(Richard Lafortune photo)
Dalhousie administration is reviewing a more comprehensive hazing policy in the wake of the school’s suspension of its women’s hockey team. The team was suspended in January for the remainder of this season because of a rookie party.
The updated set of guidelines, which is also being examined by legal experts, is awaiting approval from administration. The policy is not specific to Dal’s varsity athletes but also includes clubs and societies on campus.
Dal spokesperson Charles Crosby says promoting this updated policy is integral to the university’s plan.
“The main challenge going forward […] will be making sure that we communicate this consistently and regularly with teams, with societies and so on to make sure there’s absolutely no ambiguity around what the policy is and what the expectations of the university are,” says Crosby.
The updated guidelines will be available online once the policy is in place this September, he added.
Dal women’s hockey was forced to forfeit the remaining 12 games of their season in early January following the suspension of their entire team—apart from five rookies—for their role in an alcohol-fuelled initiation party.
Dal Athletics’ current anti-hazing policy reads that the department “does not condone the hazing or initiation of athletes and students in any form, whether such activities occur on or off the campus of Dalhousie University.”
Crosby added that the university is also in the process of working on a “reintegration plan” to reinstate its women’s hockey team into the school’s athletics fold.
The team’s coach has been meeting with university representatives to develop a more positive team culture, says Crosby.
“It was an unusual situation that requires a little extra effort to make sure the team is reintegrated effectively,” he says.
This renewal began in earnest Mar. 8 when team members discovered in an email from their coach that their suspension from using varsity resources has drawn to a close.
The university’s sanctions prevented players not only from representing the Tigers on the ice but also from the perks of being a varsity athlete. This includes the university’s ice time, the varsity weight room, tutoring and access to a physiotherapist, among others.
Isabelle Germain, who became one of the team’s spokespeople following the hazing fallout, says the university never properly restricted these benefits.
“Nobody [on the team] tried to break the rules, but when we go to the Dalplex they were like, ‘Nobody told us you’re not allowed to go in there.’
“We didn’t want to get into more trouble so obviously we all followed the rules.”
Despite retaining full status as a varsity athlete, Germain says the end of her suspension has left her feeling apathetic.
“I don’t know. I wish I could say I was ecstatic, but I’m a little indifferent.”
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