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
Abstract: No charges have been placed for what has been described as a lewd and disgusting initiation with feces, but tape confiscated by a junior AAA L’Action of Joliette [Quebec] player’s girlfriend’s father’s has conduct that police say could constitute criminal sexual behavior with young women, including a charge of rape for one player. Other charges include voyeurism and sexual assault and more could be filed, according to police. Typically, the team’s president [Sleep well, fella?] has said they’ll play until further review. One player told a reporter the intitiation was no big deal. [Yikes, what IS a BIG DEAL to him?]
Excerpt: “They’re mimicking a belief system that was used earlier in a type of hazing event,” said sociologist Jamie Bryshun. “They’re just taking it one step further.”
Our view: What can I say? If all facts are true, this is reprehensible. ‘Nuff said.
Ozzie Smith said that young players today need to learn sportsmanship and to stop other players from bullying new and weaker players in initiations called hazing. “You have to use a little restraint and a little common sense too,†said Smith. “Some guys are never going to understand how not to take things too far. You’re always going to have those kind of people. But then you also have people around that are smart enough to say, “Hey, things are getting out of hand.â€
–from the interview with Hank Nuwer with Ozzie Smith, Hall of Fame baseball player and now a goodwill ambassador for education for the Hall of Fame.
Link to this sobering story on alleged sexual hazing attack is here.