Last week six boys attending a very prominent all-boys private school in downtown Toronto were arrested and charged over a hazing incident which had taken place within the confines of the school. The incident dominated the news headlines for several days and, as is quite often the case these days, has sparked fierce debate on social media.
The incident attracted the news media who brought it to the attention of the general public after two videos were circulated on social media. One recording, which went viral, depicted the sexual assault of a teenage boy being held down by a group of boys in a locker room where he was allegedly assaulted with what appears to be a broomstick.
The Toronto Police got involved after the media broke the story and subsequently visited the school’s principal who acknowledged having had the videos since the 12th of November, two days before the police’s arrival, and that he had fully intended to call in the relevant authorities. However, he had wanted to inform the victims’ parents first and had been busy with expulsion meetings. As the police mounted their investigations of the incident, two more videos surfaced, subsequently leading to the investigation of six separate incidents at the private institution.
The boys, all younger teens cannot be identified under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, and the details of the bail hearing are covered by a publication ban.
Eight students have been expelled so far, and another suspended, in connection with the two latest videos, as the school cancelled the mid-term assessments while trying to manage the developing scandal. It then announced the appointment of an independent three-member committee of prominent citizens, who have no connection to the school, to investigate the school’s culture. Parents and students will be consulted by the ‘Respect and Culture Committee’ who will examine traditions, rituals and social practices of the student body.
The reactions and the subsequent fallout following the revealing of the hazing have covered the range of shock to ‘boys will be boys.’ Calls for the resignation of the principal initially fell on deaf ears but as the crisis took on a life of its own, both the principal and the president announced their resignations last Friday. Surprisingly, many parents of current students launched an attack on the ‘unfair media coverage’ which was giving the elite institution a bad name and past students who have gone public with past incidents of bullying and hazing at the school.
Long in the tooth learning institutions such as universities, colleges and high schools are steeped in tradition and rituals. It’s part and parcel of their proud histories, and past alumni will often regale each other with memories of these traditions at their gatherings. With the passage of time these rituals have evolved from playful pranks to borderline dangerous physical activities which can inflict permanent damage, both physical and mental, on the victim. The emergence of social platforms on which recordings of the incidents can be uploaded has only added fuel to the fire, as now the world is able to witness these hazings and add their vile comments.
Here in Guyana, one well-established high school initiated new arrivals at the start of the school year with an initiation of ‘bumping’ where four older students grabbed the fleeing youngster by the arms and legs, flinging him into the air and then bumping him on his rear end a few times. The terrified student’s shirt was then stuffed with the freshly cut grass from the school’s play field. This dangerous ritual was done away with several decades ago.
Unfortunately, the focus after these nasty occurrences have been on the victims who then have to endure the aftermath of the bullying with subsequent teasing and harassment which can endure for the rest of his stay at the institution. Not everyone is able to deal with it and a few opt to depart from the environment before the standard time.
The perpetrators of these hazings more often than not get off scot-free and continue to conduct their irresponsible pranks on their chosen victims. Which leads to the question how do these hazers conduct themselves in the work environment when they enter the real world? Do their acts of bullying and harassment continue, especially when they are handed or gain the reins of control over the destinies of fellow employees?
According to hazing expert, Hank Nuwer, a professor of journalism at Franklin College, Indiana, USA and the author of several books on the subject of hazing, including, Hazing: Destroying Young Lives, the problem of hazing has been accelerating over the past three decades, and there is no way of knowing how big the problem really is, since many victims are fearful of reporting the incidents. He adds that there is a great need to educate people on the subsequent effects of hazing but admits that the existence of internet sites inspiring possible perpetrators to ‘do bad’ is a huge problem.
This recent hazing incident is a wake-up call for everyone – principals, teachers, students and parents – that hazing and bullying of fellow students and uploading of it to the internet has gone too far. Too many lives are being destroyed in a few seconds whilst some bullies enjoy their fifteen minutes of fame. The time has come for it to be brought under control.
We have an obligation to look out for our fellow man and woman.
