Hazing Awareness and Prevention
Recognizing, preventing and reporting hazing at Penn State
Hazing has no place at Penn State. Hazing can occur in fraternities and sororities, athletic teams, clubs, student organizations and other groups, and it is not limited to extreme or highly visible behavior. Penn State describes hazing as any intentional act – physical, mental, or emotional – that pressures, coerces, or forces a student to do something harmful, humiliating, illegal, or unsafe to join, remain in, or gain status within a group or organization. Importantly, hazing is hazing even when a student agrees to participate. Examples may include forced or coerced alcohol or substance consumption, verbal abuse or intimidation, humiliating activities, isolation, sleep deprivation and pointless or unrelated tasks.
Penn State prohibits hazing (AD98: Anti-Hazing Policy), and hazing is also prohibited under Pennsylvania and federal law.
Recognizing Hazing
Hazing is not always obvious or recognized by those experiencing it. The National Study of Student Hazing, which included more than 11,000 students at 53 colleges and universities, found that 55% of students involved in clubs, teams and organizations experienced hazing, while 9 out of 10 students who experienced hazing behaviors did not consider themselves to have been hazed. The study also found that in 95% of cases where students identified their experience as hazing, they did not report it to campus officials. These findings highlight the importance of recognizing concerning behaviors and speaking up early.
Consent Does Not Make Hazing Acceptable
A person may agree to participate because they want to belong, feel pressure from peers, fear losing membership or status, or believe an activity is simply a group tradition. Even if someone agrees to participate, consent does not make hazing acceptable. No student should have to endure humiliation, intimidation, danger or harm to demonstrate loyalty, gain acceptance or maintain membership in a group. Healthy organizations build belonging through respect, teamwork and positive shared experiences, not pressure or harm.
See or Experience Hazing? Report It.
If you experience, witness or learn about possible hazing, report it immediately to University Police. If someone is in immediate danger, always call 911. At University Park, University Police can also be reached at 814-863-1111.
Non-emergency concerns involving students or student organizations can be submitted through Penn State’s Student Code of Conduct Incident Report Form. Individuals can also contact the Office of Student Accountability and Conflict Response to discuss reporting options or submit an anonymous report through the Penn State Hotline, including by text at 1-888-778-8173. You do not have to be the person experiencing hazing to make a report.
Prevention Starts With All of Us
Everyone can help prevent hazing. Learn to recognize warning signs, refuse to participate in activities that humiliate or endanger others, check in with someone you believe may be experiencing hazing and report concerns. Speaking up is not simply about getting someone in trouble. It can help protect people and prevent harmful behavior from continuing or escalating.
Penn State also provides hazing-prevention education and resources to help community members recognize, prevent and report hazing. University Police’s Community Oriented Policing Unit provides its Hazing Awareness and Prevention education program free of charge for work units and student groups upon request.
To learn more about hazing, prevention resources, and reporting options, visit the Penn State Student Affairs Hazing Prevention website.