Hazing

>
>#1
>At our council's camp there is a large set of moose antlers over the fire
>place in the dinning hall. For all of the 40 years that the camp has existed
>if you wore your hat into the dinning hall it was taken and hung on the
>antlers. This only happened after everyone was worned the first day. You got
>your hat back at the end of the week.
>
>Was this hazing or a good way to reinforce the rules?

If the hat was taken quietly, and hung, then maybe no. If there was a
danger of the boy suffering heat stroke without the hat, then maybe yes.
The SM still has the right to ask for the hat and keep it himself until the
boy explains the correct dining hall behavior. That may be just as effective.

>
>#2
>At the same camp we called the Scout that went to the dinning hall before
>each meal to set up and stayed after to clean up, Gophers.
>A few years ago one of our DEs took over as the camp director and decreed
>that "Calling someone a Gopher was hazing and would stop."
>His reasoning was that it was demeaning to the Scout to be called by an
>animal name. I guess he never heard of Bobcats, Bears, Wolfs and Eagles.
>We now call those who are chosen to serve at the meals Waiters. They have to
>do the exact same things what ever the name.
>
>Was this really hazing?

Often, they use the spelling "gofer" rather than the animal name. In either
case, the job is to go fer what ever is needed. I have no problem with it.
I also have no problem with changing the name to waiter, as they do that
too. No, that was not hazing in my book, but no damage has been done by
changing the name.
-----------------------------------
Roman J. Smith
University of Notre Dame
(219)631-4624 Fax: (219)631-8223
E-Mail: roman.j.smith.13@nd.edu
------------------------------------
Assistant Scoutmaster, Troop 505
-I used to be an Owl
Committee Member, Ship 505

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