Hazing: 5 things every student should know
College is full of opportunities to meet people, try new things and find communities where you feel connected, supported and able to pursue your passions. Joining a group can be a meaningful part of your college experience, and belonging should never require you to put your health, safety or well-being at risk.
Hazing can happen in any group, and it isn’t always obvious or dramatic. Knowing what hazing looks like can help you recognize concerning behavior, support others and speak up before a situation escalates.
Here are five things every student should know about hazing.
1. Hazing can happen in any group
Hazing can happen in any group where people are joining, participating or trying to gain status.
This can include:
- Fraternities and sororities
- Student organizations and clubs
- Sport clubs and athletic teams
- Student employment teams
- Academic programs, cohorts, labs and research groups
- Performance groups
- Informal friend groups and student communities
Hazing is any activity expected of someone joining or participating in a group that humiliates, degrades, abuses or endangers them, regardless of whether they are willing to participate.
Some hazing behaviors may be described as traditions, bonding experiences, team-building activities or simply “the way things have always been done.” How something is portrayed doesn’t determine whether it is hazing—what matters is the effect it has on someone.
Learn more about hazing prevention and reporting.
2. Hazing isn’t always obvious
Some forms of hazing are more visible, such as physical violence or forcing someone to consume alcohol. Others can be harder to identify.
Hazing isn’t always a single event or dramatic activity. It can involve repeated expectations, pressure or treatment that may seem minor at first but can become harmful over time.
Hazing can include behaviors that intimidate, humiliate, isolate, exhaust or pressure someone. Examples may include:
- Sleep deprivation or excessive physical demands
- Forced or pressured alcohol or substance use
- Being denied food, water or other basic needs
- Demeaning or targeted name-calling
- Public humiliation or embarrassing performances, including wearing costumes
- Requiring new members to perform personal errands or services for other members
- Forced isolation or exclusion
- Threats, intimidation or interrogation
- Being required to wear embarrassing clothing
- Sexual harassment, unwanted touching or sexual acts
- Dangerous activities or exposure to harsh conditions
- Secrecy or pressure to hide what happens within the group
Sometimes individual activities may seem minor on their own. However, patterns of pressure, unequal treatment, secrecy or escalating expectations can be signs that something is wrong.
If you aren’t sure whether an activity is hazing, consider:
- Is someone expected to do this to join, remain in or gain status within the group?
- Could the activity humiliate, degrade, abuse or endanger someone?
- Is there pressure to participate or stay quiet?
- What happens if someone says no or decides not to participate?
- Would the group be comfortable describing the activity openly to others?
You don’t have to wait until someone gets hurt to take a concern seriously.
3. Willingness to participate doesn’t make hazing OK
People may participate in hazing for many reasons. They may want to belong, worry about disappointing friends or feel like they have to earn their place.
Students may also see hazing as a rite of passage or a way to prove their commitment to the group. They may believe going through the same experience as previous members will help them earn respect or strengthen their connection to the group.
That doesn’t make a harmful activity OK.
Students deserve to build friendships, traditions and a sense of belonging without having to earn acceptance through humiliation, fear, coercion or harm.
If you’re a student leader, team member or someone helping plan group activities, consider what you want the experience to accomplish. There are plenty of ways to build trust, celebrate traditions and welcome new members without putting someone at risk.
4. Knowing the signs can help you support someone
Hazing can affect a person’s physical and emotional well-being, academics, relationships and daily life.
Someone experiencing hazing may:
- Suddenly spend most of their time on group activities
- Miss class, work or other commitments
- Seem unusually tired or experience changes in their sleep
- Become more anxious, withdrawn or secretive
- Express fear about what will happen if they don’t participate
- Pull away from friends or activities they usually enjoy
- Describe group traditions that sound humiliating, coercive, unsafe or harmful
- Have unexplained injuries or changes in their physical well-being
One sign doesn’t necessarily mean someone is experiencing hazing. Instead, pay attention to changes and trust yourself if something seems off.
If you’re concerned about a friend, you can start with a simple conversation. For example, you might say, “You’ve been really busy with your group lately. How are things going?”
Share what you’ve noticed without judgment and give them space to talk. Listen, ask what they need and help them explore their options. They may want support, information or help reporting what is happening.
Keep checking in, even if they aren’t ready to take action right away.
Learn more about the signs of hazing.
5. You can report hazing—even if you’re not sure
You don’t have to investigate a situation or decide whether it officially qualifies as hazing before reaching out for support or reporting a concern.
If something feels unsafe, coercive, humiliating or concerning, you can share what you know with the university. Reporting concerns early can help prevent situations from escalating and connect students and organizations with support.
When you report a concern, Student Conduct & Conflict Resolution (SCCR) reviews the information and determines appropriate next steps, which may include assessing risk, following up with those involved, providing resources and addressing potential policy violations.
You can also report a concern about something you’ve experienced, witnessed or learned about from someone else.
Learn how to report hazing or submit an anonymous report through SCCR.
Speaking up can feel difficult, especially when friends, teammates, coworkers or other people you care about are involved. But looking out for each other is a skill that can be improved to helpensure that everyone can find community and belong without harm.
Find support and report concerns
You don’t have to handle a concern about hazing on your own. SCCR is the place to report suspected hazing, while other campus resources can help you find support, understand your options or help someone else.
Report hazing
Student Conduct & Conflict Resolution (SCCR)
If you have experienced, witnessed or learned about potential hazing, report your concern to SCCR. You don’t need to be certain that something qualifies as hazing before making a report. SCCR reviews reports and determines appropriate next steps.
Find support
Student Outreach, Advocacy & Support (SOAS)
SOAS provides individualized support for students navigating challenging situations. Case managers can help you identify your needs and connect with campus and community resources.
OVA provides free and confidential information, consultation, support, advocacy and short-term, trauma-focused counseling for students, graduate students, faculty and staff who have experienced or witnessed a traumatic, disturbing or disruptive event, including hazing.
Don’t Ignore It
Learn how to recognize and respond to concerning situations, support someone who may be experiencing harm and build skills to look out for others in the ĢӰ Boulder community.