High school officials tackle hazing

When Glen Adair took over as principal of Carson High 10 years ago, his sons were reluctant to attend football games in fear of having to "run C-Hill."

A tradition of hazing that may date back more than 30 years, the upperclassmen round up freshmen during or after high school football games to demand they run down the hill -- the requirements becoming more brutal and humiliating as the years go by.

"We've been pushing this under the carpet so long," Adair said. "I'm glad it's coming out the other side."

In response to a video-taped hazing by Gerlach High School students which drew state-wide attention, Adair reported to the school board Tuesday the steps Carson High School has taken to avoid similar behavior.

"The one thing we won't do is deny we have a problem," he said. "This district has a long tradition of approved hazing. It has to stop."

Over the years, he said school officials have cracked down on the traditional running of C-Hill by sending officers to stake out the hill during and after home games.

However, students have continued the practice by alternating locations of the hazing. The run has progressed through time to involve forcing participants to sometimes run naked or barefoot while assaulting them with objects ranging from broken beer bottles to belt buckles to fishing rods.

"Any incident like this is a blight on our school and we don't want it to happen," Adair said.

Even those who do not participate live in fear of it happening which Adair said is unacceptable.

"If a kid is shaken and can't be involved in school, that's mental duress," he said. "We take that real personal."

Jerry Reil, a 1981 graduate, was one who avoided the hazing but not the fear.

"I was scared to death," he said. "I would psyche myself out in case they ever tried to do it to me. They would gang up on you."

Hazing is also used as an initiation to participate in athletic teams and other school organizations.

However, vice-principal Fred Perdomo said harassment carries a four- to 90-day suspension from school and hazing is also considered a misdemeanor or gross misdemeanor depending on the circumstances.

Athletic director Ron McNutt said he has worked to eliminate the practice by calling an all-athlete meeting to go over the rules and has begun a parent information meeting to let parents know of the consequences.