With the beginning of a sports season comes a fresh crop of rookies. Often these new teammates have to prove themselves through a series of initiation activities. Each team has different expectations for what these activities entail, but the end goals are similar from team to team.

The men’s hockey team had their new teammates dress up in girls’ clothing.

“The [first-years] that made the team had to dress up in skirts and girls’ tops and walk around campus inviting people to a performance. The details [of what happened] between the invitations and the performance are confidential. The performance then at the end of the night took place in front of anyone who came [to watch],” First-year Nate Paulsen said.

For many teams, the expectation is that the initiation activities will not be discussed with those not on the team. Rookie swimmers declined to comment on their initiation activities, saying that the upperclassmen had told them not to talk to anyone about what had happened. The tennis team and tennis coaches were unable to comment on their initiation activities because of an on-going investigation.

While some think that these “welcome-to-the-team” events go too far, others say that they bring the team closer together and give rookies a chance to prove themselves to their teammates.

“All of the events bring the team closer together. Some people might see some things as mild hazing, but this is part of us showing that we are dedicated to the team, not our own desires and comfort levels. The veterans of the team made sure that none of us were endangered,” Paulsen said of the hockey team’s initiation.

The rookies on the cross country team also participated in initiation activities, which included “thrift store bowling,” performing a skit about the upperclassmen and, for the boys, wearing suits to the President’s Banquet picked out by upperclassmen. Thrift store bowling was an activity that the whole team participated in, including the coaches, but the other activities were to welcome the new members to the team.

“The activities [the cross country team did] pushed the comfort levels of those involved, especially the easily intimidated [first-years], but had the intention of bringing the team together and forming long-lasting bonds with the people we spend hours a day with,” First-year Dillon Emo said.

Both Emo and Paulsen were quick to add that the initiation activities that their teams engaged in were not dangerous.

Paulsen did say that hazing can happen, and when it does, it is not okay.

“I by no means am saying that those who pressure others [into doing things they are uncomfortable with] are innocent, but often they don’t deserve all of the blame. In some cases hazing does happen, and it is sad when it does,” Paulsen said.

Paulsen also thinks that often initiation activities and rituals are misunderstood.

“Many of the issues of hazing come from people expecting to feel comfortable. Part of initiation is showing that the team is more important than your own comfort. After many rookie initiations, I have seen the line of hazing crossed, but I have also seen that when something truly crosses people’s boundaries, mercy is shown. When kids don’t want to do something, and they give a reasonable excuse, I have always seen those [reasons] be respected,” Paulsen said.

“Initiation activities often get a bad rap because some groups take them too far. Without our [initiation] activities, this team would not be as close a team as we are now. I can say without a doubt in my mind that the cross country team’s initiation activities did nothing but create a family atmosphere, I am lucky to be a part of this family here at Gustavus, and am excited to welcome new members to our family next year,” Emo said.