Hazing much more than harmless fun

Hazing is in the news again, as athletes at Northwestern University have once again proven that college students, from time to time, tend to become intoxicated and engage in very, very silly activities.

The school has suspended its entire women?s soccer team, after learning of a hazing incident involving the team?s freshman members last year. Photos of the hazing ritual appeared on the Internet at www.badjocks.com, and the school is presently investigating the whole situation.

And just when Northwestern thought it was becoming infamous enough, along comes the admission by the university that it has had to discipline both the men?s swim team and the students who perform as ?Willy,? the Wildcat mascot, because of hazing-related incidents in the past school year.

Some members of the Lady Wildcats have spoken out, including some who were the targets of the initiation, stating that they participated willingly, and no harm came to them.

But the thing about hazing, and the reason it is frowned upon in the first place, is that it?s a progressive phenomenon. When the once-hazed freshmen become the hazing seniors, they are likely to give it worse than they once got it. And that escalates further and further, until somebody drops dead of alcohol poisoning or is beaten to a pulp.

? And speaking of people being beaten, have you ever been on the golf course and accidentally sliced a shot over into someone?s lawn?

If you have, here?s hoping you weren?t playing in Natick, Mass., at the time.

According to an article in the Metrowest Daily News, Stephen Lawrence got a little tired of range balls showing up in his yard recently, and rather than placing a phone call to complain, he took matters into his own hands.

Lawrence was arrested last week, after allegedly shoving a 64-year-old manager at the CityGolf Natick driving range because he was upset about golf balls landing on his property.

As if that wasn?t over-the-top enough, the manager who was attacked is not only 64, he also has a bad heart ? meaning the repeated shoves in the chest he received from Lawrence couldn?t have been doing him any good.

?He attacked (the unnamed victim) in front of several witnesses,? range owner Gary Parker told the press. ?While being attacked, (the victim) said he had a heart condition and said, ?I have a valve there,? and the guy pushed him on the chest and he continued to push him there several times. He is a frail, 64-year-old man with a heart condition.?

Call me crazy, but if you lived near a golf course, or a driving range, wouldn?t you expect to find a Titleist or two in your lawn from time to time? Wouldn?t you have to be a few bricks shy of a load to physically attack someone because of that ? particularly when that someone isn?t even the person who hit the balls into your yard in the first place?

If it was me, I?d be thinking, ?hey! Free golf balls!? In fact, if you?d like to throw a few Noodles out into my yard, feel free to do so. Those things aren?t cheap, you know ? and I lose a lot of them. So anything you can do to help me out would be much appreciated.