The reports of “hazing” at Lisbon High School have dominated the headlines for weeks. Like many, I was curious about the scope and details of this occurrence. This past week, as information came out (“Accountability needed at Lisbon High in wake of hazing probe,” Oct. 30), the highly anticipated run-up ended with a resounding thud.

However, you’d never know it, by the way the report went about attempting to manufacture outrage and contempt for the alleged perpetrators, coaches, school administrators, parents, and pretty much all things Lisbon.

After reading exactly what these kids did, I was surprised it didn’t involve serious injury or loss of life. What I read was a lot of hyperbole, including:

• “…this mess that cannot be called a team in any sense…”
• “Expulsion for those seven should be on the table…”
• “…shut down all athletics (at Lisbon High School) for the complete school year…”
• The football program possibly faces a two-year ban from competition.

Let me say what I believe to be obvious. Any student or athlete involved in hazing another is wrong. Anyone doing this should be held accountable. However, what’s lacking here is the issue of proportionality. The article mentioned the Drummond Woodsum law firm investigation, findings, and (as one might expect) associated embellishments. But that’s what lawyers are paid to do, so they get a pass. What was this author’s excuse?

There seems to be no amount of penalties that will satiate the appetite(s) of the author, who claims to want justice for the student-athletes. Why is that? Could it be that the same writer who authored an article on out-of-control parents at a girls’ soccer tournament less than two weeks ago (“In youth sports, it’s the adults who need to grow up,” Oct. 20) is now seeking other virtue-signaling opportunities?

Why stop at canceling their football season? Fire every Lisbon High School employee. That’ll send a message. Why not indefinitely suspend every student at Lisbon High School who identifies with their Greyhound mascot? How about making every football team member sign a document, assigning guardianship to the state of their future first-born male child? OK, I’m exaggerating, but you get my drift.

Again, let me reiterate: hazing bad, and accountability good. But we’re talking about kids being poked with broomsticks and whipping each other with belts (presumably instead of towels). Can we all just step back and take a breath?

By the various punishments being considered, you’d almost think these kids were responsible for sanctioning and abetting drag queen dance programs or drag queen story hours in the presence of young, innocent elementary school students. Or promoting sexually inappropriate publications in their school libraries. Not that anyone would be so abjectly indecent or immoral to do such a thing, mind you. It was just a random thought.

No doubt, there could be jobs on the line, so everyone concerned should want to get this right. Are we getting an accurate account of all the facts? Given my sources? Somehow, I doubt it.