Hazing in college fraternities and at high schools have been an ongoing issue in America for decades, and there have been instances of people getting seriously injured and even dying behind excessive hazing. Though it has been banned in amateur athletics, the culture is still thriving, even at the high school level, and took a turn for the worst at David High School in Mobile, Alabama.
ABC reported that the parents of 14-year-old high school freshman Rodney Kim Jr. are demanding their sons football coach be fired and the football team forfeit the 2018-19 season after her son was brutally beaten by members the squad in an alleged hazing attack caught on cell phone video.
Freshman quarterback suffers broken arm during varsity “hazing” incident at Davidson High School
Freshman quarterback suffers broken arm during varsity “hazing” incident at Davidson High School
Kim Jr. suffered a broken arm, busted lip and bruises on his back in the incident that occurred Friday afternoon at Davidson High School, his parents told ABC News. The freshman quarterback required surgery on his broken arm.
He broke his radial bone in his forearm. His physician was able to realign his radial bone, his mother Mary Kim told ABC News in an interview. Hes been complaining of headaches so we took him to the hospital today, because we think he may have a concussion.
The victims dad told ABC that he first received a phone call from the schools athletic trainer, informing him that his son had been injured at practice. He said that after further probing, the athletic director told him she believed the teen “may have been hazed” and that “a couple of guys jumped on him.”
Kim Sr. brought his son to a local hospital and reported the assault to the police.
In a written statement dated May 3, 2018, Mobile Chief of Police Lawrence Battiste wrote, The Mobile Police Department is aware of the incident that occurred at Davidson High School on April 27, 2018 where a 14-year-old male student was assaulted by several teammates in the locker room after practice. We are actively investigating to determine all individuals responsible for causing the student to sustain a broken arm injury. Today, we received the social media video post of the incident and it is being reviewed. Once the investigation has concluded, we will provide an update on those arrested and the charges.
Twenty children jumped my son and only four were suspended, Kim Jr.’s mom said. The police detectives told us today they are working on it, but to make more arrests, thats up to the DAs office.
We have not heard from the school system period. We feel like everyone has turned their backs on us, she said.
We need to send a strong message that this is not tolerated in America. If the adults are not the ones sending a strong message, then these kids think its OK.
It’s hard to break a chain of tradition so thick and accepted.
In 2017, an LSU student death was investigated as part of a hazing incident.
LSU student’s death being investigated as possible ‘hazing incident’
LSU has suspended all Greek activities during an investigation into the death of freshman Max Gruver, who died after being taken from a fraternity house Thursday.
In February of 2017, a Penn State frat pledge died due to excessive hazing.
Penn State hazing death video shows pledge’s final hours
Surveillance video of what happened at a Penn State frat party before a pledge died was shown in court on Monday. Timothy Piazza died in Februrary after a hazing ritual at the Beta Theta Pi house. Prosecutors played about three hours of the chilling video captured by the fraternity’s own security cameras.
In 2014, we saw an example of how high school and even middle school hazing can go wrong and have serious consequences for all involved.
Hazing scandal cancels football season
CNN’s Miguel Marquez reports on a hazing scandal rocking a NJ High school that has canceled an entire football season.
Any organized group or club can engage in various forms of hazing. In 2010, Frank Deford reported for HBO on the troubling aspect of hazing taking place on marching bands at historically black colleges and universities
Real Sports With Bryant Gumbel: Hazing (HBO)
Frank Deford reports on the troubling aspect of hazing taking place on marching bands at historically black colleges and universities. For more information, visit http://itsh.bo/fC9Ctg. Watch HBO Sports series and events online at HBO GO http://itsh.bo/mqq7g6. With HBO GO, you can watch your favorite HBO Sports series and events on your iPad (http://itsh.bo/hbogoapple), iPhone (http://itsh.bo/hbogoapple) or Android (http://itsh.bo/hbogoandroid) smartphone.
In 2011, a hazing death almost destroyed the storied Marching 100 Band from Florida A&M.
FAMU alum sheds light on hazing rituals
Tallahassee police charged three students with battery and hazing of Florida A&M freshman clarinet player Bria Hunter. Anna Werner spoke with a Florida A&M alumnus on the initiation ceremonies practiced within the storied Marching 100 band.
In the Davidson case, the Mobile County School District is cooperating with police and conducting its own investigation, Mobile County School District Superintendent Martha Peek told ABC News in a phone interview.
Peek says all parties are cooperating with the investigation, including the schools football coach Fred Riley. Mobile County School district has suspended four students.
TSL will keep you informed as this situation develops.
