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ÂÒÂ×ÉçÇø

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What is hazing?

The ÂÒÂ×ÉçÇø prohibits student organizations and athletic teams from engaging individually or collectively in hazing activities.

Definition

Hazing includes any act committed as part of a person’s recruitment, initiation into, pledging, admission into, or affiliation with a student organization, athletic team, or living group, or any pastime that is likely to cause, bodily danger or physical harm, or serious psychological or emotional harm, to any student. This includes causing, directing, coercing, or forcing a person to consume any food, liquid, alcohol, drug, or other substance that subjects the person to risk of such harm, regardless of the person’s willingness to participate ().

Characteristics

Hazing is characterized as any activity that includes one or more of the characteristics described below:

  • Activities that expose personal values to compromise or ridicule.
  • Activities that abuse the trust an organization strives to build between its members and prospective members.
  • Stunts that have no meaningful relationship to the objectives of the organization.
  • Activities that humiliate or subject individuals to circumstances with which they are not comfortable or of which they are fearful.
  • Activities that are illegal or violate University policy.
  • Activities that interfere with academic pursuits or normal life functions.
  • Some examples of prohibited activities are forced swallowing of uncommon substances, forced consumption of alcohol or drugs, excessive exercise, and sleep or sensory deprivation.

 Levels of hazing

The tabs below outline the three levels of hazing, including definitions and examples. This is not an exhaustive list of hazing behaviors, and many other behaviors could be considered hazing.

Intimidation hazing is the lowest level offense of hazing. These are behaviors that emphasize the power imbalance between newer and older members. Below are some examples of this type of hazing:

  • Name-calling
  • Any form of demerits
  • Duties only assigned to new members / rookies
  • Forcing individuals to carry around an object
  • Social isolation of new members
  • Silence period with implied threats for violation

Intimidation behaviors occur more frequently but are less recognizable 

Citation: (Allan, 2005; Allan & Kerschner, 2020; [Adapted from Bringing in the Bystander®], The Spectrum of Hazing™)

Harassment hazing is a mid-tier offense of hazing. These behaviors cause unnecessary emotional or physical distress. Below are some examples of this type of hazing:

  • Verbal abuse
  • Threats or implied threats
  • Requiring new members / rookies to perform personal service toward an older member
  • Any form of questioning under pressure or in an uncomfortable situation
  • Public embarrassment, including social media
  • Sleep deprivation
  • Sexual simulation

Harassment behaviors are the middle of how frequently and severity of the three levels 

Citation: (Allan, 2005; Allan & Kerschner, 2020; [Adapted from Bringing in the Bystander®], The Spectrum of Hazing™)

Violent hazing is the highest form of hazing an organization or team can exhibit. These behaviors are intended to cause harm physically, emotionally, and psychologically. Below are some examples of this type of hazing:

  • Forced alcohol consumption (explicit or implicit)
  • Beating, paddling, or other forms of physical assault
  • Branding
  • Forced ingestion of vile substances
  • Water intoxication
  • Abduction / kidnapping
  • Sexual assault

Violent behaviors occur more recognizable but occurs less frequently  

Citation: (Allan, 2005; Allan & Kerschner, 2020; [Adapted from Bringing in the Bystander®], The Spectrum of Hazing™)

Identifying hazing

Identifying the type of activities and signs that someone is being effected by hazing is the first step in prevention hazing.

Signs of hazing

If you notice any of the signs below, it could be that the individual might be experienced hazing.

  • Sudden change in behavior or attitude after joining the organization
  • Change in sleeping or eating habits
  • Not attending classes or sudden decline in academic performance
  • Unexplained injury or illness
  • Sudden decrease in communication with family and friends
  • Expressed feeling of sadness or worthlessness
  • Physical or psychological exhaustion
  • Withdrawal from normal activities
  • Unexplained weight loss

Report hazing

Is the activity hazing?

Ask yourself the following questions, and if the answer is ‘yes’, that activity could be hazing.

  • Would I feel uncomfortable participating in this activity if a family member, the media, or a university staff member were watching?
  • Would active or older members of the group refuse to participate in?
  • Am I being asked to keep these activities a secret?
  • Am I doing anything illegal?
  • Does the activity not align my values or the values of the organization?
  • Is the activity about exerting power over others?
  • Is this activity causing harm, either emotional, mental, or physical, to participants?
  • Do members defend the activity as ‘tradition’?

Report hazing