If you have a teenager at home (or if you've ever been a teen), you know how important it is at that age to connect with peer groups – whether through sports, after-school clubs, scouts, church, gaming, or other affinity groups.
Belonging is a basic human need, and it's critical, developmentally, for young people, to be accepted by others. Wanting to belong and be part of a group or team or tribe is usually a healthy desire. But sometimes the initiation into such groups can involve questionable and sometimes dangerous rites or rituals.
Most people, when they hear the term hazing, think of college Greek organizations or perhaps a high school athletic team. Surely, hazing does play a role in these groups sometimes. But research has shown that hazing is more common than one might think, even reaching more unassuming, “wholesome” organizations like church youth groups.
Whether it happens during the school day, after school at practice, a Friday night activity, or a weekend event, prohibited initiation rituals can land anyone taking part in hot water. If this is something your student has been implicated in, know that disciplinary consequences for this behavior can be future-altering for a high school student still learning how to distinguish appropriate behavior from inappropriate behavior.
If you are a parent or guardian of a student facing penalties for conduct related to hazing, such as suspension or expulsion, and you feel they are being unfairly treated by your school, they need a strong ally in their corner. The Lento Law Firm's Student Defense Team, experienced in defending students nationwide from unfair allegations or discipline, can help. Call us today 888-535-3686 or schedule a consultation online.
Hazing and the Developing Adolescent Brain
When high school students are involved in hazing – whether as the victim of hazing or the initiator – there is reason to be concerned. As an adult, the dangers of hazing behaviors may be obvious to you. But as young people with developing brains, teens may not realize that the “tradition” or “initiation rite” they are participating in is inappropriate and could be dangerous. It's not always a given that young people can distinguish between fun or seemingly harmless pranks and hazing behaviors. To that point, according to research, many high school students report that participating in humiliating, illegal, and dangerous activities in order to join a group is “fun” and “exciting.”
Part of the problem may be the attitude that unlike bullying, there is implied consent by the victims to being subjected to hazing. They are seen as willing to endure the ritual in order to become a group member. But hazing isn't just kids being kids, as far as schools are concerned. In past generations, this may have been the prevailing attitude, and it does linger on some today, but it's important to realize that schools are under immense pressure to crack down on this behavior.
When Adults Look the Other Way
Unfortunately for teens, despite the seriousness with which schools treat hazing, one doesn't have to look far to find adults – including adults they look up to – who fail to appreciate the seriousness of hazing or who fail to supervise closely enough. What message does this send? Arguably, this is in part to blame for young people feeling as though hazing isn't a big deal.
It's critical that teens are explicitly taught about the potential dangers of hazing and that they know the adults at school, at home, in the locker room, on the field, and in the community do not condone behavior that crosses into offensive, dangerous, and harmful conduct.
After all, isn't it the role of schools to help students understand the seriousness of certain behaviors and the consequences of engaging in them? Schools that don't have explicit, strong anti-hazing policies, and that fail to communicate them or enforce them, are arguably at least in part culpable when something goes wrong. It is the school's job to ensure that students are able to learn and grow in safe and positive environments and learn from their mistakes.
Kansas is Clear: Hazing May Result in Suspension or Expulsion
What does hazing specifically refer to? Hazing is defined in Kansas' state statutes as a class B misdemeanor involving “recklessly coercing, demanding or encouraging another person to perform, as a condition of membership in a social or fraternal organization, any act which could reasonably be expected to result in great bodily harm, disfigurement or death or which is done in a manner whereby great bodily harm, disfigurement or death could be inflicted.”
Hazing rituals in high school often take the form of humiliating or dangerous behaviors like being screamed at, being forced to eat or drink something disgusting, abusing substances, physically harming oneself, being dared to commit crimes, being made to act as someone's servant, being subjected to extreme cold, or physical and sexual abuse.
Kansas' Department of Education mandates that school codes of conduct explicitly prohibit “disruptive behaviors,” including hazing, and warns that “[s]tudents found in violation of these codes may be suspended or expelled.”
If your student is in trouble at school for their role in a hazing incident, it's important to understand how grave such accusations are. For example, Wichita Public Schools categorize hazing as a level 2-3 offense, whose consequences may include:
- Classroom reassignment
- Disciplinary hearing
- Expulsion
- Extended suspension
- Reassignment to another school
- Out-of-school suspension
Shawnee Mission High School, part of Kansas' Shawnee Mission School District, treats initiations and hazing as level 3 offenses, whose consequences can include in-school, short-term, or long-term suspension as well as expulsion. School administrators may also notify the police.
Olathe Public Schools considers hazing to be “any act that recklessly or intentionally endangers the mental health, physical health, or safety of a student for the initiation or as a condition or precondition of attaining membership in, or affiliation with, any district sponsored activity or grade level attainment.” Their code of conduct goes on to say that significant offenses related to hazing may be subject to what they term as class 3 consequences. This includes notifying law enforcement if they determine that criminal conduct may be involved.
Whichever high school your student attends, it's important that you and your student have a clear understanding of how the school defines hazing and what the consequences are.
