Author: Hank Nuwer

Moderator: The Nebraska hazing law applies to any person–only if they are college-age(????). Come on, journalists. If this is true, you have a much bigger story–an editorial commenting on a law that targets only certain people.

Related: See how the hazing law failed in Utah weeks ago. Related: See how a sexual assault charge against a wrestler during a hazing in South Carolina (near Hilton Head) wasn’t pursued by a sheriff for a similar reason several years ago.

See below for story and the law:

Nebraska Hazing Law

� 28-311.06. Hazing, defined; penalty

(1) For purposes of this section and section 28-311.07:

(a) Hazing shall mean any activity by which a person intentionally or recklessly endangers the physical or mental health or safety of an individual for the purpose of initiation into, admission into, affiliation with, or continued membership with any organization as defined in subdivision (1)(b) of this section. Such hazing activity shall include whipping, beating, branding, forced and prolonged calisthenics, prolonged exposure to the elements, forced consumption of any food, liquor, beverage, drug, or harmful substance not generally intended for human consumption, prolonged sleep deprivation, or any brutal treatment or the performance of any unlawful act which endangers the physical or mental health or safety of any person; and

(b) Organization shall mean an organization of student members operating under the sanction of a postsecondary educational institution but shall not include the alumni organization or any corporation which owns the house or real estate of such organization.

(2) It shall be unlawful to commit the offense of hazing. Any person who commits the offense of hazing shall be guilty of a Class II misdemeanor.

(3) Any organization as defined in subdivision (1)(b) of this section whose members commit the offense of hazing in violation of the provisions of this section shall be punished by a fine of not more than ten thousand dollars.

No Charges Likely in Alleged Hazing

Posted: Aug 24, 2009 07:19 PM

Updated: Aug 24, 2009 07:19 PM

Under a graffiti covered bridge, freshman from St. Paul High School were taken, some against their will.

Sheriff Harold Schenck said initiation rituals have escalated, as upper classmen poured hot sauce, cat food, syrup, and vinegar on freshmen.

“Apparently this is something that’s ongoing and it has apparently involved most of the freshman class at St. Paul High School,” Schenck said.

School is where law enforcement wants the problem to be addressed. The sheriff said it’s not a matter for the courts, because it doesn’t meet the definition of hazing under Nebraska law.

“The statute refers to college age students,” he said.

St. Paul has a hazing policy. During a Friday night pep rally, before the trouble began, educators admonished kids to not to let things get out of hand.

Superintendent Doug Ackles said, “We warn our kids to behave, do the appropriate thing, not to damage other people’s property, to make good choices. We have many character development programs in school and once in a while kids make bad decisions.”

For a district recently honored by the governor and a district where voters approved a school bond, it’s disappointing to see the reputation tarnished.

Ackles said he was “disappointed in the image it creates and the reflection on school and community because that’s not the kind of school we are.”

Friday evening began at school with a community ice cream social. But administrators worry the night will be remembered for the way it ended.

Ackles said, “We’ll just have to prove our way out of this.”

Administrators met with police first thing Monday morning. The sheriff said he doesn’t think any charges will be filed. The punishment at school is uncertain, because policy appears to cover only incidents on campus.

Reporter’s Notes by Steve White:
The sheriff said about ten students were involved Friday night near the Loup River Bridge, south of St. Paul.

Ackles said he was especially disappointed and frustrated, since administrators had just reminded students to watch their behavior. The booster club held an ice cream social Friday night followed by a fall sport pep rally. Ackles said coaches likely warned their teams to behave as well.

Story

Home / News / State and Regional News / Nebraska News
Allegations of hazing being investigated in St. Paul

Story below by the Lincoln Journal Star | Posted: Sunday, August 23, 2009 8:25 pm |

Allegations of high school hazing involving students in the central Nebraska town of St. Paul were being investigated over the weekend.

About 100 students were reportedly involved in the Friday afternoon incident.

Howard County Attorney Robert Sivick described the hazing as a “perverse tradition” at St. Paul High School in which upperclassmen take underclassmen to the nearby Middle Loup River for hazing.

Sivick declined to say specifically what the students were doing but said there were allegations of students being thrown in the water against their will.

Sivick was unaware of any injuries.

No charges will be forthcoming until investigators with the Howard County Sheriff’s Office have a better idea of what happened, Sivick said. Because of the number of students involved, that could take days.

St. Paul, which has about 2,200 people, is located about 20 miles north of Grand Island.

Moderator: It seems to me the parents of these youngsters and the administrators (this is said respectfully) should sit down with the band director and find out exactly what went wrong and when with the mentoring program (which is a great idea if closely monitored by band director and school administrator): Moderator

PS Link to well-written news story. Clear and easy to follow and most objective.

2 students punished in hazing incident
By Katlynn Lanham
The Facts

Published August 24, 2009
CLUTE — Two Brazoswood Buc Band members were disciplined last week for an incident Brazosport ISD officials have determined as hazing.

“Hazing did occur and we’re going to handle it appropriately,” Assistant Superintendent Dennis McNaughten said.

Though school officials would not reveal the exact punishment for the incident allegedly involving a simulated sexual act, the student code of conduct states the students could go to a disciplinary alternative education program, in-school educational program or be suspended.

