What is Hazing

What is Hazing?

Hazing is when someone is pressured or forced to do something that could harm them physically, emotionally, or mentally–even if they go along with it.

Hazing refers to any action that jeopardizes a person's mental or physical well-being or forces them to engage in behaviors that put their health or safety at risk, regardless of whether they consent to participate.

Hazing is prohibited by policy and law

Types of Hazing and Examples

All hazing is prohibited at Auburn University. Hazing may include, but is not limited to, the following activities and examples.

  • Strike, bruise, or threats of physical violence
  • Beats, whips, restraints, paddles, or other physical abuse
  • Brands, pierces, or tattoos
  • Requires the consumption of food, alcohol, drugs, or any other substance, regardless of legality
  • Requires excessive calisthenics or physical activity, including, but not limited to, wall-sits, squats, bows and toes, etc.
  • Placement of an undesirable substance on or in the body
  • Deprivation of food or water
  • Kidnapping or abandonment
  • Unreasonable exposure to weather

  • Scares, shocks, or frightens
  • Berates, yells, or threatens
  • Deprives of sleep, creates unnecessary fatigue
  • Tests or quizzes on meaningless information with no constructive or educational purpose
  • Creates a distressing situation due to temperature, noise, room size, or air quality
  • Isolates socially (including social media or in-person)

  • Requires the wearing of apparel that is conspicuous and/or inappropriate
  • Requires lewd conduct, nudity, etc.
  • Requires subservient behavior (not permitting eye contact with an active member, etc.)

  • Deprives class attendance, study hall attendance, etc.
  • Interrupts studying
  • Requires participation in organization activities for excessive time (excessive house hours, etc.)

  • Prohibits the use of personal vehicles, bicycles, or university transportation (Tiger Transit, bicycles, shuttles, etc.)
  • Prohibits the use of meal plans, including university and organization meal plans
  • Requires the use of cell phone tracking systems (Life 360, Find My, etc.)
  • Prevents interaction with active members, officers, or any other member or potential member.
  • Restricts privileges entitled to active members or students unless the activity is sanctioned as an initiation ritual by the national organization.
  • Restricts daily personal hygiene practices (showering, brushing teeth, etc.)
  • Requires personal servitude (driving, driving programs, cleaning individual rooms, serving meals, picking up laundry, washing cars, purchasing items on another's behalf, requiring payments, or gifts to active members, etc.)
  • Gives tasks, projects, or responsibilities unequally to a subset of the organization based solely on their academic year in school.
  • Requires the carrying of items for others for no constructive purpose (lighters, cigarettes, pocketknives, bricks, etc.)

Hazing's Impact

Students are more likely to be hazed if they knew an adult who was hazed.1

More than half of college students are involved in some form of campus hazing.2

In 95% of hazing cases, students who were aware they were hazed did not report it.2

82% of deaths from hazing involved alcohol.2

For every 10 students being hazed, only one of them realizes that they have been hazed.2

College Hazing: A national study revealed that 73% of students in fraternities or sororities experienced hazing, with common behaviors including drinking games (53%), forced alcohol consumptions (26%), and public humiliation (31%).3

Athletic Hazing: 74% of varsity athletes reported hazing, with behaviors such as drinking games (47%), forced alcohol consumption (23%), and verbal abuse (21%).3

Hazing Awareness: A survey found that 61% of students who were aware of hazing on their campus said it occurred occasionally, while 32% reported it was fairly common.4

Types of Hazing: Among students familiar with hazing incidents, 83% reported alcohol-related hazing, 54% noted psychological harm, 42% experienced physical harm, and 29% mentioned sexual assault.4

Fraternity and Sorority Hazing: The most commonly perceived hazing behaviors in Greek life included group lineups (44%), forced alcohol consumption (43%), and embarrassment (42%).4

1. Alfred University Study, Dr. Norm Pollard, Dr. Elizabeth Allan et al, 1999
2. National Study of Student Hazing, Hazing in View: Students at Risk, Dr. Elizabeth Allan and Dr. Mary Madden, 3. 2006 - 2008
3. Stophazing.org
4. Timothy J. Piazza Center for Fraternity and Sorority Research