Hazing Prevention & Resources
What is Hazing?
Hazing is an act:
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in which a group or individual knowingly, intentionally, recklessly, negligently engages in behavior that has the tendency to humiliate, degrade, ridicule, harass, or embarrass another person or endangers the mental, emotional, or physical health safety or wellbeing of another person regardless of the other person’s willingness to participate; and
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that is committed as the result of a person’s initiation into, admission into, affiliation with, holding office in, or continued membership in any organization, team, or group.
Three components of hazing:
- It occurs in a group context.
- Humiliating, degrading, or endangering behavior.
- It can happen regardless of an individual’s willingness to participate: regardless of consent.
Categories of Hazing
Subtle Hazing Includes:
- Social Isolation
- Depriving of privileges granted to other members
- Requiring individuals to carry items for others for no constructive purpose and expecting the items to always be in their possession.
- Stealing or withholding items
- Expectation to perform personal service for others members (cooking, cleaning, purchasing items on another's behalf, driving, laundry.
- Requiring subservient behavior (not permitted to make eye contact, use names, etc…)
- Attempting to install fear related to specific events (initiation, Big/Little, etc.)
- Providing alcohol to underage members
- Requiring morally or ethically questionable quests or treasure hunts
- Stunts, skits, or crude or humiliating acts.
Harassment Hazing Includes:
- Verbal abuse, threats or implied threats
- Requiring morally or ethically questionable quests or treasure hunts
- Stunts, skits, or crude or humiliating acts.
- Requiring to wear humiliating or embarrassing attire.
- Sleep deprivation
- Line-ups, quizzing and/or experiences held under pressure or during uncomfortable situations that require knowledge of information unrelated, meaningless or not necessary for organizational membership with no constructive or educational purpose
- Forced or coerced physical activity which creates excessive fatigue
- Sexual simulations or required viewing of sex acts.
- Interfering with an individual ability to maintain and uphold academic expectations, preparation, schedule and standards.
Violent Hazing Includes:
- Forced or coerced alcoholic or non-alcohol beverage consumption, drug consumption or consumption of a vile substance.
- Deprivation of food, water or resources necessary for physical, emotional or mental wellness
- Beating, paddling, burning, branding or other forms of assault
- Forced or coerced abuse or mistreatment of animals.
- Exposure to extreme weather or environments without appropriate clothing or protection
- Abduction/kidnap
- Forced or coerced sexual acts or violations (w/ self or others)
- Public nudity
- Bondage
- Expecting illegal activity