Oceanside Surfing Instructors Accused Of Hazing Students

OCEANSIDE, Calif. -- Oceanside Harbor police this week ordered surfing instructors to stop alleged hazing practices, including giving children "pink bellies" and putting them in trash cans, it was reported Friday.

The Oceanside Police Department is also investigating an assault complaint filed Wednesday over the alleged hazing incidents, the North County Times reported.

Oceanside Harbor Police Chief Don Hadley said he took action at the Surf Institute camp, located near the north jetty, after hearing Thursday from the mayor and city attorney's office, as well as parents, the newspaper reported.

"We simply told them this has to stop," said Hadley.

The camp registers children ages 7 and up. In one of the 65 pages of photos on the camp's Web site, a boy is shown tied up to the supporting leg of a lifeguard tower. Someone was smearing pizza on a younger boy in another shot, according to the Times.

Parent Christine Quinn of Oceanside said a "pink belly" involves one instructor sitting on a child's thighs while another instructor hits the youngster on the stomach, the newspaper reported.

Quinn said her son had been placed in a trash can for discipline, and other children were told to pour soft drinks on him. She said her boy refused to go back to the camp, the Times reported.

Another parent, Allen Hawkshaw, said his 9-year-old son was told to lick the inside of a dirty beach trash can. He said his 7-year-old daughter was placed in a trash can and the other children were ordered to throw trash on her, the Times reported.

"I want them shut down," the father told the Times. "I'm satisfied with (the official) response at this time. However, this is not over by a long shot."