Hazing

I applaud Brian Seamons and Cache County (Utah) School Supt. Larry Jensen for their courage to stand up against the members of the (Smithfield, Utah) Sky View Bobcats who tortured Brian in the locker room. (Nov. 22).

Hopefully, the action taken against those Neanderthals won’t end with the mere cancellation of a football game. If the same kind of aggression had been perpetrated against a 16-year-old girl, it wouldn’t be called “hazing,” rather, sexual assault. Let’s call it what it really is, regardless of the gender of the victim. Anyone who’s ever been in high school and a victim of similar treatment knows that it’s not about “friendship” and “being a good sport,” it’s about violence and power. Sure, boys will be boys. And child molesters will be child molesters!

Brian’s teammates have already admitted to what, by legal definition, amounts to a very serious criminal offense, and should be tried accordingly.

LAMAR A. DAMON

Los Angeles