Hazing

While I was in Brantford, Ontario, recently, visiting my mother for her 82nd birthday, I spotted this article reporting an alleged hazing incident at my alma mater, McGill University. Why is hazing still an issue in 2005? In Canada of all places. My native land prides itself, often too self-righteously, as being above uncivilized behaviour of any sort. So there's the newspaper report recounting a tale of pure barabaric foolishness about a bunch of McGill jocks sticking broom poles up some poor freshman footballer's butt. Lovely. In Canada. At the university which considers itself the North American equivalent of Cambridge or Oxford.

Well, tell you what, McGill: four generations of Kennedys have attended McGill, me included. My late wife Nancy graduated therefrom as well. You have my solemn word that McGill will receive not a dollar from me when I depart this world until I am assured that hazing is a thing of the past at my alma mater. Zero tolerance is the only acceptable reponse to hazing.

Why is the Canadian Press - the Canadian wire service - treating this hazing incident as though it is no big deal? Obviously they don't get it. Don't give me any pious platitudes about 'hazing being less prevalent in Canada than in the U.S.' or that 'we are trying to change the culture.' Investigate the allegation by all means, but if it proves to be true, deal with the offenders expeditiously and with finality.

Now, before you click on to your next agenda item, ask yourself, as a parent, teacher or student: "Does hazing occur at my school?" And if it does, DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT! Parents need to demand that hazing be met with zero tolerance. Teachers must not look the other way and ignore 'traditions'. Students have to speak up and tell an adult when they see or hear of any form of hazing. It's that simple. Only YOU can end hazing.

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