From harmless pranks to unprintable ones, hazing has always had a place in the realm of college athletics. Usually, it’s the big-time football, basketball, and cheerleading squads getting busted for their treatment of freshmen, but this time it was the members of the University of Wisconsin marching band.
    
The renowned Badgers’ marching band was placed on probation by UW’s chancellor John Wiley after a band member came forward about being pressured into shaving his head.  This report brought forth more accusations and allegations regarding hazing within the band. 

What kind of behavior, you ask?  Well, reports from those close to the situation claim that there was inappropriate acts going on inside the band’s buses during a recent road trip, such as females being forced to kiss other female band members before entering the bus’ bathroom and other musicians’ semi-nude, suggestive dancing that made bandmates feel uncomfortable and unsafe. 

This isn’t the first time that the band has been in hot water, either.  In 2007, the band’s assistant director resigned his position after reports surfaced that criticized his conduct with a female colleague during a band trip to Michigan in 2006.  The university said in a statement that the latest allegations were consistent with the 2006 troublesome behavior. 

“From reports we have received, it has become increasingly clear that certain types of sexualized and hazing behavior are an ingrained part of the band’s culture,” Chancellor Wiley said in a statement posted on the university’s website. “We will not provide an ongoing venue for this inappropriate and demeaning behavior. There is no reason to pretend that this is simply high-spirited fun.”

What do you think—harmless hijinks or horrendous hazing? Post a comment and let us know!

Coming soon to the CampusCompare Athletics Blog:

The Race for the Heisman
A Day in the Life of a Student Athlete
Intramural Sports = Organized Fun
and lots more College Football Roundups with Robbie Red-Zone!

If you are all about having new, strange experiences at college, then Assumption College in Worcester, Massachusetts might have something for you.

Capoeira.

Never heard of it? Well it’s been called both beautiful and deadly.

And from my experience, college students are into beautiful and deadly things. But this one is actually a healthy option.

It’s martial arts,  dance, gymnastics and music rolled into one.

The sport has been around for a long time and originated in Brazil and became one of the hottest crazes in Hollywood. Halle Berry used capoeira in Catwoman and capoeira moves were incorporated Ocean’s Twelve and Aeon Flux. Capoeira even appears in the video game Street Fighter.

Now more and more colleges are kicking and spinning their way into the capoeira trend. Along with Assumption college–Hamilton College, Boston College and Roanoke College also have capoeira clubs.

Though its roots are debated, most attribute capoeira to African slaves in Brazil — they created it as a mode of self-defense and revolt that looks like a folk dance.

Participants form a circle and take turns playing instruments, singing and sparring in pairs in the center of the circle—there are acrobatic moves, groundwork, sweeps, kicks, headbutts and more.

Members of college capoeira clubs learn the movements, history, and philosophy of capoeira. They also promote awareness of the art around campus through performances and demonstrations.

Capoeira kind of looks like a circus. So if you really had your mind set on clown college but your parents forced you into the real deal—capoeira just might be the right club for you. And anyone is welcome to join regardless of experience.

The club at Assumption College meets every Tuesday and Thursday from 7pm - 8pm in the Plourde aerobics room.

Photo by: Luiz (flickr)