Today, 3 defendants in the death of FAMU bandleader face sentences of up to 20 years. My informed estimate is that 6 to 9 years will be the stiffest sentence imposed. http://www.wsbtv.com/ap/ap/florida/final-3-defendants-to-be-sentenced-in-famu-hazing-/nmmM4/
Author: Hank Nuwer
Journalist Hank Nuwer tracks hazing deaths in fraternities and schools. Nuwer is the Alaska author of Hazing: Destroying Young Lives; Broken Pledges: The Deadly Rite of Hazing, High School Hazing, Wrongs of Passage and The Hazing Reader. In April of 2024 and April 2025 , the Alaska Press Club awarded him first place in the Best Columnist division.
He has written articles or columns on hazing for the Sunday Times of India, Toronto Globe & Mail, Harper's Magazine, Orlando Sentinel, The Chronicle of Higher Education and the New York Times Sunday Magazine. His current book is Hazing: Destroying Young Lives from Indiana University Press. He is married to Malgorzata Wroblewska Nuwer of Fairbanks, Alaska. Nuwer is a former columnist for the Greenville (Ohio)Early Bird and former managing editor of the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner in Alaska.
Nuwer was named the Ohio Society of Professional Journalists columnist of the year in 2021 for his “After Darke” column in the Early Bird. He also won third place for the column in 2022 from the Indiana chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists. He and his wife Gosia, recently of Union City, Ind., have owned 20 acres in Alaska for many years. “The move is a sort-of coming home for us,” said Nuwer. As a journalist, he’s written about the Alaskan Iditarod sled-dog race and other Alaska topics. Read his musings in his blog at Real Alaska Daily--http://realalaskadaily.com
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A Play for Hazing Prevention Week
Looking for something different for Hazing Prevention Week? Consider finding a male adviser or older fraternity alum or theatre department faculty member and put on Hank Nuwer’s one-man play (available on Amazon and Stophazing.org) “The Broken Pledge.” Link to play: http://www.stophazing.org/blog/the-broken-pledge-a-play-by-hank-nuwer/
Moderator: It is only a matter of time before a prosecutor tacks on “torture” to hazing charges.
Excerpt:
A group of Chinese study-abroad students in Los Angeles, California, are standing trial for allegedly kidnapping and torturing a fellow student, the Beijing News reported on June 12, 2015.
Zhai Yunyao, Zhang Xinlei and Yang Yuhan–all whom were born in 1996–along with three other minors, are accused of abducting and torturing fellow study-abroad student, surnamed Liu, on March 30 in the Rowland Heights area of LA. Four others suspected of taking part in the criminal act are still at large.
According to Liu’s statement to police, given on June 3, she was lured by a primary-school peer to “discuss something.” Liu was then reportedly forced into a car and taken to a nearby park.
There, Liu said she was beaten by a group of girls and stripped naked by Yang Yuhan. Liu’s nipples were then burned with lit cigarettes. Liu recalled that one girl tried to set her hair on fire, but it wouldn’t ignite because the girls doused Liu repeatedly with cold water.
The girls then cut Liu’s hair off and forced her to eat the hair. She was then forced to the ground and made to eat sand. Liu said one of the girls was capturing the assault on a mobile phone.
The torturing lasted five hours; the assault left Liu seriously injured.
Moderator: The letter, presumably well intentioned, demonstrates why educators and coaches need to emphasize why “voluntary participation” by athletes is no excuse in a court.
Excerpt
In a letter, obtained by Action News, one of the suspended player concedes – in her words – “You know just as well as I do, our team had a freshman welcome week, there is no denying that.”
Action News had previously reported that freshman players were given written instructions on things they had to do or there would be consequences.
It’s alleged that those students had to consume alcohol, perform sexual acts involving inappropriate touching and lap dances, and other acts to graphic to outline.
The player acknowledged the existence of the letter outlining those things, but she says everything was meant to be voluntary.
The player says she now realizes that some students may have thought that they were required.
In the letter she refers to the inappropriate touching by saying, “To us, this is no big deal because we do that all the time.”
She also goes on to say, “One of the events planned was a lap dance.”