Parents

Imagine sending your child to college or camp or practice only to have them come back traumatized, black and blue, or worse. Read Lianne Kowiak’s story.

Hazing:

Involves a power difference between those in a group and those who want to join, or between senior and junior members of a group, usually as a condition of entry or acceptance.
Involves an intentional action or situation that creates embarrassment, harassment, or ridicule or causes mental or physical distress to the participants.
Is not relevant to the group’s purpose, or is relevant but excessive.

Hazing Red Flags:

Activities meant to ‘earn’ a place within an organization or team that are inconsistent with someone’s character or values.
Activities that are embarrassing or mentally/physically abusive.
Forced or coerced abuse of alcohol.
Personal servitude or meaningless tasks.

Students Don’t Always Recognize Hazing as Hazing

In fact, 9 out of 10 students who have experienced it do not consider themselves to have been hazed. Why? Because it is difficult to accept that it is hazing when it becomes part of your identity.

Learn More

It’s time to step up.

Take the Hazing Prevention Pledge.

Fill in the form to take the Hazing Prevention Pledge. You can view and download your pledge immediately after submitting.

I PLEDGE: to prevent hazing before it occurs, stop hazing when I see it happening, report it when I know it has transpired, and help empower others to do the same in their organizations, schools and communities.

I JOIN OTHERS TO:

Recognize the harm that hazing can cause both physically and psychologically;
Condemn the act of hazing on all levels;
Admonish those who haze and those who enable hazing through their silence, and;
Be an advocate for the prevention of hazing

Your email address is not required to take the pledge and HazingPrevention.Org will not share or post that information to others. If you provide it, HPO may email you our newsletter and other items of interest. You may always opt out of our communication.

First Name *

Last Name *

Campus / Organization Name

How will you use your pledge in your community?

Message

Parents: Start the Conversation.

[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.

mother and daughter talking

Parents, Learn How to Protect Your Children from Hazing

Take the Hazing Prevention Pledge.