The Piazza Center Horizontal Hazing Model conceptualizes the ways in which hazing transitions from pre-college environments into higher education and across student constructed spaces such as student organizations or sorority and fraternity chapters. Hazing is multi-tiered, occurring at individual, organizational, and community levels. This model…

Some collegiate anti-hazing programs are employing anti-hazing messaging that consists of exaggerated, misleading, or dubious claims. These claims are typically phrased in a way that is either a poor representation of the overall state of the research literature on hazing or oversells the findings from a single study. The failure to prioritize…

Teaching physical education involves more than overseeing what happens on the field, court or in the swimming pool. Physical educators also need to control the locker room, where students hazing other students may be common practice at certain schools. This case is a good example of what happens when teachers and coaches fail to supervise athletes…

Hazing prevention and education efforts continue to evolve in response to changing student behavior. The organic and anomic nature of hazing is deeply embedded in higher education, permeating across campus reinforced by cultural norms and institutional practices. While numerous approaches attempt to disrupt hazing, public health approaches,…

There are many benefits to being involved in Greek life. Becoming a part of a fraternity or sorority provides one with opportunities to get involved in community service and develop into global citizens. However, recent negative media attention has focused on hazing-related deaths, alcohol abuse, and sexual assaults in connection with Greek life.…

Academic hazing within doctoral programs is often so deeply embedded within the doctoral experience that it becomes normalized. This effort translates into oppressive practices where students are broken down and rebuilt into the ideal doctoral candidate, and the process continues with the next batch of candidates. However, no one discusses the…

Universities UK (UUK) in collaboration with Newcastle University, has launched "Initiations at UK Universities" to raise awareness of the dangers of initiations and excessive alcohol consumption among students. This briefing includes a consensus statement on the best way forward from stakeholders across the university and health sectors,…

As colleges and universities acknowledge the connection between behavioral health and student success, ACTA releases this powerful report calling for a new level of awareness and collaborative action by presidents and trustees to address student alcohol and drug use. The report provides examples of successful, evidence-based programs implemented…

The growing political and social divide in the United States continues to impact campus communities. Issues like freedom of speech, racism, sexual misconduct, and hazing can quickly create deep philosophical divides. While those working in student affairs who have had unique academic training related to the holistic development of all students…

Hazing in public schools is a significant problem that may result in serious physical or emotional harm to students who are victims. According to experts in the field, each year more than 1,500,000 American students become new hazing victims. Hazing also results in legal challenges for school personnel. The courts consider public schools to be…

Hazing is the beast in academe's basement, often lurking unseen and unreported, only to rise again and again despite countless rules and zero-tolerance policies. It takes many forms, some physically violent, some emotionally cruel, some booze-soaked, some silly. Since 1970, colleges have seen at least one hazing-related fatality each year, and the…

Outbreaks of violence at education institutions typically do not rise to the horrific levels of Virginia Tech, Columbine High School, or Oikos University. But incidents that threaten school security--bullying, hazing, online harassment--take place in every month of the year and may occur in any classroom or campus from coast to coast. Schools and…

The hazing death of Florida A&M (FAMU) drum major Robert Champion and the long-concealed child sexual abuse by Jerry Sandusky at Penn State University have prompted an intense focus within higher education on how campus leaders should respond in times of crisis, particularly one involving suspected criminal activity. Experts say college…

A Texas court's recent ruling that allowed a negligence lawsuit to proceed against 12 former administrators at Texas A&M University has some higher-education legal experts concerned about campus officials' liability in a variety of situations, including fraternity initiations, housing accidents, and student suicides. The decision was in favor…

This book provides potential answers to reduce deviant behavior and crime in colleges and universities. Claiming that the Virginia Tech and Northern Illinois shootings were aberrations, the authors have nevertheless uncovered offenses that presage major criminal incidents, such as students' engaging in cheating, plagiarism, binge drinking, date…