Swallowing live gold fish is often the first ritual that comes to mind when one thinks of fraternity hazing of the 1960s. Apparently, it was a punishment applied by University of Michigan hockey players as recently as the late 1990s.
New details have emerged from the lawsuit filed last Wednesday by 16 former Wolverines who endured gold fish consumption and more under the direction of teammates and the awareness — even encouragement — of coaches.
Related: Former University of Michigan Hockey Players Allege Systemic 'Sexualized' Hazing in Lawsuit
The Detroit Free Press published excerpts from the complaint Saturday. All of the players behind the lawsuit shared similar accounts of what took place within the Michigan program, but one player served as example of typical hazing behavior.
According to Dave Boucher of the Free Press, the player — identified as JD 16 — consumed 10 shots of hard liquor in rapid succession after having failed to answer a series of questions correctly. Upon answering a certain question wrong, an upperclassman directed JD 16 to chew and swallow a live goldfish. "JD 16 loved animals and was extremely disturbed by being forced to crush the fish alive," the complaint states, adding, "JD 16 vomited blood and bile immediately following the initiation activity. He continued to vomit throughout the night and believed he might die from alcohol poisoning."
One player claimed to consume five fish, presented in shot glasses of liquor, in a single initiation episode.
Wrote Boucher, "The lawsuit alleges freshman hockey players were often required by older players to drink large amounts of alcohol: in some cases, they had to finish a keg of beer before they could leave an area. In others, they had to finish a bottle of liquor."
Additional rituals included shaving of body hair and even singeing of pubic hair with a blow torch, according to the suit. A towel was allegedly used to dampen the burning of one player referred to as JD 9. That same player was instructed to mount a training table on his hands and knees while the handle of a razor was inserted slighting into his anus.
These and similar abuses are alleged to have occurred within the program from the 1984-85 season through at least the 1998-99 season.
"Additionally, the players said legendary longtime coach Gordon 'Red' Berenson condoned the shaving. The lawsuit indicates he directed older players to shave 'from the neck down' so the results would not be visible when players were fully clothed," Boucher wrote, adding, "Berenson declined an interview when reached by a Detroit Free Press reporter. He did say the allegations were rumors."
Players were expected to tolerate the treatment or risk being considered less than "a Michigan man." When JD 16 approached Michigan's (unidentified) athletics director at the time he was enrolled at the school, the AD relayed the accusations to Berenson, who then reduced JD 16's ice time for the remainder of his career at Michigan.
Assistant coach Mel Pearson, who would eventually succeed Berenson at the head of the program, has been accused of telling players to "get through it" regarding the initiation process.
A university spokesman said the alleged conduct is disturbing, but denied the university is culpable for actions largely undertaken by fellow students more than 25 years ago, Boucher reported.
"The university denies that it is any way responsible or liable for the claims alleged," spokesman Paul Corliss said in a recent statement.
