University of Virginia student editorial examines hazing in teams and clubs

Here is the link to the editorial.  It was prompted by a lawsuit filed by a swim team member.

Excerpt:

….The former student, Anthony Marcantonio, alleges he and other first-year swimmers were subjected to numerous forms of hazing, including being forced to drink beer, liquor, milk and prune juice and suffering verbal abuse and forced sexual contact. Marcantonio’s allegations serve as a necessary reminder of the pervasive nature of hazing — that it is not just confined to Greek life.

The tendency to link hazing and Greek life does not exist without reason. But sometimes this association can make us forget about the prevalence of hazing in any hierarchically or competitively organized student group, including those at our University. Contractually independent organizations face similar risks to fraternities and sororities; hushed anecdotes of what club sports teams, a capella groups and even debating societies make their new members do could certainly qualify as hazing….