregg Tucker Assistant DA prosecuted the case) San Juan DA phone number 1 800 641 5086 I do not know who the second victim was, but the first victim, my son, is now having to attend a very expensive and private school because he was not only victimized by the boys on the bus, but was victimized by the school administration and coaches for coming forward. |