Lessons on Hazing

1. Lessons on Hazing Andy Hermansdorfer & Amber Lancaster Marshall University

2. October 30, 2015 • Delta Chi at Marshall University news clip • http://www.wowktv.com/story/30397365/marshall-fraternity-suspended-for-hazing

3. Baffoonery • horseplay, clownery, clowning, foolery, high jinks (also hijinks), horsing around, monkey business, monkeying, monkeyshine(s), roughhouse, roughhousing, shenanigan(s), skylarking, slapstick, tomfoolery

4. Hazing Defined • Hazing is “any activity expected of someone joining or participating in a group that humiliates, degrades, abuses, or endangers them regardless of a person’s willingness to participate.” • Allan & Madden (2012, p. 83) • Hoover (1998, p. 8)

5. §18-16-2. Definitions.(a) "Hazing" means to cause any action or situation which recklessly or intentionally endangers the mental or physical health or safety of another person or persons or causes another person or persons to destroy or remove public or private property for the purpose of initiation or admission into or affiliation with, or as a condition for continued membership in, any organization operating under the sanction of or recognized as an organization by an institution of higher education. The term includes, but is not limited to, any brutality of a physical nature, such as whipping, beating, branding, forced consumption of any food, liquor, drug or other substance, or any other forced physical activity which could adversely affect the physical health and safety of the individual or individuals, and includes any activity which would subject the individual or individuals to extreme mental stress, such as sleep deprivation, forced exclusion from social contact, forced conduct which could result in extreme embarrassment, or any other forced activity which could adversely affect the mental health or dignity of the individual or individuals, or any willful destruction or removal of public or private property: Provided, That the implied or expressed consent or willingness of a person or persons to hazing shall not be a defense under this section.

6. WVU • Hazing. “Hazing” means any action or situation which (1) endangers or adversely affects the mental or physical health or safety of another person or persons; (2) would cause extreme embarrassment or adversely affect the dignity of another person or persons; or (3) causes another person or persons to destroy or remove public or private property. This includes, but is not limited to, any brutality of a physical nature, such as whipping, beating, branding, forced consumption of any food, alcohol, drug or other substance, any activity which would subject an individual or individuals to extreme mental stress, such as sleep deprivation or forced exclusion from social contact. Hazing with or without the consent of a student is prohibited. Initiations or activities of student organizations are prohibited from including any feature that is dangerous, harmful, or degrading to the student. A violation of this prohibition renders both the organization and participating individuals subject to discipline. Any student who knowingly witnesses or acquiesces in the presence of hazing is also subject to discipline.

7. Concord, WVSU, and Marshall • Hazing is defined as any action or situation created intentionally to produce mental, emotional, or physical discomfort, embarrassment, harassment, or ridicule. Such activities and situations may include paddling in any form, creation of excessive fatigue, i.e., any activity which deprives a student of at least six (6) continuous hours of sleep; physical and psychological shocks; inappropriate quests, i.e., stealing of items, treasure hunts, scavenger hunts, road trips or any other such inappropriate activities; wearing publicly, any apparel which is conspicuous and not normally in good taste as defined by the proper hearing bodies; like dressing, engaging in public stunts, buffoonery, morally degrading or humiliating games or activities; late work sessions which interfere with scholastic activities; or any act which would degrade or otherwise compromise the dignity of the individual, including forced use and abuse of alcohol or drugs or harassing phone calls. New members of student organizations should not be expected to do or be coerced into doing or saying anything that all members of the organizations do not do or say with the new members or as an entire group.

