Hank Nuwer, Author; Hazing Deaths Database

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

U.S. troops charged with soldier cruelty
Soldiers accused of hazing Ohio teen who committed suicide, military says
NBC News and news services
updated 4:52 p.m. ET Aug. 21, 2009
WASHINGTON – Four American soldiers have been charged with cruelty and maltreatment of an 19-year-old soldier who committed suicide after being in Iraq for 10 days, the U.S. military told NBC News Friday.
The four Multi-National Division-South soldiers are accused of hazing Private Keiffer P. Wilhelm of Ohio. They abused Wilhelm with excessive physical fitness, said Lt. Col. Kevin Olson, a military spokesman.
One defense official told NBC News that Wilhelm eventually stopped going to public areas to avoid being harassed repeatedly for being overweig
The Fort Bliss soldier locked himself inside a portable toilet and shot himself with a rifle on Aug. 4 in Maysan Province, military officials told NBC. They spoke on condition of anonymity.
Military officials identified the charged officers as Sgt. Enoch Chatman, Staff Sgt. Bob Clements, Sgt. Jarrett Taylor and Spc. Daniel Weber, all of B Troop, 2nd Squadron, 13th Cavalry Regiment from Fort Bliss, Texas.
The four soldiers also are accused of abusing other male soldiers, Olson said.
The accused are part of the first brigade to deploy to Iraq for the new Advise and Assist mission, whose job is to train Iraqi security forces to be better soldiers.
Chatman, of West Covina, Calif., was charged with four counts of cruelty and maltreatment, one count of making a false statement and one count of reckless endangerment. If convicted on all counts, he faces up to 10 years in prison, a dishonorable discharge and forfeiture of pay, the military said.
Clements, of Eastland, Texas, faces four counts of cruelty and maltreatment, three counts of making a false statement, one count of impeding an investigation and one count of reckless endangerment. If convicted on all counts, he faces up to 25 years in prison and a dishonorable discharge, the military said.

Taylor, of Edmond, Okla., was charged with two counts of cruelty and maltreatment, one count of making false statement and one count of reckless endangerment. He faces up to eight years in prison, if convicted on all charges.
Weber, of Frankenmuth, Mich., has been charged with three counts of cruelty and maltreatment, one count of reckless endangerment and one count of impeding an investigation. The charges together carry a nine-year maximum sentence upon conviction.
Multi-National Division-South has headquarters in the southern Iraqi city of Basra.
NBC News Jim Miklaszewski and Courtney Kube contributed to

Charges against a Delta Sigma Theta member and testimony from a student who said she passed blood.

Delta Sigma Theta position on hazing quite clear.