On April 11th, 2022, Governor Glenn Youngkin signed an anti-hazing bill in honor of Virginia Commonwealth University freshman, Adam Oakes. Oakes was pledging the Delta Chi fraternity when he died from alcohol poisoning after a fraternity hazing event in February of 2021. Adam's law requires all Virginia universities to implement a hazing…

Hazing is a form of violence that can have short- and long-term physical, emotional, and psychological impacts on individuals and communities. This article reviews existing approaches for addressing public health challenges adjacent to hazing such as school violence, bullying, and sexual violence. Employing evidence-based strategies that are…

While often positioned as a higher education challenge, hazing is prevalent in the secondary environment and is often linked to college hazing victimization and perpetration. This article reviews foundational studies of secondary education hazing, peer violence, and bullying, as these related activities are frequently linked in secondary education…

Hazing is a longstanding tradition within student groups at American middle schools, high schools, and colleges. The pursuit of acceptance leads young adults to endure physical, mental, or emotional abuse through tolerated behaviors. In this article, we define hazing in the context of the secondary and college setting, exploring some of the…

Hazing is motivated by numerous psychosocial phenomena embedded in the broader cultural milieu. The identification and deconstruction of these motivators presents an especially unique pathway to eliminating harmful and dangerous behaviors. The application of situational strength to hazing prevention offers a robust and applicable framework to help…

Hazing is a growing concern in US middle schools, high schools, and colleges. As more is understood about the complex phenomenon, so are strategies to prevent its occurrence and the cultures supporting it. This article reviews and critiques prevention strategies in four case studies set in high school, college, and student organization settings. A…

As institutions implement more comprehensive hazing prevention efforts, assessment is a necessary strategy for ensuring that programs and services for students are achieving their intended outcomes, especially as hazing behaviors change and evolve. Using a multi-stage student learning and development outcomes cycle, this article outlines steps to…

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,…

This investigation explored the concept and practice of organizational commitment to hazing prevention in higher education. Using Bolman and Deal's four frames we analyzed qualitative data from written materials and interviews with 16 campus professionals at eight U.S. universities. Findings revealed structural, human resource, political, and…

Objective: The present report describes a comprehensive, public health approach to hazing prevention on a university campus and evaluates its impact over time. Participants: Two different surveys (PULSE and MASCOT) were administered to college undergraduate students, in April 2013 (PULSE n = 6,190; MASCOT n = 3,117) and March 2015 (PULSE n =…

Hazing is generally defined as 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 (Hoover, 1999) and has been documented among college students in groups ranging from athletics to marching bands to fraternities and sororities…

This case study examined community readiness in a cohort of U.S. universities. Drawing on the Community Readiness Model (CRM), the extent to which a campus was ready to implement a comprehensive hazing prevention plan was assessed. The study was designed to help build the knowledge base using the CRM to systematically assess the cohort's work to…

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the contributions of anti-hazing workshops to the education of students on risk management procedures, as well as making them aware of anti-hazing solutions and procedures at an historically Black College and University to affect policy change or implementation. Participants in the quantitative study…

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,…

Hazing impinges on campus safety, leadership development, and the missions of postsecondary institutions. There is limited research on hazing prevention and a need for a research-informed framework to guide prevention efforts. Based on findings from a research-to-practice initiative to develop comprehensive approaches to hazing prevention, this…