Report Hazing Here
For more information on hazing and the law click here
Dartmouth College Student Handbook click here
Things to remember:
1. Hazing is about power, authority, and control
2. Hazing has both a physical and psychological element
3. Hazing is multifaceted
4. Individuals being hazed feel that it is a commitment they need to uphold
- Students will vary along a continuum of acceptance of hazing in general
- Students will also vary along a continuum of acceptable and unacceptable hazing
5. Hazing seeks to control an individuals outlook and presents mixed messages
- Use symbols, situations and language as a way to construct an image in the minds of members
- Reconstruct member identities through uniforms, signs, hats, kits, shared activity.
- Use language to shape the experience of members – i.e. Talk about “pride” in accomplishment while forcing members to do calisthenics. Talk about “unity”
6. Hazing differs between groups
- Athletes, Fraternities, Sororities, Student Organizations, Recreational clubs
- Men, Women, Coed
- Predominantly White Groups, Multicultural Groups
7. Hazing is a culture
- Unfortunately at this time it is condoned by majority culture – both on campus and at large
- When combating a culture – change is best accomplished incrementally
- It involves powerful symbols and assigned worth
8. Hazing involving alcohol
- Has a different meaning for men especially – It allows a closeness with other men while preserving perceived masculinity.
- Some individuals will say alcohol has come to represent a leveling of the playing field between men and women
- Dependent on the availability of alcohol
- Usually used and seen as a way to bond people on a college campus as a social lubricant
- May be given as a treat for good behavior
9. Students who haze often do not take into account the “baggage” that a new member brings with them into the organization.
For Example:
- Previous sexual assault or abuse
- Psychological disorders
- Alcoholism
- Weak self esteem
- May trigger reactions from their members
Having conversations with someone being hazed or a hazer
1. It is important to build rapport if you do not already have it
- Seek to understand and learn about the student
- Suspend judgment
2. Do not challenge the student as this can make them defensive
- Ask for explanations
- Inquire as to how they are doing
- For example: I see you are a new member at Chi Gam. How is that going? or Can you tell me about why you guys wear the sign?
3. You will need more than one encounter to sway a student – Remember: Incremental Change.
4. Be willing to hear difficult information
5. Know what to do with that information when you hear it
- Know when you should report information
- Know who to share information with.
- Know what information needs to be reported.
Best Practices
1. Use of a Bystander Framework
- When using this framework it is important that individuals engaged in these conversations know how to have the conversations
- When engaged in the framework it is important the individuals know what to do with the information they receive
2. Offering extreme team builders in replace of hazing
- Need to understand which groups this is being extended to
- Different for athletes, fraternities, sororities and other organizations
- These activities need to be unique to each group somehow
3. Target the power players in student organizations
- These folks need to be willing and capable of making change
- Be supportive
- Encourage them to move forward
- Remember they have a short time span
- Help them create a game plan that is level with their power – For example, if they have power with a small group you should not be encouraging them to change a system – just to change the group – small victories
4. Education
- on policies and the law
- on how to respond to hazing
- on signs of hazing
- on the power of language; using terms like: “pledge”, “newbie”, “rookie”
