banner title for blog: How to use StopHazing's new digital tools and downloads.

October 25, 2021

As part of StopHazing’s mission to promote safe and inclusive school, campus, and organizational environments through research, resource sharing, and the development of data-driven strategies for hazing prevention and the promotion of positive group climates, StopHazing is dedicated to providing resources for stakeholders to communicate the nature and extent of hazing, its fundamental components, and research-based strategies to prevent hazing across many contexts. In being conscious of the varying online and in-person spaces where information is communicated, StopHazing has created a new resource page: Digital Tools & Downloads.  This new tab on our website has been developed to help users disperse and communicate hazing and hazing prevention information more broadly and with ease on digital platforms.

The Digital Tools & Downloads page mostly serves as a content hub for users to access ready-to-use content that can be posted and shared across all social media platforms and in physical spaces. Additionally, there are templates so users can tailor and customize information to their institution or group. These digital tools can help prevent hazing by allowing people to passively learn more about hazing, its prevention, and institution-specific information in high-visibility and commonly used spaces (e.g., student unions, campus offices, dining halls, campus social media channels, group social media channels). At this time, the downloadable/shareable content consists of several infographics and a Social Media Toolkit. 

  1. What is Hazing? – is a Canva-created resource that details key information about hazing, including national statistics to clearly communicate the seriousness of the issue. It sheds light on state laws and shares some data-driven strategies for prevention stemming from the StopHazing Research Lab’s findings over the years. The customizable version of the infographic is meant for institutions and other organizations to share their own campus resources, policies, reporting information, etc., to further communicate institution-specific details. The non-customizable infographic provides more general information. Tip: Users can go a step further and customize the color scheme to match institution color palettes and logos. 
  1. Red Flags of Hazing – aims to highlight the potential warning signs of someone who might be experiencing a form(s) of hazing. This specific infographic is currently not customizable like What is Hazing?, however, it is filled with useful information about what hazing may look like, examples of warning signs, and what to do when you think hazing is occurring. Similar to the first infographic, it defines hazing. Next, it shares examples of behavior that may indicate someone is being hazed or perhaps is engaged in potentially risky or harmful behavior. And lastly, it offers several examples of ‘go-to’ personnel to share potential hazing behavior with or to report hazing incidents to. This may include campus professionals, health promotion staff, campus health center staff, or personnel such as a social worker or counselor, resident assistants (RAs), accountability officers, law enforcement or campus police (if comfortable), and family members. This information is intended to help bystanders recognize hazing and risky behaviors and take the next step to intervene. These Red Flags can be shared broadly to reach as many people, including those who (1) might be at risk of experiencing hazing and those who (2) may be observing hazing or a change in behavior due to hazing and can know the appropriate next steps to intervene, report, etc.
  1. Social Media Toolkit – is a comprehensive digital tool that can be used to enhance campus and organizational online hazing prevention efforts by building awareness, education, and sharing prevention strategies. As noted on the website, the toolkit includes pre-made social media posts with draft captions, story posts, and even hazing-related memes. This toolkit can be used as an anti-hazing or hazing prevention campaign, or as standalone, regularly dosed hazing prevention content. Given the variety of content – posts, stories, and memes – this toolkit is geared to reach as many audiences and groups as possible, including middle school, high school, and college students. This toolkit was developed in September of 2021, so it is up-to-date and ready to use. Take the first step and start a trend for other institutions and organizations to follow by using social media channels to highlight hazing as a harmful issue that affects students, sometimes starting in middle school, all across the country. Use our research-based resources and content to promote awareness and education at all levels as a prevention strategy today.

Be sure to check out StopHazing’s other online resources on the website as well, and feel free to scroll through the other pages to learn more about the work we are doing. 

Don’t forget to tag us in your hazing prevention-related posts with #StopHazing! Our team hopes to see your collection of awesome posts in the very near future!

Digital Tools & Downloads created in collaboration with StopHazing Graduate Student Intern, Elisabeth Rebmann.

Blog post crafted in collaboration with StopHazing Staff & StopHazing Graduate Student Intern, Eric Costa Pimentel.

Questions? Reach out to Meredith@stophazing.org