Pillow fights are best reserved for slumber parties and male fantasies, but they can also serve as a reliever of tension. This is what usually happens at West Point Military Academy, where the annual “plebe pillow fight” brings an official end to basic training. The century-long tradition — which has persisted since 1897 — is meant to build camaraderie after seven intense weeks where speech between cadets is prohibited. Things went terribly wrong at this year’s event.
As you can see in the above video, this is no average pillow fight. The event took place on August 20, but West Point only just confirmed that several cadets were injured. In fact, many cadets weaponized their pillowcases with rocks and other hard objects. This would explain the helmets and other protective gear that many participants are wearing (and were reportedly encouraged to wear by upperclassmen). Despite these precautions, the fight still left at least 24 cadets injured— many with concussions and at least one knocked unconscious. One cadet even suffered a broken leg, and ambulances were on the ready.
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A week has since passed, and official word drifted down to the New York Times. West Point seems a little ambivalent on the subject:
“West Point applauds the cadets’ desire to build esprit and regrets the injuries to our cadets,” Lt. Col. Christopher Kasker said. “We are conducting appropriate investigations into the causes of the injuries.”
So far no cadets have been punished, and the academy has no plans to end the annual tradition. Colonel Kasker said commanders were not available for comment on Friday.
All of the cadets have since returned to their stations, but this tradition may have gone too far. A pillow fight should be a jubilant event, not one that ends in broken bones and tears.
(Via New York Times & The Telegraph)