Hazing is any intentional, knowing, or reckless act, whether or not the person agrees to participate, done during initiation, membership, or affiliation with a student organization, that causes or risks physical or psychological harm.
Examples include:
- Physical harm (beating, striking, shocking, harmful substances)
- Forced exhaustion (sleep deprivation, extreme exercise, confinement, exposure to elements)
- Forced consumption (food, alcohol, drugs, or other substances)
- Sexual acts or coercion
- Threats, intimidation, or criminal activity
- Consent is not a defense. Hazing is a violation regardless of willingness to participate.
Access the full federal definition.
FAQ
If you’re not sure whether or not something happening to you or to someone else is hazing, ask yourself these questions:
- Am I comfortable participating in this activity?
- Would we get in trouble if a school/college 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?
- How would I react if a friend told me they were being treated this way?
- Is this causing emotional or physical distress or stress to myself or to others?
We are most familiar with hazing from the relationship between an active member in a group or organization and a pledge or new member.
If hazing is occurring, usually an active member is harassing a pledge or new member. Hazing, however, is not limited to activities harassing pledges. It is also possible for a pledge/new member to haze an active; an active to haze another active; or a pledge/new member to haze another pledge/new member even if one is willingly requesting this harassment.
The following are examples of hazing. It is impossible to list all hazing activities, so this list is not intended to be all inclusive.
Student organizations and their organizational officers are responsible for controlling the actions of their alumni, inactive members, and any other individuals participating in their member activities.
Examples of prohibited activities include but are not limited to:
- Any form of physically demanding or dangerous activity (calisthenics, runs, etc.) not part of a sanctioned university or auxiliary activity.
- Paddling, shoving, hitting, slapping, punching, dragging, kicking, or shocking an individual regardless of degree or nature.
- Compelling, pressuring or forcing an individual to consume, use or be exposed to alcohol, tobacco, or drugs or engage in drinking games.
- Compelling, pressuring or forcing an individual to consume unusual, undue amounts, or odd preparations of food, liquids, substances or other items.
- Throwing, pouring, submerging, or otherwise applying substances to the bodies, clothing, or belongings of individuals.
- Morally degrading or humiliating games, performances, or other activities that make an individual the object of ridicule, amusement or intimidation.
- Abducting or transporting an individual to undisclosed locations, abandoning individuals, or conducting any “kidnap,” “road trip,” or “ditch” that may in any way endanger or compromise the physical or mental health, safety, or comfort of any individual.
- Confining an individual to unreasonably small, poorly ventilated, unsanitary, uncomfortable or unlit areas.
- Restraining an individual in any manner.
- Intentionally exposing an individual to unsafe, hazardous, or uncomfortable temperatures, conditions, or environments.
- Compelling, pressuring or forcing an individual to engage in, encourage, or witness nonconsensual sexual behavior, including kissing, touching private parts, fondling, or intercourse, or in sexual simulations.
- Activities that require an individual to remain in a fixed position for an extended period of time.
- “Line-ups” involving intense or demeaning intimidation or interrogation, such as shouting obscenities, insults, or quizzing an individual.
- Using demeaning, degrading or humiliating language, or derogatory names, or otherwise engaging in verbal abuse.
- Assigning activities such as pranks or scavenger/treasure hunts in which a person is asked to deface or steal property, engage in humiliating acts, stunts, or bother other individuals or organizations/teams.
- Exposing an individual to bodily fluids, including, but not limited to, blood, vomit, feces, urine, saliva, and semen, or compelling an individual to engage in activity that induces bodily functions.
- Compelling individuals to wear or carry unusual, embarrassing, degrading, uncomfortable or physically burdensome items or apparel.
- Depriving individuals of sufficient sleep, comfortable sleeping arrangements, meals, or access to showers, baths, and sinks.
- Activities that interfere with an individual’s academic efforts by causing exhaustion, loss of sleep, or loss of reasonable study time or by interfering with an individual’s ability to attend class.
- Compelling, pressuring or forcing an individual to engage in acts of personal servitude for others including errands, cleaning, standing in line, completing academic assignments or tasks, driving and shopping.
- Compelling an individual to modify their body by way of branding, tattooing, piercing, shaving, weight loss, or other forms of modification.
- Compelling, pressuring or forcing an individual to not participate in familial, religious, cultural, or traditional activities, holidays, or events.
- Intentionally creating a mess and forcing others to clean up.
- Compelling individuals to purchase an animal or engage in animal cruelty or mistreatment.
- Blindfolding individuals in a manner that may cause intimidation, fear, or harm.
- Depriving new members access to or use of cell phones, wallets, keys or key fobs, or other personal possessions.