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CNN Live Sunday
Hazing Investigation
Aired September 28, 2003 - 10:32 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
SOPHIA CHOI, CNN ANCHOR, CNN SUNDAY: Now, to New York state, a high school football team on Long Island is reeling from the news of alleged hazing attacks that may end up as criminal cases. The story from CNN's Kris Osborn in New York.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KRIS OSBORN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Most recent shocking hazing rituals, Glenbrook High outside of Chicago, where senior girls were beating up on juniors, feeding them mud and feces.
At Methum (ph) High School on Long Island, New York, where several football players have allegedly been sodomized with broomsticks. Hazing violence is becoming more and more alarming.
And 23-year old Wesley Berger is all too familiar with the brutality of hazing. He was on the Methum (ph) High School football team six years ago.
WESLEY BERGER, HAZING VICTIM: You walk and act like you're born with that thing.
OSBORN: Wesley was assaulted by teammates. Criminal and civil charges were brought. It is tough for him to talk about.
BERGER: You get dragged into a bathroom you get your head stuffed in a urinal and get flushed.
OSBORN: Why would anyone want to brutalize teammates and friends and watch them suffer?
ROBERT REINER, BEHAVIOR PSYCHOLOGIST: Human beings have the potential to do these things. And when you're in a mob or a crowd of the people who are doing it, people unleash these behaviors they wouldn't ordinarily would never dream of exhibiting. Unfortunately, it's the dark side of human nature.
OSBORN: Wesley will never forget the scene in that locker room.
BERGER: I had sustained injuries because of the resist, because I would not allow myself to be dumped in urine.
OSBORN: So why don't friends come forward to help when they see someone being victimized?
REINER: They're probably scared. They're probably scared of either getting into trouble, maybe being physically abused themselves, or they don't want to face the social ridicule of not being accepted.
OSBORN: But hazing is gaining an uglier notoriety. Parents know it's a problem, students know it's a problem but --
REINER: This is an open society. We're not going to turn college campuses or high school into police states.
HANK NUWER, HAZING EXPERT: I think we need to teach values from the first grade, second grade. We have to realize that students aren't playing the same anymore. There's very aggressive behavior from the get-go.
OSBORN: As for Berger that life-scaring episode has only strengthened his resolve to become a professional football player. He's now getting ready to try out for the Arena Football League. He says the next time he's in the news, he wants it to be for his footballing future, and not his hazing past.
Kris Osborn, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired September 28, 2003 - 10:32 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
SOPHIA CHOI, CNN ANCHOR, CNN SUNDAY: Now, to New York state, a high school football team on Long Island is reeling from the news of alleged hazing attacks that may end up as criminal cases. The story from CNN's Kris Osborn in New York.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KRIS OSBORN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Most recent shocking hazing rituals, Glenbrook High outside of Chicago, where senior girls were beating up on juniors, feeding them mud and feces.
At Methum (ph) High School on Long Island, New York, where several football players have allegedly been sodomized with broomsticks. Hazing violence is becoming more and more alarming.
And 23-year old Wesley Berger is all too familiar with the brutality of hazing. He was on the Methum (ph) High School football team six years ago.
WESLEY BERGER, HAZING VICTIM: You walk and act like you're born with that thing.
OSBORN: Wesley was assaulted by teammates. Criminal and civil charges were brought. It is tough for him to talk about.
BERGER: You get dragged into a bathroom you get your head stuffed in a urinal and get flushed.
OSBORN: Why would anyone want to brutalize teammates and friends and watch them suffer?
ROBERT REINER, BEHAVIOR PSYCHOLOGIST: Human beings have the potential to do these things. And when you're in a mob or a crowd of the people who are doing it, people unleash these behaviors they wouldn't ordinarily would never dream of exhibiting. Unfortunately, it's the dark side of human nature.
OSBORN: Wesley will never forget the scene in that locker room.
BERGER: I had sustained injuries because of the resist, because I would not allow myself to be dumped in urine.
OSBORN: So why don't friends come forward to help when they see someone being victimized?
REINER: They're probably scared. They're probably scared of either getting into trouble, maybe being physically abused themselves, or they don't want to face the social ridicule of not being accepted.
OSBORN: But hazing is gaining an uglier notoriety. Parents know it's a problem, students know it's a problem but --
REINER: This is an open society. We're not going to turn college campuses or high school into police states.
HANK NUWER, HAZING EXPERT: I think we need to teach values from the first grade, second grade. We have to realize that students aren't playing the same anymore. There's very aggressive behavior from the get-go.
OSBORN: As for Berger that life-scaring episode has only strengthened his resolve to become a professional football player. He's now getting ready to try out for the Arena Football League. He says the next time he's in the news, he wants it to be for his footballing future, and not his hazing past.
Kris Osborn, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