Representing High School Students Throughout Kansas
Again, it's an unfair fact that, across the country, high school students are being handed down harsh punishments for taking part in hazing when, in reality, sometimes the adults in their lives – whether coaches, teachers, club leaders, or others – too often turn a blind eye to the practice and perhaps even reminisce about their own experiences as a teen.
The Lento Law Firm's Student Defense Team is available to represent students throughout Kansas accused of conduct related to hazing, including students who attend public high schools such as:
- Wichita's East, North, Southeast, and South High School campuses
- Olathe's North, Northwest, South, East, and West High School campuses
- Shawnee Mission's East, West, Northwest, South, and North High School campuses
- Derby High School
- Dodge City High School
- Garden City Senior High School
- Manhattan High School
- Campus High School
- Washburn Rural High School
- Wyandotte High School
- Gardner Edgerton High School
- Lawrence Free State High School
- Lawrence High School
- Junction City Senior High School
Hazing isn't just a public school problem. We also defend students attending private high schools in Kansas, including:
- Bishop Carroll Catholic High School
- Wichita Collegiate School
- St. James Academy
- Kapaun Mt. Carmel Catholic High School
- Saint Thomas Aquinas High School
No Kansas school, public or private, urban or rural, is immune to the effects of hazing. You may not think it's happening in your child's school, but you'd be wise to think again. No matter the school's demographics, geographic location, standardized test scores, academic reputation, or socio-economic make-up, as long as young people desire to be part of a group, some type of ritual hazing is bound to occur.
The Lento Law Firm's Student Defense Team represents high school students nationwide, including throughout Kansas. This includes cities like:
- Lawrence
- Olathe
- Overland Park
- Topeka
- Wichita
- Kansas City
- Shawnee
- Lenexa
- Manhattan
- Salina
- Hutchinson
- Leavenworth
- Leawood
- Garden City
- Dodge City
- Derby
- Gardner
- Emporia
- Prairie Village
- Junction City
It also includes:
- Mission Hills, Mission Woods, Fairway, Lake Quivira, and Westwood Hills in Johnson County
- Menlo in Thomas County
- Lake Quivira in Wyandotte County
- Willowbrook in Reno County
- East Borough in Sedgwick County
- Miami County's Louisburg, Osawatomie, Paola, and Spring Hill
- Leavenworth County's Linwood, Lansing, and Easton
From Cheerleading to Chess Club
Many are surprised to learn how prevalent hazing is. One prominent study on hazing in high school found that:
- "48 percent of students who belong to groups reported being subjected to hazing activities.
- 43 percent reported being subjected to humiliating activities.
- 30 percent reported performing potentially illegal acts as part of their initiation. All high school students who join groups are at risk of being hazed.
- Almost every type of high school group had significantly high levels of hazing. "
Believe it or not, nearly all types of high school student groups have been known to practice ritual hazing, including theater, art clubs, band, vocational clubs, athletics, scholastic groups, and church groups. What does this tell us? That across the board, it's easy to see ritual hazing as a normal, accepted part of the high school experience. Given its pervasiveness and attitudes about it, is it any wonder that young minds have difficulty concluding that it's not acceptable and that they should avoid participating in hazing?
Is Your Student Facing False Accusations of Hazing?
Maybe your student has been identified by school administrators as having taken part in hazing when they truly haven't. Perhaps a teammate or member of a club they belong to was involved in an incident, but your child had nothing to do with it.
Schools do make mistakes. Innocent students are sometimes falsely accused. There are also circumstances in which students may be responsible to a certain point, but a reasonable explanation exists for a behavior that may negate a penalty. Behavioral misconduct findings can tarnish a student's reputation and burn bridges to future education and career opportunities.
If you become aware of anything that indicates your child will soon face a major disciplinary event related to hazing, and you believe this is unfair, we recommend the following:
- Call your child's school right away and get the facts. Learn what the allegations are and what kind of disciplinary action your child is facing.
- Talk with your child to see how they are feeling. Ask about recent events that may be related to the accusations, and write down what they say.
- Find the school's code of conduct and the hazing rules your child has supposedly violated.
- Keep records of communication with school administrators. Take notes on what was said and write down the date the conversation took place.
- Keep hard copies of all letters, emails, or messages you receive from the school, as well as anything you send to the school.
Federal law requires public schools to grant students due process when they are being expelled or suspended from school for more than ten days. Due process usually involves a hearing, at which the student (and you, as a parent or guardian) can hear what rules pertaining to hazing the school thinks your child has broken and what the possible next steps are. The school should provide explanations for the charges against your child, cite the parts of the code of conduct that have been supposedly violated, and provide evidence to back up their claims.
Defending Your High School Student
Every student deserves to be supported in their development, not just academically but as citizens and community members. If you believe your student is facing irreparable damage to their record because of a hazing accusation, don't wait to take action.
Teenagers can be remarkably capable and confident individuals, but they are still minors, and their brains are not yet finished developing. When they are facing allegations of misconduct from their high school, it's up to you to learn everything you can about the issue and ensure they don't face accusations or investigations unfairly or alone.
Don't wait until it's too late to defeat false and unfair behavioral misconduct charges. The Lento Law Firm's Student Defense Team is available to discuss what your student may be up against and the recourse you may be able to take in response to your school's actions. Call 888-535-3683 or fill out this brief online form to speak with our team.
