Cheerleaders Hazed: Girl With Peanut Allergy Smeared With Peanut Butter
A high school cheerleader who had a peanut allergy was smeared with peanut butter and other condiments during a hazing incident at the Ogden High School in Utah. Hazing incidents have greatly increased in the past few months and new awareness to the abuse is coming to light.
Nine girls have been suspended for their participation in the May 4 incident. According to reports, the girls blinded their fellow freshman cheerleaders, forced them to strip in front of other students, including men, and covered them with condiments.
While the substances were not directly harmful to the girls, at least one had a mild reaction to being covered in peanut butter.
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That girl was allowed to leave the park where the hazing was taking place and received treatment for her outbreak of hives. Right now it is unknown how the school officials learned of the incident.
"There has been some sort of welcoming or initiation over the years," spokeswoman Donna Corby told the Salt Lake Tribune. "If any of those initiations crossed the line into hazing, we can't speak to that. We don't know. Ogden School District has a zero tolerance policy for hazing."
The nine cheerleaders were suspended from one to five days and were forced to miss their senior prom since the suspension fell on that day. Police have yet to say whether they will file charges against the girls and any students who witnessed the event.
"We want all of our students to know that we want them to not only get an education in our district, but also enjoy other activities, and have a great, whole school experience. In my opinion, this has clouded the experience for our incoming sophomores, and I feel badly about that," Corby said.
Hazing incidents have existed for decades but are now being taken much more seriously. In Florida, a young man died as a result of hazing-related injuries. His story brought fresh light to the problem of hazing, and schools have been cracking down ever since.
