Monday, May 7, 2012 The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com Monday, May 7, 2012 The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com Edited and managed by students at the University of Michigan since 1890. 420 Maynard St. Ann Arbor, MI 48109 tothedaily@umich.edu FOLLOW DAILY OPINION ON TWITTER Keep up with columnists, read Daily editorials, view cartoons and join in the debate. Check out @michdailyoped to get updates on Daily opinion content throughout the day. SCOTT GUMBINERI Bonded by battle Kiki Golden wins Player of the Year, JACOB AXELRAD EDITOR IN CHIEF GIACOMO BOLOGNA MANAGING EDITOR ADRIENNE ROBERTS EDITORIAL PAGE EDITOR Unsigned editorials reflect the official position of the Daily's editorial board. All other signed articles and illustrations representnsolelythe views of their authors. Not exclusively Greek Hazing is now a problem for many student organizations n college campuses all across the United States, hazing has tra- ditionally played an important role in being initiated into Greek life. Yet hazing has recently become more widespread as student organizations and sports teams have begun to copy this practice as well. Ranging from the marching band to the football team, hazing has a prom- inent place in college life now more than ever before. It not only leads to death and drunken injuries but also breaks down one's self-confidence and self-worth. College officials need to enforce anti-hazing policies to ensure that students from all different groups on campus aren't hazing new mem- bers in order to consider them a part of their organization, and students need to be well aware that hazing is not an acceptable practice under any As stories of overboard and most likely uncommon hazing incidents become sensationalized in the media, it seems that a grow- ing number of students on campus are joining the usual mindset of college administrators in their no tolerance stance toward hazing. The University administration and students alike seem to believe that meaningful friendships can be built under comfortable cir- cumstances and, superficially, that hazing can appear to be an unnecessary and time-consuming practice for busy college students. While there can be some truth to that mindset, for me, my most meaningful and lasting friend- ships have been forged in stressful situations, not comfortable ones. The University of Michigan defines hazing as "any action or situation ... which recklessly, intentionally, or unintentionally endangers the mental, physical, or academic health of the student. This includes, but is not limited to any situation which: . Creates a risk of injury to any individual or group . Causes discomfort to any indi- vidual or group C auses embarrassment to any individual or group " Involves harassment of any individual or group " Involves degradation of any individual or group . Involves humiliation of an individual or group I Involves ridicule of an indi- vidual or group" These so-called mentally unhealthy situations banned by the University are, especially for men, the best circumstances under which close friendships can form. Many of our unpleasant life experiences are what help build our greatest friendships. In a 2008 study by University of Maine pro- fessors, Dr. Elizabeth Allan and Dr. Mary Madden, it proves that students actually perceive more positive outcomes from hazing, rather than negative. Only three percent of participants reported feelinghumiliated or degraded. My closest friendships in high school, for example, were forged through the common struggles we experienced as members of sports teams. The University bans put- ting pledges in "discomforting" situations, but in my experience, it is this common discomfort we experienced as teammates at cold practices, long workouts and away games on weekends that made us such close friends. The University hazing policy bans "degradation" and "embar- rassment," but, as team players, being publicly scolded by our coaches was an embarrassing experience. These embarrass- ing moments not only taught us important lessons, but made us closer as a whole due to our strict coaching staff. It's a common tactic of sports coaches, notably exemplified by Herb Brooks and his 1980 U.S. Olympic team, to put their players through extremely strenuous circumstances in order to bring the team closer together, thereby forging friendships in the process. Similarly, when I worked as a lifeguard and at a pizza shop, I bonded with my fellow employees by lamenting our job and dealing with the long hours, rude custom- ers and low wages. The incredible friendships that soldiers form under the stress and trials of war have been famously portrayed in culture through stories of strife, such asaShake- speare's play "Henry V" and the HBO mini-series "Band of Broth- ers." While these examples are extreme, they illustrate the fact that life-long friendships are made through sharing adversity. Even somethingas simple as marriage is often strengthened by the shared responsibilities and hard work of raising children. Whether it's the stress due to a boyfriend or girlfriend, a tough class, ahard practice, longhours at a job or being hazed during pledge term, the