As the principal investigator of the 2008 “Hazing in View” study, the most extensive study of student hazing to date, I have witnessed firsthand the vast and devastating impact of hazing on college campuses across the United States. Our findings underscored the urgent need for more comprehensive and consistent approaches to hazing prevention that include research, policy, and practice.

Putting the Pieces Together for Change

My involvement in policy-related work for hazing prevention pre-dates the national study and was catalyzed by my work as a campus-based professional and leadership educator working with university students who were experiencing hazing. Concerned about their safety, and in collaboration with students, we developed and implemented an array of interventions, including programs, workshops, trainings, campus speakers, anonymous hotlines, peer education, transparency, and accountability. Additionally, I proposed and led lobbying efforts for a state anti-hazing law that passed in 1993.

Since earning my PhD and becoming a researcher, I have served as a Subject Matter Expert for the U.S. Congress, the Senate, and the Department of Defense. And, after years of tireless advocacy in partnership with families of young people killed or severely harmed from hazing and alongside campus safety organizations like Clery Center, the Stop Campus Hazing Act was finally signed into law in December 2024. This bipartisan legislation represents a historic victory in the fight against hazing, offering a research-informed solution to a pervasive problem. 

How does research inform policy?

To begin, research helped to portray the scope of the problem and the need for legislation. The national study which included survey responses from over 11,000 students at 50+ college campuses and interviews with hundreds more, revealed disturbing trends. While hazing was often thought to be primarily a “fraternity” problem, we found that over half (55%) of college students who join student groups experience hazing as part of the membership process. In that study, and recent data collected from tens of thousands more students, we confirmed that hazing is not limited to fraternities, sororities, and varsity athletics but occurs in a wide range of student groups, including club sports, intramural teams, performing arts organizations, honor societies, and academic clubs. Hazing frequently involves dangerous and potentially illegal activities. These findings are reflected in the SCHA. 

55% statistic graphic

Often shrouded in secrecy, we found that hazing can be a public spectacle, with one-quarter of hazing incidents taking place in public spaces on campus, and photos and videos of these activities often posted on social media, indicating there is great potential for bystander reporting and intervention. However, perhaps the most troubling thing is that students are unlikely to report hazing to campus officials. The research revealed that students are hesitant to report hazing incidents for a variety of reasons, such as fear of repercussions from fellow group members, the perception that hazing is simply a regular part of college life, or a lack of understanding of what constitutes hazing. Exacerbating the challenge is the fact that many students who experience hazing do not recognize it as such. A staggering nine out of ten students who engaged in hazing behaviors do not consider themselves to have been hazed. 

By documenting the nature and extent of hazing, the research helps to inform the need for legislation as part of a comprehensive approach to prevention. The Stop Campus Hazing Act addresses the multifaceted nature of the problem in several ways:

  • It mandates that colleges report hazing incidents in their Annual Security Reports, also known as Clery Reports.
  • It requires colleges to implement campus-wide, research-informed hazing education and prevention programs.
  • It requires colleges to publish their hazing prevention policies and a list of organizational violations on their websites.

The new law offers several significant improvements over a patchwork of state laws and institutional policies. It offers a consistent definition to track incidents of hazing for Annual Security Reports (also known as “Clery Reports). The definition reflects the three core constructs vital to defining hazing: (1) the group context, (2) harmful or potentially harmful behavior, and (3) regardless of a person’s willingness to participate. Mandating comprehensive data collection and reporting will bring much-needed transparency to the issue of hazing. Currently, the extent of hazing on college campuses is largely unknown due to underreporting of incidents. 

gift of the 3 components of hazing

Comprehensive prevention programming is essential for cultivating group environments where hazing is far less likely to occur. Many colleges and universities have implemented hazing prevention initiatives, but these efforts are often fragmented and lack continuity and consistency. Effective prevention requires a multi-pronged approach. As such, the Stop Campus Hazing Act calls for campus-wide and research-informed hazing prevention programs to ensure all students, faculty, and staff receive consistent messaging and are equipped with tools to prevent and report hazing.

Lastly, transparency and access to information are crucial for empowering students and families to make informed choices about joining organizations. The Stop Campus Hazing Act requires colleges to publish their hazing prevention policies and any student organization hazing violations on their websites. This will allow prospective students and their families to evaluate the safety of different organizations before committing to them. It also increases accountability by making colleges and universities responsible for addressing hazing within their organizations.

The new federal law is a critical step toward ending hazing on college campuses. While many colleges and universities have taken steps to address hazing, our research reveals that their efforts are often limited by lack of a clear mandate. Federal legislation provides the authority needed to garner more support and commitment for hazing prevention and to hold institutions accountable for informing their students and the public about organizations found in violation of hazing policies. 

Maintaining and Accelerating the Pace of Change 

The consequences of hazing can be devastating. Severe physical injury, psychological trauma, and even death have resulted from it. Victims of hazing may experience anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and substance misuse problems. Hazing also contributes to harmful campus environments, deterring students from joining organizations and hindering their academic and social development. The Stop Campus Hazing Act will accelerate the pace of change as education and training build skills for healthy leadership and group environments where students can join groups feeling confident that they will be treated with dignity and respect and feel a sense of belonging without hazing. 

More than 100 college students have lost their lives from hazing since 2000. A recent social media campaign, “Remember their names and honor them with action,” profiles the promising lives of students lost to hazing and the ripple effects of harm caused by these senseless tragedies. Undoubtedly, the passage of the Stop Campus Hazing Act is a significant milestone in campus safety and hazing prevention. Still, the passage of the federal law and the strengthening of state laws are insufficient to turn the tide. 

Each of us can take action to ensure these laws are implemented effectively and to maintain the momentum needed to transform hazing environments. For example,  parents and caregivers can consider effective ways to talk with your teen about hazing; we can all learn how to identify red flags of hazing, how to effectively report hazing and intervene as bystanders. Practicing ethical leadership skills, values-based decision-making; and developing awareness of the 10 Signs of Healthy and Unhealthy Groups and Teams, will help cultivate environments where hazing will be far less likely to occur and where students can thrive without risking their well-being. 

As we’ve seen from HazingInfo’s recent investigative series, enforcement of state anti-hazing statutes is inconsistent at best, and the lack of full transparency can compromise student safety. In the words of Justice Louis Brandeis, “sunlight is the best disinfectant.” Shining a light on hazing and ensuring colleges and universities are complying with statutory and federal legislative mandates is crucial. 

At StopHazing, we work with dedicated campus professionals and higher education leaders who have expressed gratitude for the mandates and are eagerly getting to work to ensure compliance with the law. Students, their families, alums, and community members can play a vital role too. It is up to all of us to pay attention, to learn about hazing, notice the warning signs, and intervene as bystanders. These actions may seem small, but their impact can be lifesaving. 

The Stop Campus Hazing Act gained traction and passed with unprecedented bipartisan support in the House and Senate thanks to the action of families and friends of countless students harmed by hazing. While it’s a milestone victory deserving of celebration, the law’s passage does not mean our work is complete. A point that was tragically underscored in the recent death of Caleb Wilson. Now more than ever, we must work together to create campus environments where students can join clubs, teams, and organizations that support their well-being and cultivate healthy leaders. The Stop Campus Hazing Act marks a turning point in efforts to achieve this goal. Now, it’s up to all of us to ensure this law is swiftly and fully implemented, sending a clear message that hazing will not be tolerated on college campuses nationwide. 

—Elizabeth J. Allan, Ph.D., is Principal at StopHazing and a Professor and Program Coordinator of the Higher Education graduate program at the University of Maine.