Zero tolerance for initiation

By Amanda Cupido

According to tradition, rookies were targets for senior players on the team. The initiation process was expected and could be brutally humiliating.

Ryerson has found a way to put a stop to that. On Sept. 20, Carleton’s women’s soccer team cancelled the game scheduled with Ryerson. Carleton’s team was suspended from playing two season games due to a hazing incident.

Beth Ali, interim manager of interuniversity sports at Ryerson said that she feels badly for the Carleton sports and recreation department since they have zero tolerance for initiation, just like Ryerson.

“It’s negative team building,” said Ali. “The whole intent is to not allow it to happen.

” Ali said the department offers a coaching and athlete orientation where these issues are discussed.

“We talk about ways to do positive team building,” she said.

Ali also mentioned the severity of initiation and that there will be investigations and consequences if a team takes part in any sort of hazing.

“It’s one of the worst forms of bullying,” said Ali.

The department relies on the senior athletes to bring forth hints of initiation, which can be anything that makes a player feel different.

Jeff Grenier, a second-year hockey player, said he has been initiated by a team before, but not at Ryerson.

Since Grenier wasn’t initiated as a rookie, there was no desire to continue the tradition. Essentially, it’s been phased out.

“I didnt feel any pressure,” he said. “It’s the truth.”

Dom Khan, coach of the rowing team, also said there is no history of initiation on his team.

“We don’t do it and we’ve never done it” said Khan. “We are a family.”

In addition to the zero tolerance with initiation, there is also a zero tolerence drinking policy for athletes and coaches.

Grenier said most of the hockey team partied throughout the summer and got it out of their system.

“I don’t have a desire to go out and be crazy,” he said. “Now it’s time for business.”

Also, with a large part of his free time committed to playing hockey, Grenier finds it hard to find time to go out.

“Our schedule doesn’t allow for it,” he said. Khan said the rowers choose not to drink based on their desire to be successful.

“It’s pretty simple,” he said. “They ask themselves, ‘Is drinking going to help us win?’ and the answer is no.”