closest friendships are formed through times of struggle, not times of ease. The stressful cir- cumstances underwhich friend- ships are formed are exactly the circumstances that pledge terms try to replicate through hazing. While hazing can, and often does, go beyond its purpose of bringing pledges together as friends, the University of Michi- gan's zero-tolerance policy for hazing is nevertheless trying to restrict an invaluable method of forming life-long friendships dur- ing some of our most formative years. Scott Gumbiner is a LSA junior. By JEREMY SUMMITT For the Daily In the Midwest, kids typically begin their sports careers on the field with soccer or Little League Baseball. But for Michigan water polo's junior attacker Kiki Golden, recently named the CWPA West- ern Division's Player of the Year, began her sports career in the pool. Golden grew up in the San Francisco Bay area. She started playing water polo in the sixth grade, thanks to some inspiration from her older brother, Matt, who also played. "I thought it was better than swimming," Golden said. Her high school career began at Monte Vista High School, just north of Sacramento. There, she played on the varsity team, while she stayed fit with her local club team, Diablo Water Polo, in the offseason. Michigan coach Matt Anderson said he recruited Golden because of her club team. According to Anderson, he was thoroughly impressed the first time he watched her play. "There were a few other highly recruitable athletes on her team," Anderson said. "(But) I saw what Kiki could do, and (opposing recruiters) focused on the other players on her team. "Immediately, I set my sights on going after her." It was a good decision by Ander- son, as he acquired an under-the- radar recruit on a stellar club team. Even more impressive was the San Francisco native's transition from California to Michigan. Many people wonder how any- one could sacrifice the sunny, blue skies for a state filled with snow anti unpredictable weather. For Golden though, the choice was a matter of change. "A lot of my friends from my club team went to (University of California at) Berkeley, then I came on a trip (to Michigan)," she said. "I came here, fell in love with the place and wanted to go some- where different." The transition from a warm cli- mate to brisk Michigan weather was not the only change in Gold- en's forecast as she arrived in Ann Arbor her freshman year in the fall of 2009. "I'd say that freshman year, I wasn't quite sure what everything was all about," Golden said. "It was difficult to balance school and water polo." As many college students have trouble transitioning from high school to life at a large university, Golden learned from her mistakes, and her teammates and coaching staff took note. "Her first year and a half, it was hard because she tried to get by on just talent," Anderson said. "She has matured through her junior year. "She focuses on the mental and emotional aspects as well as tal- ent." Golden has transformed from a young college kid to the Player of the Year and a leader of the water polo team. "She is definitely someone that everybody looks to in order to set the pace of the game," Anderson said. "Players look to her a little too much sometimes." Her success this year has led the team to a third-place finish at the Eastern Championships, as Michigan narrowly missed out on an NCAA Tournament berth. Golden would never take full credit for the exceptional season that the Wolverines were a part of, though. "(The Player of the year Award) showed me how far I've come since freshman year," she said. "(Though) I never really think about those things." Rather, Golden is looking for- ward to next season, specifically another shot at the Eastern Cham- pionships. "I think we've developed more as a team," she said. "We'll be los- ing fewer seniors, and I'm excited to see how far we can go next year and how much we can improve." Maloney not to blame f the Michigan baseball self out, snagging a grounder to But this year, he was forced team won its last six confer- turn a double play and freshman to pick the fruit from the tree ence games, it would have a shortstop Dylan Delaney started before it was ripe. Maloney called chance to earn a spot in the Big almost every game as a rookie, on the freshmen, which put the Ten Tournament. going 3-for.3 against Northwest- Wolverines in a vulnerable posi- Pretend for a minute that the ern in the final matchup - it's tion. Though the young players Wolverines could somehow win those sparks of hope that keep stepped up, it wasn't enough to their way Michigan coach Rich Maloney replace the level of experience it through those LIZ from throwing in the towel. needed. six games. NAGLE With every new obstacle and After a downhill season, Malo- Michigan injury, he looks at the team on the ney alone must bear this burden would post a On Baseball field and makes adjustments. - it's his name that carries the 12-12 confer- Maloney has toyed with the weight of a 19-28 record. ence record and the year wouldn't batting order, which was once a Maloney once claimed three- end after the Nebraska series - it permanent structure with the straight Big Ten Championships, would