Hazing Prevention Task Force

Hazing is any action taken or any situation created intentionally that causes embarrassment, harassment, or ridicule and risks emotional and/or physical harm to members of a group or team, whether new or not, regardless of the person’s willingness to participate.

Some definitions of hazing vary but all have common factors:

• Power differential between those in a group and those who want to join a group, or between senior and junior members of a group
• Intentional initiation rite, practice or "tradition" involved
• Willingness to participate does not absolve responsibility for either party.

Below are just some examples of hazing practices that occur:

• Forced activities for new recruits to "prove" their worth to join
• Required consumption of alcohol
• Obligation to consume spicy foods or other substances as part of the initiation process
• Requirement to endure hardships such as staying awake, menial tasks, physical labor, running while blindfolded, etc.
• Humiliation of new or potential members
• Isolation of new or potential members
• Physical assaults, such as beatings or paddling, directed at new or prospective members
• Requirements for new or potential members to do things established members are not required to do
• Illegal activities such as requirement to steal local items as part of a scavenger hunt

• Hazing occurs in sports teams, clubs, Greek life, cheerleading, honor societies and more.
• Hazing is often about power and control. Hazing does not build unity.
• More than half of students in colleges and universities involved in clubs, sports teams, and organizations have experienced hazing.
• A significant number of hazing incidents and deaths involve alcohol consumption.
• Students are more likely to be hazed if they knew an adult who was hazed.
• Two in five students say they are aware of hazing taking place on their campus.
• Both male and female students report a high level of hazing.

If you’re not sure whether something happening to you or someone else is hazing, ask yourself these questions:

• Would I feel comfortable participating in this activity if my parents were watching?
• Would we get in trouble if a school administrator walked by and saw us?
• Am I being asked to keep these activities a secret?
• Am I doing anything illegal?
• Does participation in this activity violate my values or those of this organization?
• Is this causing emotional or physical distress or stress to myself or to others?
• Am I going to be able to get a job if I have to put a criminal arrest on my application?