And the article that prompted them–Hank Nuwer
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 and Best Humorist, second place.
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
See the death of Hubert Spake
NOTE: In spite of Herbert Spake’s death, the chapter continued at Missouri until 2007, at least, and still exists nationally.
John Gregory Neill, 18, a first-year medical student at Adelaide Medical School, drowned when he was tossed into the River Torrens by older students despite his pleas that he could not swim. Sydney Morning Herald, May 16, 1951. –Moderator Hank Nuwer
Charged were Gerald Maxwell Hansberry, 23, Edward Francis Haywood, 22, Kenneth John Westphalen 26, John Herbery Mickan 22, John Horton Spurway, 23. 
POSTSCRIPT
Aug 8, 2011 – HANSBERRY: The Funeral Mass for Dr Gerald Maxwell(Max) Hansberry of South Perth, will be celebrated in the St Columba Church.
Fatal
Ducking’
ADELAIDE, Tues-
day. – John Andrew
Rogers, a fifth year
medical student, told a
packed court here to-day
that he helped to search
the River Torrens after
seeing a “fresher,” John
Gregory Neill, of Chelten-
ham, being thrown into the
water by fellow students
during a “rag” at Adelaide
University on March 14.
‘ Accused of the manslaughter
of Neill are these five students:
Gerald Maxwell Hansberry, 23,
of Dalaston Avenue, Glenunga;
Edward Francis Haywood, 22, of
Marlborough Road, Westbourne
Park; Kenneth John Westphalen.
23, of Leader Street, Goodwood;
John Herbert Mickan, 22, of Ger-
trude Street, Brooklyn Park; and
John Horton Spurway, 23, of
Myall Avenue, Kensington Gar-
dens.
“FOUR MEN’.’
J. A. Rogers, of Jeffcott
Street, North’ Adelaide, said he
went to thc university about 7
p.m.
Later he went to the university
bridge with a companion. From
there he saw some students in the
water.
“Just as I looked from one side
of the bridge, I saw a student in
the process of being tossed into
the river,” said Rogers.
“I have the feeling that four
men threw him.
“I saw thc student hit the
water about four yards from the
bank. He did not reappear.
“1 first thought that perhaps
the student might have been a
good swimmer and, playing a
joke, had swum up the river and
hidden in the bushes.
“With a companion, I ran to
the bushes, but could not find thc
student. Then I ran back to the
spot where he had been thrown
in, where I saw Hansberry, who
had undressed, diving into the
water.
“COULDN’T SWIM”
“Hansberry came out of the
water and asked me if I would
help. It was at this juncture that
Hansberry said: ‘The silly –
said. he could not swim,’ ” said
Rogers.
“After that 1 undressed and
started to dive. The water was
about 10 to 15 feet deep there.
I continued diving for about 15
minutes. 1 was exhausted and
left the water, dressed, and went
to telephone the police. .
“Returning to the. river bank
afterwards, I found that the stu-
dent had been recovered from
the water.
“In the car I took deceased
to the hospital.”
The hearing goes on to-day.
Terrible Indianapolis Star headline: “Accident Mars Hazing Party”: The hazing was fine until a car full of whooping boys cracked up? Moderator Hank Nuwer
Here is the clip from the Palladium Item dated September 9, 1952.
The boy thrown from the trunk of a car and hurt was John McCann. Ten boys had piled into the vehicle. Lineback ran a stop sign and crashed into another vehicle.
The driver Dale Lineback had been stopped twice previously for traffic violations and let go. His punishment? $25 fine and suspension of license.
Here is the clipping: Pittsburgh Press, May 16, 1952
High School Principal H. Clarke Metcalfe refused to comment on the arrests of 11 during the 1952 Freshman Hazing Week. Metcalfe was a chemist.