continue into the confer- three outfielders - junior Patrick ranks fourth on-Michigan's win- ence playoffs with Michigan as Biondi, freshman Will Drake and ningest coaches list and has pre- the six-seed. O'Neill - leading the way. pared numerous players for the Unfortunately, this is too far- The lineup has seen multiple big leagues. fetched of a scenario. changes since O'Neill and Drake But since finishing last in the If the team regains full were injured. Some seemed to conference in 2011, people have strength, it could potentially win work, others didn't. So Maloney kept a close eye on Maloney's two or three conference games returned to the drawing boards. decisions. Whether or not he before the season ends - contests He's done everything in his was at fault for last year's 17-37 against the Big Ten's top dog, power to squeeze the last bit of results, this time around excuses Purdue, and the Huskers. potential out of a bare-bones can be made. Before the Northwestern series team. Maloney has improvised Put away the tar and feathers in late April, Michigan wasn't and experimented, but there's not because there is no blame here. overly concerned with its handi- much more he can do. Put any coach in his situation, capped situation. But as time At one point, he had the cream in Maloney's shoes, and see if he wore on, the Wolverines knew of the crop. From 2006-08, Malo- can build a winningcteam without what their future had in store. ney had options - most coaches healthy players. They say misery loves com- would take them for granted, and No one can point a finger in pany, and after the Wildcats won maybe he did, too. Maloney's direction. two of three games over Michi- gan, both sat at the bottom of the conference standings.Ut One week later, both got swept by top-tier conference teams. But because Northwestern was series deeper into its conference schedule, its win percentage claimed a narrow lead and the 7 4 8 9 No. 10 spot in the rankings. Michigan, alone, sat in last7 place. With a little bit of luck and sophomore right fielder Michael 2 8 5 6 O'Neill on their side, the Wol- verines regained their dignity 9 6 7 3 and won the series against Iowa this weekend and reclaimed lot 3 9 1 place. Before the series win, some players seemed to have give 7 up and others looked fatigued, but there have always been brie 1 6 7 5 moments when Michigan looked like a different team - rejuve- nated, energetic and simply bet- ter. Freshman Kevin White 5 9 1 smacked one over the fence i back-to-back games agains e Indiana, senior third basema John Lorenz has often laid him circumstance. On May 2, 13 students were charged for being involved in the death of Robert Champion, a drum major in the Florida A&M Univer- sity marching band. Champion' died last November after a long night of hazing rituals, which cov- ered his body in cuts and bruises. According to the Huffington Post, Champion's attorney Christopher Chestnut stated, "Ultimately, the case shows how deeply hazing is entrenched in the culture at FAMU." Many people, including Champion's mother, have publicly disagreed with the charges, claim- ing they didn't go far enough. Hazing needs to be taken seri- ously and is a real and dangerous problem across college campuses today. Not only are Greek life members partaking in these ritu- als, but students in other campus organizations are as well. Campus officials need to step in to ensure that anti-hazing policies aren't being violated and are taken seri- ously by students. Hazing is illegal in 44 states, including Michigan, and strict anti-hazing policies are in place to promote a safe and healthy community among Greek life members and other student groups on campus. Campus offi- cials, however, need to see to it that these policies are being adhered to in all areas of campus and enforce them if necessary. Hazing isn't necessary to have a "real" undergraduate experience. Students shouldn't be subjected to extreme measures simply to become a part of agroup or organi- zation. Hazing does not take into account individuals' past experi- ences, their threshold for pain or their tolerance for alcohol. Not only does it create an extremely dangerous atmosphere, it also leads to psychological effects that can scar students for life. Hazing is a dehumanizing con- cept that has been instilled in college culture across the coun- try. Many assume it is a practice reserved for Greek life, and thus any other organization will not haze, even if they actually do. But studies of more than 11,000 stu- dents have revealed that 74 per- cent of students on varsity athletic teams have been hazed, and 56 percent of students in performing arts organizations claim the same. Hazing is defined as "subjection to harassment or ridicule." Students must realize that this can happen anywhere. Hazing is not only dehuman- izing and destructive, but it could also lead to feelings of worthless- ness and crush one's self-confi- dence. The University must crack down on its anti-hazing policies to ensure a safe community for all groups on campus. As Michigan students, we need to realize that subjecting each other to these horrendous measures is com- pletely unnecessary and simply degrading.