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Hazing is an extraordinary activity that, when it occurs
often enough, becomes perversely ordinary as those
who engage in it grow desensitized to its inhumanity.
Hank Nuwer
PA Governor Wolf signs hazing legislation targeting high schools…
The National Federation of State High School Associations defines hazing as any humiliating or dangerous activity expected of a student to belong to a group, regardless of their willingness to participate.
Some practices associated with high school hazing carry the potential for serious bodily harm or even death. These practices may include: tattooing, piercing, head-shaving, branding, sleep deprivation, physical punishment (paddling and “red bellying”), “kidnapping”, consuming unreasonable/unacceptable foods or beverages, being deprived of personal hygiene and/or inappropriate sexual behavior.
Coerced sexual activity, in addition to being classified as sexual assault and/or rape, is another form of hazing. Such activity puts victims at risk for injuries, sexually transmitted diseases, and pregnancy.
Alcohol abuse is another significant factor in hazing incidents that feature forced consumption of large amounts of alcohol.
Initiation Rites in American High Schools, a study by Alfred University revealed that 48 percent of students who belong to groups reported being subjected to hazing activities. Forty-three percent reported being subjected to humiliating activities and 30 percent reported performing potentially illegal acts as part of their initiation.
Studies suggest that close to 1.5 million high school students have been subjected to some form of hazing. A notable number of students responding to the Alfred University survey reported that their first hazing experience occurred before the age of 13.
Like domestic violence victims, victims of hazing may hide the true cause of their injuries. Anyone working with those who may be hazing victims should assure them that they are safe and protected from possible retribution. Some risk factors to bear in mind are: age, participation in athletic or military activities, and involvement of alcohol use.
A student who is being hazed may exhibit excessive fatigue, appear disheveled, or wear off clothing. They may isolate themselves from friends and family, skip/miss classes due to lack of sleep at night, and/or feel depressed.
If you hear about “hell
week” or even the
innocent sounding, “help
week” or “initiation,” it
May be wise to ask the student questions to find out exactly what is involved. Many times, innocuous-sounding terms are actually euphemisms for hazing.
A would-be cheerleader is made to wear odd clothing in the opposing team’s colors and to sing the opposing team’s fight song in the school cafeteria, with the result that the crowded cafeteria occupants mock the humiliated student.
Senior students visit the homes of juniors nominated for prom king and queen, wake them at 4 a.m. and videotape them getting ready for school. They then broadcast the videos over the school’s closed circuit TVs.
A student hoping to join his high school choir is beaten with a two-by-four and covered with peanut butter, vegetable oil and human waste during an initiation ritual by fellow choir members.
Intoxicated high school seniors throw eggs at a urinate on high school sophomores and break a glass bottle over the head of at least one victim.
A 15-year-old high school student-athlete sustains internal injuries after being hazed by several fellow wrestlers who, he contends, penetrated him with a mop handle.
Humiliates and
degrades
Tears down individuals
Creates division
Shame and secrecy
Power trip
Shared, positive
experience
Supports and
empowers
Promotes respect and
dignity
Lifelong memories
Pride and integrity
Creates real teamwork
PartySkit nightScavenger
huntAthletic activitiescostumes
Source: Queens University
➢ Schools should review all traditions of extracurricular groups.
➢Hazing arises in two ways: 1) Lack of supervision and, 2) failure to address it.
The view that hazing is a harmless rite of passage, designed to help develop camaraderie and respect among teammates or other peer groups, is unfounded.
The reality is that hazing rituals are frequently dangerous, can often harm relationships among team or group members or even be life threatening.
Hazing has negative effects on both victims and participants and these effects create feelings of apathy, mistrust or isolation rather than of bonding and respect.
Hazing can destroy self-esteem, self-confidence, group unity/cohesion, friendships and more.
It can create stress and may
induce or aggravate psychological
illnesses including depression,
post-traumatic stress disorder, or
anxiety.
Hazing that involves poor
nutrition or substance abuse
has many deleterious effects
including malnutrition, body
image concerns, disordered
eating (fad dieting, compulsive
eating, anorexia, and bulimia),
alcohol poisoning, alcohol,
tobacco or other drug abuse
or addiction.
Belonging to a group is a basic need as we are social beings.
For high school aged children, forming a sense of self-awareness and joining a group is a major developmental milestone.
By joining a group, individuals can reduce the insecurity of standing alone as they believe they are stronger, have fewer self-doubts, and are more resistant to threats.
Many people join groups and are attached to them because they believe they will gain a boost in status from membership.
And there are many other reasons to join groups. People who join groups have been found to be healthier than those who remain alone.
Difficulties arise however, when conforming to group norms and behaviors involves hazing.
Some “in-groups” maintain their identity, values, and beliefs through hazing. Their members may feel “it was done to us, now it’s our turn to initiate the new kids.” They look at it as a harmless, bonding experience.
Newcomers wanting to be part of the in-group may subject themselves to hazing because they believe they will ultimately play a role in the group or organization.
As newcomers escalate their commitment to the group, activities or tasks that would normally be out of their comfort zone no longer seem out-of-bounds.
Bullying is commonly defined as:
Intentional, repeated hurtful acts, words or other behaviors, such as name-calling, threatening, and/or
shunning by one or more individuals against another.
➢ Students who do the hazing…
➢ Students who have been hazed…
➢ Students who have participated in hazing others…
➢ Students who have witnessed hazing…
What we can and must do as Athletic Administrators to
remedy and prevent hazing/bullying in our
athletic programs…
Make a commitment to ‘change the culture’
Ensure “buy-in” from upper level administration and school board.
Know and understand the school district’s anti-bullying/hazing policy.
Be available to your coaches to listen and react to their concerns.