8. WV State Law • §18-16-2. Definitions.(a) "Hazing" means to cause any action or situation which recklessly or intentionally endangers the mental or physical health or safety of another person or persons or causes another person or persons to destroy or remove public or private property for the purpose of initiation or admission into or affiliation with, or as a condition for continued membership in, any organization operating under the sanction of or recognized as an organization by an institution of higher education. The term includes, but is not limited to, any brutality of a physical nature, such as whipping, beating, branding, forced consumption of any food, liquor, drug or other substance, or any other forced physical activity which could adversely affect the physical health and safety of the individual or individuals, and includes any activity which would subject the individual or individuals to extreme mental stress, such as sleep deprivation, forced exclusion from social contact, forced conduct which could result in extreme embarrassment, or any other forced activity which could adversely affect the mental health or dignity of the individual or individuals, or any willful destruction or removal of public or private property: Provided,That the implied or expressed consent or willingness of a person or persons to hazing shall not be a defense under this section.

9. We know more about hazing than we ever have… Hazing in View College Students at Risk National Study of Student Hazing Elizabeth J. Allen and Mary Madden University of Maine

10. 55% of college students involved in clubs, teams, and organizations experience hazing. • Hazing occurs in, but extends beyond, varsity athletics and Greek-letter organizations and includes behaviors that are abusive, dangerous, and potentially illegal. • Alcohol consumption, humiliation, isolation, sleep- deprivation, and sex acts are hazing practices common across types of student groups.

11. There are public aspects to student hazing including: • 25% of coaches or organization advisors were aware of the group’s hazing behaviors; • 25% of the behaviors occurred on-campus in a public space; • in 25% of hazing experiences, alumni were present; and students talk with peers (48%,41%) or family (26%) about their hazing experiences.

12. In more than half of the hazing incidents, a member of the offending group posts pictures on a public web space. • In 95% of the cases where students identified their experience as hazing, they did not report the events to campus officials. • 69% of students who belonged to a student activity reported they were aware of hazing activities occurring in student organizations other than their own.

13. More students perceive positive rather than negative outcomes of hazing. • Students report limited exposure to hazing prevention efforts that extend beyond a “hazing is not tolerated” approach. • 47% of students come to college having experienced hazing. • Nine out of ten students who have experienced hazing behavior in college do not consider themselves to have been hazed.

14. Signs of Potential Hazing • Code words and phrases • Social media • Dropping hints • Overemphasizing trivial thing • Calisthenics, scavenger hunts, road trips • Stressing to accomplish tasks • Absence of new member

15. Recommendations from We Don’t Haze: A Companion Prevention Brief for College & University Professionals Allan, E. (N.D.) • Design hazing prevention efforts to be broad and inclusive of all students involved in campus organizations and athletic teams. • Make a serious commitment to educate the campus community about the dangers of hazing; send a clear message that hazing will not be tolerated and that those engaging in hazing behaviors will be held accountable. • Broaden the range of groups targeted for hazing prevention education to include all students, campus staff, administrators, faculty, alumni, and family members.

16. Recommendations (cont.) • Design intervention and prevention efforts that are research-based and systematically evaluate them to assess their effectiveness. • Involve all students in hazing prevention efforts and introduce these early in students’ campus experience (i.e., orientation). • Design prevention efforts to be more comprehensive than simply one-time presentations or distribution of anti-hazing policies.

17. Emerging Strategies for HP We Don’t Haze: A Companion Prevention Brief for College & University Professionals Allan, E. (N.D.) • Visible campus leadership anti-hazing statement • Coalition-building • Policy and protocol reviews • Hazing Prevention Trainings • Social norms messaging • Bystander Intervention • Communication to broader campus community

18. Communication to broader campus community • Marshall University’s Anti-Hazing Video; Do You Make the Pledge? • http://www.marshall.edu/student-activities/hazing-prevention

19. What’s next? • Greek Life: 5 Things Parents Should Know – CNN Clip • http://www.cnn.com/2015/11/02/us/fraternity-hazing-deaths/index.html

20. References • Allan, E. and M. Madden (2008). "Hazing in view: College students at risk. Initial findings from the National Study of Student Hazing." • Allan, E. J., et al. (N.D.) We Don't Haze: A Companion Prevention Brief for College & University Professionals. • Hoover, N. C. (1999). National Survey: Initiation Rites and Athletics for NCAA Sports Teams, Alfred University. • CODE, W. (2013). Antihazing Law, West Virginia Legislature.