Hazing

We’ve all heard of terrible hazing incidents related to Greek letter organizations, sports teams, bands, and other groups, but while it is easy to identify extreme cases of hazing, many cases fall into a grey area. It can become a problem in any organization because when you have a large group of mostly young people who are trying to find an identity and fit into a group, you always have the potential for hazing. This definition from the hazing prevention organization, Hazingprevention.org sums it up.

From http://Hazingprevention.org

Hazing is an action taken or situation created intentionally: that causes embarrassment, harassment or ridicule, 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

Still confused? Ask yourself these questions:

Would I feel comfortable participating in this activity if my parents were watching?

Would we get in trouble if the Dean of Students walked by?

Am I being asked to keep these activities a secret?

Am I doing anything illegal?

Does participation violate my values or those of my organization

Is it causing emotional distress or stress of any kind to myself or others?

If someone were injured, would I feel comfortable being investigated by the insurance carrier?

When I apply for jobs, can I take the onus of having a criminal arrest on my record?

Hazing can include seemingly harmless acts like scavenger hunts or requiring new members’ participation in an activity not expected of full members. It’s not necessarily what is being asked or required of the new member, but the fact that the person is being forced, pressured, or required to do it upon threat of not being admitted to the group. At their core, acts of hazing are not harmless or good-spirited. They are acts committed by a need to control, intimidate, and degrade.

Acts such as; forcing someone to eat or drink anything against his will, having members perform a line-up, the use of alcohol in an activity involving new members, implied or actual paddling or striking, sleep deprivation, requiring members to wear unusual or conspicuous attire, yelling at or berating members, requiring silence for extended periods of time are all considered hazing.  
All states have laws against hazing, but every college should also present information about how to recognize and prevent hazing during information sessions or in publications. If this information is not readily available, ask to see it or the college’s hazing policy in the catalog, code of conduct, or student’s rights and responsibility document.  Hazing is a serious matter that requires attention and open, honest discussion, so it’s generally considered a red flag if the topic is glossed over or simply ignored by campus administration.