Create an environment of trust, respect, and sincere concern.
Openly discuss with coaches, the group dynamic of each team.
Send a clear message that you will not tolerate any bullying or hazing in school. What you allow, you condone!
Establish and maintain open communications between the students, parents, school administration, and community. Educate, educate, educate…
Observe, Observe, then Observe some more. Pay attention!
Explain leadership responsibilities to your coaches.
Explain your position on bullying/hazing and the consequences.
Set and communicate team rules.
Train staff (coaches, faculty, etc.) to recognize signs of hazing/bullying including things happening ‘right under your nose’. [Olweus Bullying Prevention Program]
Define any special privileges that upperclassmen receive on the team.◦ Explain that such privileges come with responsibility for
appropriate behavior! (“Servant Leadership”)
Eliminate any old traditions with questionable practices…
Is an educational experience Promotes and conforms to the athletic program’s
ideals and values Increases feelings of friendship between new &
initiated members Has new and initiated members participate together Is one you would want your parents to watch. ◦ or the local newspaper◦ or your principal or athletic director
Is one that you could defend in court Meets the spirit AND letter of the school’s anti-hazing
policy
(If you answer "no" to any of these questions, it is probably hazing)
Source: http://hazingprevention.org/home/hazing/facts-what-hazing-looks-like/
Lead teams/groups in developing new traditions that involve hard work for positive and desirable results.
Some examples:
Participate in a Ropes Course or Team trip
Attend college games as a team
Pre-season Team Activities
Adopt a local charity and dedicate a game or contest to that group.
Participate in team dinners, pizza parties, cookouts or sleep-overs.
Dress up for team functions or for away contests.
Adopt a middle school and put on a clinic or exhibition for the younger students.
Assign an older team/group member to be a “buddy” with a younger or newer member.
(Big Brothers/Big Sisters for new teammates)
Create a “Run-A-Thon”, “Read-A-Thon” “Push-Up-A-Thon”or “Bowl-A-Thon” and have sponsors donate money for every mile ran, book read, push-up made or frame bowled.
Community service projects.
Alfred University report:
http://www.alfred.edu/hs_hazing/
National Federation of State High School Associations
www.nfhslearn.org
“Bullying, Hazing and Inappropriate Behaviors”
“Hazing Prevention for Students”
Stop Hazing
www.stophazing.org
Hank Nuwer
www.hazing.hanknuwer.com
National Collaborative for Hazing Research & Prevention
www.hazingstudy.org
Arthur Ballard, CAA - [email protected]
606-434-8870 c
Peg Pennepacker, CAA – [email protected]
814-470-7101 c
Additional Resource Slides
▪ To educate all students, with the emphasis on ALL;
▪ To provide a safe and orderly environment for students to learn in, and
▪ To protect the health, safety and welfare of all students.
Myth: They (newcomers) want to be hazed.
Reality: No one wants to be abused, humiliated or embarrassed.
Myth: We only haze a little bit. It’s really not that bad.
Reality: That’s like saying, “I only steal a little bit. I’m not really a thief.”
Myth: If we eliminate hazing, our members will be just like anybody else.
Reality: A truly well organized, positive program results in initiates who are eager to work for and help the group, and who can better serve as leaders.
Myth: If new members don’t respect our principles or us, we haze them until they improve.
Reality: Hazing a new member makes the situation worse. Just like other forms of victimization, hazing breeds mistrust, apathy and alienation, not respect.
Myth: Hazing activities are the only methods we have of controlling the new members.
Reality: There are positive and negative ways to bring people into the fold. “You catch more flies with honey than with vinegar.” Accountability should be the same for new members and ongoing members.
Myth: I went through it, so now the new members have to to through it.
Reality: It only takes one group of “veterans” to break this so-call tradition. The people who founded your group were not hazed. Why treat today’s new members differently?
1. Adults need to intervene to stop hazing rituals. Develop hazing policies, procedures, and discipline codes that effectively address the issue.
2. Increase adult awareness of hazing, the hazards and consequences.
3. Make a strong commitment to civility, community, and equality. Have regular discussions with students on how they are expected to treat others.
4. Increase supervision, especially in locker rooms. Instruct coaches and athletes that locker rooms are not a place for students to hangout.
5. Create intentionally designed, positive activities for students to participate in as bonding rituals.
6. Educate all coaches, group and club leaders, students, parents and other district employees about hazing.
7. Have regular meetings with administrators, coaches, and faculty to talk about the issue and possible intervention tactics.
8. Make the subject of hazing a big part of the pre and post-season meetings so that all boys and girls in all athletic events, will have a chance to discuss it.
9. Take seriously and investigate all rumors of hazing.
10. Hold the adults responsible for what happens on their teams, in their clubs and groups. Do not let anyone plead ignorance.
If you think YOU are being hazed:
Adapted from University of Texas-Dallas “Managing the Risks”
Stay connected with friends outside the group.
Talk with others about what you are going through.
Check in with other new members to see if they are concerned too.
Use an excuse to get out of an activity (“I’m sick” or “I need to go home this weekend.”)
Talk confidentially with someone at the Counseling Center
Leave the group and look for another group to join that is more in line with your values.
If you suspect a friend is being hazed:
Adapted from University of Texas-Dallas “Managing the Risks”
Share the specific concerns directly with your friend. ◦ Why did the behaviors bother you?
Ask “What are the good things about the group?” followed by “What are the not so good things about the group?”
Remind your friend of your support.
Provide information on campus resources to explore options.
If you’re concerned about any negative activities in your organization:
Adapted from University of Texas-Dallas “Managing the Risks”
• Proactively share your concerns with
other members that you trust.
• Discuss the concept of hidden harm.
• Consider other activities that could
promote group bonding