However, in this instance, no students will be expelled, McNaughten said.

“We want the kids to understand there are consequences for every action we take,” McNaughten said.

Band Director Jim Koch and Brazoswood Principal Steve Snell could not be reached for comment. Several band parents also did not return messages left by The Facts.

A parent reported the incident two weeks ago and school administrators since have been investigating. The incident happened at school as a part of Fish Auction, a mentoring program used to pair freshmen band members with senior band members. Band directors were not in the room when it started, but they were down the hall, McNaughten has said.

The investigation was forwarded to the district attorney’s office Thursday, where District Attorney Jeri Yenne could conduct another investigation and interviews.

Yenne said she will be looking at the case to determine if students broke the law by hazing other students.

Under Texas law, hazing is considered any intentional, reckless act endangering the mental or physical health of a student pledging or maintaining membership in an organization.

Acts can be considered hazing whether on or off campus.

Other students who were not directly involved in the incident could face consequences from organizational sponsors, McNaughten said. McNaughten could not say what consequences the two students deemed to be involved will face with the organizations in which they are involved.

However, he said the two students likely would not be asked to leave the band program.

The band’s monitoring program, Fish Auction, will hopefully continue, he said.

The mentor program is a good one, Superintendent Joe Ripple said. Parents have called to reassure Ripple of the strengths of the mentor program.

District officials soon will meet with organizational sponsors to talk to them about what is considered hazing, McNaughten said.

Ripple will clarify to sponsors that hazing covers a wide spectrum.

Since the band’s report of hazing, a parent reported the Brazoswood Belles have been hazing their newcomers during initiation, McNaughten said. They will be investigating the case as they did the band, he said.

The incident will not set back the band’s plans for the year, McNaughten said.

“They will go forward and keep winning sweepstakes,” he said.

Moderator: Can’t read enough of this. Bravo, Rome Braves. Nice story, Alex!

Minor fits right in with Rome Braves
by Alex Farrer, Rome News-Tribune Sports Writer
9 hrs ago | 41 views | 0  | 0  |  | 

Mike Minor throws to the plate during a game with the Rome Braves. (Ken Caruthers/RN-T.com)

After Atlanta drafted Vanderbilt pitcher Mike Minor in the first round in June, the waiting began for the big lefty — and the Braves.

The negotiating process lasted until Aug. 6 when the two sides finally came to terms on a deal that awarded Minor the highest signing bonus of any Atlanta draft pick ever.

A few days later, Rome fans were thrilled to hear the news that Minor would be heading straight to the Class A affiliate to make his debut. Minor did just that on Thursday, pitching two scoreless innings and giving fans a little taste of what they could expect for the rest of this season and in the future.

On Saturday, the Braves’ top pick made time to sit down with the RN-T for a one-on-one interview. Among the topics discussed were his first appearance, the signing process and the pressure going along with being a high draft pick.

Here are some excerpts from the conversation:

RN-T: What was it like to finally get back on the mound in a competitive situation after more than two months since your last college appearance?

MINOR: Obviously, it was a great feeling. I’ve been waiting all summer for that. Usually every summer I’ve played USA ball and or been playing, so I haven’t had a summer off since I was like 12. It was a weird feeling being at home, but I got to do some stuff I haven’t really gotten to do like catch up with old friends.

I was pretty relaxed out there (Thursday night), rather than being nervous or worked up because the guys joke around a lot and it’s kind of a laid back atmosphere around here.

RN-T: What was the negotiating process like? Did you ever feel like the deal wasn’t going to get done?

MINOR: I kind of felt like that, but I had that same feeling out of high school when I got drafted by Tampa Bay and it never got done. This year, I really didn’t have that much of a demand, like some of the other top picks. Top 10 picks usually get over-slot. Mine was a little over, but not like the other guys. I told them what I wanted the day after the draft, and they told me it was going to get done, but they had to wait for the commissioner’s office. Some times I didn’t know what was going to happen, but it was a process I had to go through.

RN-T: After not signing with the Rays out of high school, do you feel more prepared now that you spent some years in college at Vanderbilt?

MINOR: Definitely, because I grew up as a person and an athlete. I got stronger and better. I’ve got better stuff now with two breaking balls. I throw a little bit harder now. I have more of an overall knowledge of the game, hitters and just how the game works. In high school I just went out and played the game, but now I have more of an idea about strategy.

RN-T: Do you feel any added pressure being the No. 7-overall pick and being awarded the record signing bonus?

MINOR: Pressure comes with that. You go out there and give up five runs within your first or second start, or even if I had given up one run the other day, everybody would have been like “who’s this guy?” or “they paid him way to much money.” But you can only be yourself, and can’t do anything more. You can’t throw a different pitch or throw harder. You just have to do the same thing you did in college and that’s why they picked me.

RN-T: How has the team received you and has there been any rookie hazing?
MINOR: Actually, I expected it and prepared to have a little bit, especially being a No. 1 pick. But all the guys are cool, and they embraced me right away. They hung out with me like I was a teammate right away and like they’ve known me forever. That’s how the younger guys are. I feel like the older group would be the bitter ones because they haven’t made it yet, and they would have had more of the hazing part. The coaches, the players and the staff has all embraced me well.

Story link