Laurier ball team suspended for hazing

Baseball squad punished for ‘dehumanizing’ acts at party in Waterloo

Wilfrid Laurier University’s varsity baseball squad has been suspended for at least four games after freshman players were reportedly subjected to “dehumanizing” hazing at a drunken team party in Waterloo over the weekend.

“We’re talking about humiliating, dehumanizing activity, as well as alcohol involved,” said Laurier athletics director Peter Baxter, adding that no players were injured but declining to say if the hazing was sexual in nature.

“Obviously when I talk about humiliating or dehumanizing activity, there certainly were acts that violated the policy in that category.”

Team members will be given a chance to respond Sunday night at a hearing that could result in the rest of their season being scrubbed. The school has a zero-tolerance policy on hazing.

“We want to give the opportunity to the team to learn about the detriments of hazing,” said Baxter, who handed out the suspension.

“I want them to find, in a positive way, how they’re going to move forward. They have to answer the question, what do they value as baseball players representing Laurier?”

“We’re talking about humiliating, dehumanizing activity.” PETER BAXTER LAURIER ATHLETICS DIRECTOR

The 4-4 Golden Hawks will forfeit at least four games with a dozen remaining in the season.

Baxter said he told team members to Google a drunken hazing incident involving a volleyball team at New Brunswick’s St. Thomas University last year that resulted in a student’s death.

Though the Laurier team party took place off campus, Baxter said university rules clearly apply, adding students receive anti-hazing instruction in code-of-conduct sessions.

“The baseball team had theirs on Aug. 27. They have to sign off on the policy.”

Head coach Scott Ballantyne told The Waterloo Region Record that the team’s captains have already begun to prepare their report.

Ballantyne, a former varsity ballplayer at Laurier credited with building the Hawks’ self-funded team, said he is “extremely disappointed” by his players’ actions. But he supports them.

“I have full faith in our players,” Ballantyne said. “I recruited all of these guys. This is not a reflection of our student athletes.”

A spokesperson for the Waterloo regional police service said the force was not investigating the hazing and considered it a university matter.

The players face no academic punishment.