Earlier this week, U.S. President Joe Biden signed the first federal anti-hazing law, aimed at increasing transparency and accountability on college campuses. The Stop Campus Hazing Act, passed by the House of Representatives in September and the Senate in December, mandates universities to collect hazing statistics and include them in their regular public reports, according to USA Today.
The new requirements could take effect as early as next week and will impact numerous campus groups. Previously, colleges and universities were required to disclose campus crimes annually under long-standing federal statutes. With Biden’s enactment of the law, many institutions will now need to align their existing protocols with these new federal standards, states USA Today.
In addition to reporting requirements, the law compels colleges to implement comprehensive hazing prevention programs and identify specific student groups found violating anti-hazing policies.
What is Hazing?
Hazing refers to any activity required of an individual to join or maintain membership in a group that causes humiliation, degradation, or emotional and/or physical harm—regardless of whether the individual consents to participate.
What Does Hazing Look Like?
Hazing often manifests in activities that humiliate, harm, or pressure individuals to prove their loyalty to a group. These actions might include forced consumption of alcohol or food, physical exhaustion through rigorous tasks, public embarrassment, social isolation, or engaging in illegal acts. In extreme cases, it can escalate to physical violence or mental trauma. Hazing doesn’t always involve physical harm; even coercive or degrading tasks, such as public ridicule or sleep deprivation, qualify as hazing. Regardless of the participants’ consent, these activities perpetuate a culture of fear, control, and abuse, often with long-lasting emotional or physical repercussions.
How Students Can Recognize and Report Hazing
Recognizing and addressing hazing is crucial to ensuring student well-being on campus. Here’s how students can identify hazing and report it effectively to create a safer environment for all.
Know the definition: Understand that hazing includes any degrading or harmful activity required to join or stay in a group, even if done voluntarily.
Trust your instincts: If an activity feels unsafe, humiliating, or coerced, it likely qualifies as hazing.
Document incidents: Take note of specific events, dates, and involved individuals for accurate reporting.
Reach out to authorities: Report hazing to campus safety offices, university hotlines, or law enforcement.
Use anonymous reporting tools: Many universities offer anonymous systems to report hazing without fear of retaliation.