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Pocono News Section
ESU Hazing Investigation Forces Team Forfieture
ESU Hazing Investigation Forces Team Forfieture - Thursday, October 29, 2009 at 4:26PM EST
Reported by: Laurie Monteforte
Thursday, Oct 29, 2009 @ 04:26pm EDT
EAST STROUDSBURG, MONROE COUNTY - Was it hazing or a beloved team tradition? Whatever you call it, an incident forced a field hockey team to hang up their sticks.
East Stroudsburg University's field hockey team was supposed to board a playoff bound bus Thursday. Freshman Michelle Guldner said, "I was so excited for this team!"
It would have been the team's first playoff appearance in seven years. Junior Brittany Kocis said, "It really means the world to us because we've worked so hard and we finally got so far. Everything is paying off."
But there will be no pay off in the playoffs. School officials told the women they will not be allowed to play. Guldner said, "Every single one of us was crying, the coaches were crying."
ESU forfeited because officials there are investigating what they call "possible hazing activities." Kocis said, "It's more team bonding. It's more about the team getting closer and just having fun."
She explained that every year for at least ten years the women have had what they call "paint night." They spray paint the grass, trees, and pavement around their field. She said, "In the past years they haven't considered it vandalism but apparently this year it is."
Kocis told Eyewitness News the University Police are in on it. She said officers pull up and turn their lights on to scare the freshmen. Guldner said, "Honestly, I think it brought the team so much closer."
This year when police showed up one of the women reportedly ran into a man's yard. The team apologized but some members believe that man may have complained to the University and that may be why they're out of the playoffs. Guldner said, "I just hope they really feel bad because we were the only team they had to make it to playoffs so far this year - so I hope they really feel bad about taking us out of it."
The University's spokesman said he could not comment on the situation until the investigation is complete.
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