<lass="page layoutArea" title="Page 1">
After a hazing incident three weeks ago, St. Olaf’s baseball team was suspended for the season.
Anonymous comments on social media alerted the St. Olaf administration to several hazing, or team-building exercises.
According to St. Olaf administration, the hazing included “ridicule, harassment, and public displays of servitude.”
As a result, the St Olaf Softball team has been suspended from playing for the term, though members remain enrolled in St Olaf.
Baseball team members attempted to hide information about the incident from administration, exacerbating the situation.
Carleton students became aware of the hazing incident via Yik Yak. The controversy attracted notable media attention, including the Minneapolis Star Tribune.
Chair of physical education Gerald Young reiterated his disapproval of actions such as hazing. Although he feels the suspension of the team was unfortunate, he regards it as having been performed with due process and to be in the best interest of St. Olaf and both the St. Olaf and Carleton student bodies.
Carleton athletics’ current policy is that students behave as adults and refrain from such behaviors as occurred at St Olaf. Hazing is banned at Carleton.
Furthermore, responsible use of social media is encouraged and expected from the students at both Carleton and St. Olaf.
Carleton administration decided “in an effort to encourage responsible behavior online, the athletic department has coordinated various social media training sessions specifically for our student athletes,” Young said.