Author: Hank Nuwer

ATO kicked out members for failing to meet high standards.

There is one area that journalists and commentators like myself have missed entirely as
we cover the hazing assaults and even alleged sexual assaults like the one involving the basketball team at Carmel High School north of Indianapolis.

Namely, the bus company and its driver need to contribute what they know.

What is the bus company’s position on pasengers (coaches or athletes) walking about (let alone conducting a reign of terror of sorts) the bus when it is in motion?

Who was the driver of the Carmel HS basketball bus on the day of the alleged attacks? What does he/she say he/she saw in his mirror while driving on the day these alleged attacks occurred?

Did he file any reports documenting suspicious or potentially illegal conduct on the Carmel HS basketball bus?

Does the bus company have any other disturbance reports for Carmel HS involving athletic teams?

Have there been any fights aboard Carmel buses in general?

Finally…Are schoolbus companies–owned by a school district or chartered– required in any way to report fights, potential crimes, assaults on buses to any other authority? If so, there may be a paper trail on the Carmel basketball incident.

If NOT, should they be so required?

Respectfully submitted, Hank Nuwer

I was interviewed for this one and
saw there was only one sentence on
hazing. On a positive note I was shown a handbook entry on hazing at Zionsville HS (Indiana) that I thought was comprehensive.

Link to two videos.

Here is the link to the blog entry. Nice job.

I enjoyed the quote by Larry Bassow who is a tireless advocate for antihazing and fraternal values. Really enjoyed meeting him and going to breakfast many years ago. Real gentleman and
extremely smart.

Here is the link

The Greek community at Chico State has taken steps to correct its hazing reputation since the death of Matthew Carrington.

Greek life has evolved over the past four years, said Greek Adviser Larry Bassow.

A mandatory hazing education program has been put in place for all Greek organizations, advisers are more available to Greek students and the university has been holding Greek organizations more accountable.

“There’s been a litany of sanctions,” Bassow said. “It’s not that it’s good, it shows that we mean business. There is a higher expectation for students to show what they signed up to do.”

The Greek community has been starting to branch out more than ever, said senior Brian Burke, president of the Interfraternity Council.

One goal the Greeks have in place is for the three councils to put more effort into community events.

While people might have a bad outlook on the Greek community, the best way to understand Greek life is to join a fraternity or sorority, he said.

“It’s something you have to figure out for yourself,” Burke said. “There’s a lot of leadership training and philanthropic events.”

Chico State President Paul Zingg hopes students are joining Greek organizations for the right reasons and not just to join a “drinking club,” he said.

“This particular social organization has admirable values, not the least of which is to enjoy each other’s company,” he said. “There are fun opportunities, but it’s a question of balance.”

Though some people might expect the Greek community to do poorly, the Greeks have to work together with the university so the good stories are told more often and outweigh the bad ones, Zingg said.

“They need to be savvy in promoting what they do and the university needs to acknowledge them when they do something good,” he said. “They need to understand that one bad event can outweigh 1,000 good events.”