After reading the ESPN article on how Tom Herman specifically breaks his team up into three groups (gold, green, crimson) and even feeds them all differently, I did a little research.
According to the Texas student catalog, what Herman is doing is hazing, which is illegal in Texas.
From the handbook:
According to the Texas student catalog, what Herman is doing is hazing, which is illegal in Texas.
From the handbook:
Serving someone burnt biscuits, watered down eggs? Burnt hots dogs, burnt burgers?Quote:
Hazing is prohibited under state law. The University will initiate disciplinary action in response to hazing incidents that take place during official functions of the University or during functions sponsored by registered student organizations or sponsored student organizations; the University will also initiate disciplinary action in response to hazing incidents that have a substantial connection to the interests of the University regardless of the location in which they occur, on or off campus. See Texas Education Code, Section 37.156 and Section 51.936 for more information.
"Hazing" or "hazing activity" means any intentional, knowing, or reckless act, occurring on or off of the campus of an educational institution, by one person alone or acting with others, directed against a student, that endangers the mental or physical health or safety of a student for the purpose of pledging, being initiated into, affiliating with, holding office in, or maintaining membership in any organization whose members are primarily students at an educational institution.
Hazing includes but is not limited to any activity involving consumption of a food, liquid, alcoholic beverage, liquor, drug, or other substance that subjects the student to an unreasonable risk of harm or that adversely affects the mental or physical health or safety of the student
Putting someone on the 'crimson' team as a means of shaming them for their performance certainly meets this definition.Quote:
any activity that intimidates or threatens the student with ostracism, that subjects the student to extreme mental stress, shame, or humiliation, that adversely affects the mental health or dignity of the student
Consenting as a member of the team is not a defense.Quote:
"Organization" means a fraternity, sorority, association, corporation, order, society, corps, club, team, or service, social, or similar group whose members are primarily students, and includes but is not limited to groups with a valid registration under chapter 6 of the Institutional Rules. See Texas Education Code, Section 37.151(5) for more information.
A person commits the offense of hazing and is subject to discipline under this chapter if the person engages in hazing; solicits, encourages, directs, aids, or attempts to aid another in engaging in hazing;recklessly permits hazing to occur; or *has firsthand knowledge of the planning of a specific hazing incident(s) involving a student in an educational institution, or has firsthand knowledge that a specific hazing incident has occurred, and knowingly fails to report that knowledge in writing to the dean of students or other appropriate *
Coaches hazing the players meets this definition.Quote:
Hazing with or without the consent of a student is prohibited, whether on or off campus, and a violation of that prohibition renders both the person inflicting the hazing and the person submitting to the hazing subject to discipline.
An organization commits a hazing offense if the organization condones or encourages hazing or if an officer, authorized representative, or any combination of members, potential new members, or alumni of the organization commits or assists in the commission of hazing.
