Towson cheerleader hazing may not be the worst when it comes to group initiations, but it certainly is making the headlines as Towson University began an internal investigation last year. The investigation ordered by university officials last August began after they received an anonymous phone call regarding the Towson cheerleader hazing.
According to Bradenton, the report on the Towson cheerleader hazing by the Towson University cheerleaders happened way back July 31, 2013. This was reportedly when new freshmen have been invited to an off-campus apartment for a cheer camp. The details of the Towson cheerleader hazing are only making headlines now as it was only recently that it has been made public.
CBS Local reports that the issue blew up since last year and it first got the team suspended for a year. An appeal was reportedly made and this led to lighter punishment.
First published by The Baltimore Sun and dated April 17, the report on the Towson cheerleader hazing was obtained by The Associated Press through a Freedom of Information Act request.
The investigation reportedly concluded that the Towson cheerleader hazing involved giving new members alcohol and telling them to wear adult diapers. According to the Towson cheerleader hazing report, freshmen were blindfolded by experienced cheerleaders of the group. The freshmen were then asked if they wanted to do a shot of liquor or funnel a beer, after which they were told to wear adult diapers over cheerleading shorts.
Because of the results of the investigation conducted by the university officials on the Towson cheerleader hazing, CBS Local reports that the school's top-ranking cheerleading team have been suspended for one semester.
However, according to the website Deadspin's Mike Hellgren, the Towson cheerleader hazing may just be the "tamest hazing ritual ever", despite many on the Towson campus taking it seriously.
A senior named Ida Khan said, "Any form of hazing is bad and they shouldn't have done it."
A sophomore named Soronia Taylor also said, "With alcohol being involved, that kind of makes the situation a lot worse. Considering the girls are freshmen, a lot of them are not over the age of 21."
Senior Melanie Bulavinetz shared her opinion saying, "Everyone knows what hazing is. Degrading anyone, especially your teammates, is just morally wrong."
Despite the cheerleaders who initiated the Towson cheerleader hazing saying that the incident was "no big deal" as it was just a bonding experience to bring the girls closer, Towson University said it has no tolerance policy on hazing.
Towson cheerleader hazing opposition by the university has been explained in an interview with WJZ. Jana Varwig, V.P. for student affairs said: "You're asked to do something you might not want to do, but you think you might have to do it because that is how you become a member of the organization. That's the power dynamic that's there."
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