Hazing Prevention and Reporting
What does hazing look like?
Hazing encompasses a wide range of activities. These activities are often required of specific members of the group, such as new recruits. Additionally, they are often meant to take priority over other activities in a person’s life as part of the initiation process. Due to the nature of these activities, many hazing behaviors go unrecognized and unreported.
- Deception, secrecy, coercion
- Assigning demerits
- Demeaning names
- Social isolation
- Expecting certain items to always be in your possession
- Ignoring members
- Progress reports for members
- Duties assigned only to specific members
- Trying to instill fear in members
- Depriving members of privileges
Sources: Allan, 2015; Allan & Kerschner, 2020; Adapted from Bringing in the Bystander.
- Verbal abuse
- Threats or implied threats
- Asking members to wear embarrassing attire
- Skit nights with degrading or humiliating acts
- Sleep deprivation
- Sexual simulations
- Questioning or interrogation under pressure
- Requiring new members to perform personal service to active members or alumni (e.g. carrying books, running errands)
- Required singing or chanting at an unrelated game or event
Sources: Allan, 2015; Allan & Kerschner, 2020; Adapted from Bringing in the Bystander.
- Forced consumption of alcohol, drugs, food, etc.
- Beating, paddling or other forms of assault
- Branding
- Water intoxication
- Abduction/kidnapping
- Sexual assault, including inappropriate touching, non-consensual sex (oral, anal, vaginal) or sexual acts with objects (including sex toys)
- Forced tattoos or body piercings
- Enduring harsh weather without appropriate clothing or protection
Sources: Allan, 2015; Allan & Kerschner, 2020; Adapted from Bringing in the Bystander.
Investigation process
The following is an overview of the investigation process after a report is made. SCCR may initiate interim measures at any point during the process to ensure safety and compliance.
Initial review: After an incident is reported, SCCR reviews the information and determines the appropriate next steps.
Support outreach: Relevant internal stakeholders (such as the student leadership of the organization or other person) and external parties (such as the recognized student organization (RSO) advisor or national chapter advisor) are notified. SCCR shares information about the report with relevant department(s) to support the organization and/or individuals.
Notice of resolution meeting: SCCR sends a formal notice to the organization and/or individuals involved, initiating a resolution meeting(s).
Investigation and findings: SCCR conducts an investigation and determines findings based on the evidence.
Resolution outcomes: SCCR determines appropriate outcomes and collaborates with both internal and external stakeholders. There are three types of resolution outcomes: administrative outcomes, educational outcomes and restriction outcomes.
- Administrative outcomes impact the organization and/or individual status with CU Boulder.
- Educational outcomes are educational activities assigned to help address factors impacting behavior, and the impact of their behavior.
- Restriction outcomes impact the ability to interact with campus and/or communicate with others.
Resolution outcomes can contain any combination of the three types of resolution outcomes.
Outcome notification: The organization is formally notified of the resolution outcomes.
Find support
Signs of someone you know being hazed:
- Prioritizing group/membership activities over other areas in their life (e.g. school, relationships, etc.).
- Expressing fear or hesitation about what might happen to them if they do not participate in a specific group activity, even if it makes them uncomfortable.
- Changes to their behavior or mood, including depression, anxiety or restlessness while participating in a new group.
- Missing class, work or outside social events in order to join a group.
- Describing “traditions” that sound like hazing.
- Changes to sleep habits, including fatigue to participate in a specific group activity.
- Posting concerning or odd things on social media in relation to a group.
- Secrecy related to group membership or “traditions.”
Responses to hazing vary from person to person and can cause someone to experience physical, emotional and psychological distress. Feelings can range anywhere from seeing the activities as a personal challenge to feeling a sense of abuse and harassment.
How to help someone being hazed
Knowing what hazing looks like can help you understand what is okay and what crosses the line. To help identify if an action may be considered hazing, ask the following questions:
- Is this part of the membership process for a particular group?
- Could this cause harm, including feelings of embarrassment, humiliation or degradation?
- Are people involved being pressured or coerced to participate?
- What will happen to someone who does not want to participate?
It is important to know that groups who participate in these types of hazing activities or rituals often swear members to secrecy about all aspects of the group, including initiation requirements and activities. Speaking up about hazing, even when it interferes with a group’s expectations, can help prevent it from escalating or happening to other members.
If you are concerned about a friend who may be experiencing hazing, here are some ways to start the conversation.
- Start from a place of care. Show the individual that you care about them and are concerned. For instance, you can say something like “I’ve noticed you’ve been spending more time with [group], and I’m concerned about how it has been affecting you.”
- Describe what you have observed (e.g., lack of sleep, changes in your friend’s mood). Sometimes individuals being hazed do not realize they are being hazed.
- Listen without judgment. Show the person it’s okay to come to you for support, even if it is a hard subject to talk about.
- Validate that hazing is wrong, it’s not okay and it’s not the person’s fault.
- Empower the individual to take some sort of action by suggesting options or resources (e.g., talking to a professional, leaving the organization, reporting the organization, etc.).
- Stay connected. Not all individuals going through hazing are ready to take action and need time to process. It is vital that you are still there for support as they could need you later on.
Phone: 303-492-8855 | Email OVA
OVA provides free and confidential information, consultation, support, advocacy and short-term, trauma-focused counseling services for students, grad students, faculty and staff who have experienced or witnessed a traumatic, disturbing or disruptive event. This includes hazing.
People can disclose an incident confidentially and/or make a report to the university.
Completing the OVA confidential form does not constitute a report to the university and will not initiate any law enforcement, judicial or administrative action against a perpetrator/respondent.
SOAS provides individualized support to students. SOAS case managers connect students with campus partners, community resources and support systems, while building a trusting relationship and coaching them toward self-advocacy.
The Dean of Students supports and advocates for students and connects them with resources. If you are unsure how to advise a student in need of support, call the office at 303-492-9048 for assistance and referrals.
Comprehensive CU Boulder Hazing Prevention Strategy
How to help prevent hazing
The risk of hazing can differ from group to group depending on a number of factors, including group culture and tolerance for hazing behaviors. Taking some time to reflect on the types of groups you want to join and why can help you understand what types of relationships and experiences you want to have in college. It can also help you begin to outline what activities you are or are not comfortable doing in order to be part of a given group. If you run an organization, here are things you can do to prevent hazing.
If you are considering joining a group, be sure to think about the following questions:
- What types of groups or organizations have you thought about joining and why?
- What do you know about the group? How can you find out more?
- What kinds of activities are required to join?
- Will it impact your academics, social life or other activities?
- Is drinking or drug use a big part of the culture?
- How comfortable are you with the activities or the unknowns related to the membership process?
Be willing to approach university staff for advice or to report hazing activity. These resources include:
* Colorado Law Regarding Hazing As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires: 1. “Hazing” means any activity by which a person recklessly endangers the health or safety of or causes a risk 23 of bodily injury to an individual for purposes of initiation or admission into or affiliation with any student organization; except that “hazing” does not include customary athletic events or other similar contests or competitions, or authorized training activities conducted by members of the armed forces of the state of Colorado or the United States. 2. “Hazing” includes but is not limited to: a. Forced and prolonged physical activity; b. Forced consumption of any food, beverage, medication, or controlled substance, whether prescribed, in excess of the usual amounts for human consumption or forced consumption of any substance not generally intended for human consumption; c. Prolonged deprivation of sleep, food, or drink.