Hazing
Hazing Resources

While commonly associated with college fraternities, hazing happens in many different places. Incidents of hazing occur in many types of clubs, organizations, and teams and in diverse settings, including middle and high schools, colleges and universities, the military, and workplaces. 

USI's definition of hazing and how to report it on our campus can be located in the University Handbook. 

What kind of behavior is involved?

There is a wide range of behaviors that fit the definition of hazing. For this reason, it can often go unrecognized and unreported. 

• Alcohol consumption, humiliation, isolation, sleep deprivation, and sex acts are hazing practices common across all types of student groups. 
• In more than half of the hazing incidents, a member of the offending group posts pictures on a public web space.

Source: The Hazing Prevention Network & StopHazing.org.

The intimidating, harassing, and sometimes even violent nature of hazing can threaten the health and safety of its victims. It can even be deadly.

Hazing, however, often impacts more than the group or individual involved. In higher education, hazing is at odds with educational goals as it can harm students and contribute to abusive campus climates, negative publicity, and student attrition. The same can be said for other settings where hazing exists — schools, the military, and workplaces. Hazing creates an environment where community members feel unsafe and where a healthy and productive sense of belonging, inclusion, and well-being are all compromised. 

Impact on person being hazed

Death is the consequence that is most often reported by the media. Although death is the worst possible outcome, hazing can lead to less severe, but still life-altering consequences.

One study has shown that 71% of those who are hazed suffer from negative consequences including:

• Physical, emotional, and/or mental instability,
• Sleep deprivation,
• Loss of sense of control and empowerment,
• A decline in grades and coursework.
• Relationships with friends, significant others and family suffer.
• Post-traumatic stress syndrome.
• Loss of respect for and interest in being part of the organization.
• Erosion of trust within the group members.
• Illness or hospitalization with additional effects on family and friends.

Impact on those who haze

In addition to being morally wrong, taking part or leading hazing creates problems. These include:

• Triggering the memory of personal trauma.
• Suspension, expulsion and/or legal action, which may include misdemeanor or felony charges and/or jail time.
• Declining grades and coursework.
• Deterioration of relationships with friends, significant others and family.
• Losing connection to alums through the organization.
• Intense media scrutiny.
• Damage to one’s personal reputation.
• Warped sense of leadership.
• Feelings of shame and guilt.

Source: Hazing Prevention Network

The intimidating, harassing, and sometimes even violent nature of hazing can threaten the health and safety of its victims. It can even be deadly.

Hazing, however, often impacts more than the group or individual involved. In higher education, hazing is at odds with educational goals as it can harm students and contribute to abusive campus climates, negative publicity, and student attrition. The same can be said for other settings where hazing exists — schools, the military, and workplaces. Hazing creates an environment where community members feel unsafe and where a healthy and productive sense of belonging, inclusion, and well-being are all compromised. 

Impact on person being hazed

Death is the consequence that is most often reported by the media. Although death is the worst possible outcome, hazing can lead to less severe, but still life-altering consequences.

One study has shown that 71% of those who are hazed suffer from negative consequences including:

• Physical, emotional, and/or mental instability,
• Sleep deprivation,
• Loss of sense of control and empowerment,
• A decline in grades and coursework.
• Relationships with friends, significant others and family suffer.
• Post-traumatic stress syndrome.
• Loss of respect for and interest in being part of the organization.
• Erosion of trust within the group members.
• Illness or hospitalization with additional effects on family and friends.

Impact on those who haze

In addition to being morally wrong, taking part or leading hazing creates problems. These include:

• Triggering the memory of personal trauma.
• Suspension, expulsion and/or legal action, which may include misdemeanor or felony charges and/or jail time.
• Declining grades and coursework.
• Deterioration of relationships with friends, significant others and family.
• Losing connection to alums through the organization.
• Intense media scrutiny.
• Damage to one’s personal reputation.
• Warped sense of leadership.
• Feelings of shame and guilt.

Source: Hazing Prevention Network

If not recognized, reported, and properly addressed, hazing can become a systemic, self-perpetuating problem. The environments where hazing most often occurs — student clubs, organizations, and teams — are living-learning laboratories for leadership development. If hazing is happening in these groups, our leaders-in-training may be learning that humiliating, harassing, or violent behavior is an accepted or expected way to induct new members and build cohesion.

The following recommendations from StopHazing.org outline ways your group can foster group cohesion without resorting to hazing. 

Group goals and activities to promote belonging, well-being, and inclusion

This resource describes common goals of groups and examples of group activities that promote belonging and well-being in safe and inclusive environments. This resource can be used by both campus professionals and student leaders to educate students about groups, common goals of groups, and discount the notion that hazing-based activities, traditions, rituals, and behaviors help groups achieve their goals. We also promote a robust, yet not nearly exhaustive, list of activities help groups achieve their goals. These healthy group activities, free from hazing, can be considered alternatives or alternative activities.

StopHazing proposes the following list of group goals and activities to develop strong and healthy groups:

• Instilling a strong sense of belonging: group members get to know each other and build feelings of connectedness and healthy relationships with each other.
• Understanding how the group works: group members understand the expectations, dynamics within, and operations of the group.
• Learning and building an awareness of group history: group members learn about the history and  purpose of the organization, identities represented, and evolution over time.
• Building trust among the group: group members build trust amongst themselves through open, honest, and accountable communication and behaviors; this also develops a sense of safety and security for group members to be able to rely on each other.
• Developing personally and professionally: group members have various opportunities to develop leadership skills, problem-solving and critical thinking skills, academic performance and success, and support career aspirations and opportunities.
• Promoting a strong sense of purpose: group members feel connected to each other and the larger meaning of the group, developing a sense of pride and purpose for their accomplishments.