[1] Ask questions about the organizations your children will be joining. Have there been any hazing infractions? Are there rumors of hazing or a past history? What is their position on hazing?
[2] Talk with your kids about hazing. Share the stories of the young men and women who have lost their lives or their friends to hazing. Talk to them about what hazing is and how to identify it.
[3] Help them understand the laws around hazing, how to report it, and whether they can receive amnesty for reporting it.
[4] Reinforce the “Mom Test." Would your mom (or sibling or dad, or other loved one) approve of the activity they plan to be a part of or watch as a bystander? Would they be okay if the activity were recorded and played on the evening news?
[5] Discuss how important it is for a bystander to act or react to diffuse a hazing situation, whether that is simply intervening to show solidarity with the person being hazed, to speak out against a planned hazing, or to call an ambulance quickly if someone is injured during hazing.
As a parent, if you question the value, safety, or potential negative impact of an activity, then you have the right to express concern and ask questions.