Hank Nuwer, Author; Hazing Deaths Database

Belarus death and excerpt:

MINSK — Investigators in Belarus say 10 servicemen have been charged in connection with the death of a private who was found hanged after complaining that he had been hazed and pressured for money by superiors.

In an October 31 statement, the Investigative Committee said that eight sergeants, one ensign, and one lieutenant in the Belarusian military were charged over the death of Alyaksandr Korzhych.

The statement did not specify the charges. It said that another officer, a captain who has not been arrested or charged, is also a suspect in the case.

Korzhych, 21, was found hanging in the basement of the medical unit at the Pechy military training base northeast of Minsk on October 3, less than five months after he was drafted. His feet were bound with a shoestring, and a T-shirt cloaked his head.

The conscript’s relatives say he complained of being the target of hazing by senior officers. In particular, he told family and friends that he was being pressured for money by his superiors.

Korzhych was the second conscript found hanged at an army base in Belarus in less than six months, sparking a debate about hazing in the army and calls for the defense minister’s resignation.

The Investigative Committee initially said it was a suicide.

But after Korzhych’s relatives and human rights activists started a campaign urging authorities to investigate the death, the committee launched an investigation into suspected violations of army regulations, abuse of authority, and fraud.

Hazing has been a serious problem in militaries throughout the former Soviet Union, with pressure for payments frequently reported by victims.

In Belarus, 37 suicides were registered in the armed forces between 2008 and 2017, according to Defense Ministry statistics.

In 2017 alone, there were four suicides in the Belarusian armed forces, according to media reports.

“Riley County Police confirmed they filed a battery report involving Manhattan High School football players.”

Here is the story and here is an excerpt. Moderator: SUNY Plattsburgh has been especially proactive against hazing following the water torture death of Walter Dean Jennings.

Oct 31, 2017 — 21 SUNY Plattsburgh students face criminal misdemeanor charges for alleged hazing at the Pi Alpha Nu fraternity.

According to a press release from the school, the charges stem from incidents off campus in February and September of this year. University Police believe the fraternity members engaged in demeaning behavior, alcohol use and paddling.

In addition to the 21 students already charged in Plattsburgh City Court, six former students are also expected to face criminal charges.

University Police first heard about the alleged hazing on September 29^th, the college says, and it suspended Pi Alpha Nu the same day.

“We will not tolerate hazing in any form,” said SUNY Plattsburgh President John Ettling in a campus letter. “It is important for this case to be pursued to emphasize how seriously we take any hazing.”

“If you see or experience behavior that is personally damaging or hurtful to you or your fellow member of the campus community, bring this to the attention of University Police or an appropriate authority figure,” he said.

Pi Alpha Nu members couldn’t immediately be reached for comment.

Campus police, Plattsburgh City Police, and the Clinton County District Attorney’s office worked together on the case. The college says the students’ initial court appearances will occur throughout November and in the meantime, it’s reviewing their enrollment status and the fraternity’s future.

Here is the link

Excerpt:

We must recognize that there are two forms of hazing. One consists of ridiculing, humiliating, and even harassing candidates for membership in some organization, usually a fraternity or sorority. The other involves physical abuse and violence that may, at times, take a dangerous turn leading to the death of an individual.

When I was a plebe (first year cadet) at the Philippine Military Academy, I and all my classmates, were subjected to both forms.

Each day that I reported to one of my upperclassmen, my first action upon entering his room was to bow down at the picture of his latest girlfriend that was displayed in his wall locker. This was accompanied by loudly proclaiming her as the most beautiful woman in the universe. Then only could I address the upperclass cadet.

Now if you happen to be the son of a general, you would most likely receive some form of special treatment. When Gen. Fortunato Abat, Class 1951, was commanding general of the Philippine Army, his two sons, Victor and Tito, both entered the PMA one after another. An “Abat menu” was concocted by their upperclassmen. It was a special “treat” just for the two Abat boys. As an appetizer just before the regular breakfast meal, a cup of coffee was provided to help push the news clippings about General Abat through the digestive tract of the human body. According to the general, there was not much he could do but to “minimize newsmaking” in any form, fearing the consequences for his sons.

The other form was also part of the rituals, particularly when a plebe was unable to carry out certain orders that were given him. The rationale behind this action was to provide punishment for failure to comply with instructions.

In March 2001, fourth class cadet Edward Domingo collapsed unconscious and was pronounced dead on arrival at the PMA hospital. Two upperclassmen were charged with homicide for his death and were sentenced by the Baguio Regional Trial Court to 12 years imprisonment. It was the first time cadets involved in hazing were dealt with by a civilian court.

In the case of the PMA, a number of initiation rituals were adopted from West Point practices at the turn of the 20th century.

In his book “American Caesar,” William Manchester narrates some of the abusive treatment that were carried out at the US Military Academy. Plebes were subjected to “merciless hazing… any newcomer who refused to cooperate was subjected to a bare-knuckle beating by the huskiest prizefighter among the upperclassmen. Over a hundred methods of harassment were employed. Among the most popular were scalding steambaths, ‘crawling’ (being insulted by an upperclassman whose jaw was one inch from the plebe’s nose), ‘bracing’ (standing at rigid attention for long periods of time), ‘eagling’ (deep knee bends over broken glass), paddling, sliding naked on a splintered board, and running a gauntlet of upperclassmen tossing buckets of cold water on the plebe.”

Rite of Passage: “If he fell it would be a disgrace he would carry for life, Mr. Biwa had warned me. But the youth never faltered — the next morning he would awake a man, able to sit among the elders.”