While hazing is an activity frequently associated with fraternities and sororities, it can occur in other campus organizations as well. While some student groups may haze with malicious intent, others may believe their activities are harmless or might not even be aware they are hazing. However, hazing is prohibited in every sense of the word and can always be prevented.
The most important factor in hazing prevention in organizations is to read the Longwood University Anti-Hazing policy. The policy was created for members of all student organizations and athletic teams as a resource to prevent and stop hazing within these groups. It defines hazing, provides examples of hazing and presents the consequences of such activities.
The anti-hazing policy defines hazing as "any action taken or situation created intentionally, whether on or off Longwood property, by either fraternity/sorority organizations, student clubs/organizations, athletic teams, individual students or student groups, to produce mental or physical discomfort, endangerment of life, embarrassment, harassment, intimidation, or ridicule."
Hazing is not only forbidden at Longwood but is illegal in the state of Virginia as well. Code of Virginia 18.2-56 declares, "It shall be unlawful to haze so as to cause bodily injury, for any student at any school, college, or university. Any persons found guilty thereof shall be guilty of a
Class 1 Misdemeanor, which carries a minimum of 12 months imprisonment or a $2,400 fine."
While members of organizations may be aware of the legal ramifications of hazing, said members often continue to haze or be hazed for the sake of being part of the organization. "I realize it is a conscious decision that every individual makes," Longwood University Police Department (LUPD) Chief of Police Bob Beach said. "But it is not victimless [crime] in that if those people want to be involved and they don't want to be chastised … they feel like they must go through with it."
Ironically, those who haze often think of it as a bonding experience between organization members. "The problem is that as [bonding] morphs into different activities, it becomes dangerous," Beach said. "Every year a number of people will lose their lives due to a hazing type of event." He added that while death is an extreme consequence, students involved in hazing may be expelled from the university and essentially put their educational and professional careers at risk.
According to Vice President of Standards for Interfraternity Council (IFC) Matt McNair, "Hazing is wrong because you're basically forcing someone to do something that goes against the values of the organization it was founded upon." He said hazing that seems small or fun is still hazing, and it is still prohibited. He added that even just one organization hazing "affects the entire community" because people often associate the actions of one group with the university as a whole.
Beach agreed that hazing can put the university's reputation at risk. He said if Longwood developed a reputation for tolerating hazing, people outside the university, including prospective students and families and current students' future employers, might view the university as a low quality institution. "It affects both the university itself and financially and its public reputation," he said. "It also affects the students who go here."
In addition to hurting the reputation of the organization, its members and the entire university, hazing can damage victims emotionally. Assistant Director of Student Activities and IFC Advisor Billy Boulden explained, "The result of hazing or bullying or any of those actions is no matter how well off a person looks after they've gone through the experience, no matter how they may seem, they're still carrying scars and those issues with them no matter what the activity was."
Boulden said, "Organizations should find activities that are supportive and conducive to the mission of their organization." He said organizations should never stray from the values established along with the organization.
Vice President of Leadership and Membership Development for IFC Kenneth Parmely said it is the responsibility of experienced members to give new members a "clear-cut definition" of what the organization stands for because if they are misled or are unaware of what is going on, that could technically be considered a form of hazing.
Parmely said events such as rope courses or other team building exercises in which all group members are invited can be a great bonding experience between old and new members. These events help members feel more like equals and are less likely to lead to hazing. Older members can also emphasize appropriate rituals and help new members participate and feel more involved in the organization.
Parmely added that the presence of alcohol is a factor that can often lead to hazing. "When you have alcohol in a situation, it can escalate to something that could be construed as hazing," he said. "Not having alcohol creates a safer environment for new members."
Beach said he values tradition and bonding and will help organizations find ways to uphold these things without breaking policy. "I am willing to help [campus organizations] build a set of circumstances and situations that help them continue a tradition but do it in a legal fashion," he added. "All they have to do is just be willing to step up … and take the leadership role of putting that in place."
While reporting hazing may be difficult for many students, the only way this act can be stopped and prevented in the future is if those aware of it say something. Reports are submitted anonymously and can be turned in to the LUPD, Boulden or any member of IFC, LUPD, the leader of the organization, or any qualified university official.
If students feel uncomfortable reporting hazing to an official in person, they can turn to several resources. Concerned students can reach Longwood's hazing hotline at (434) 395-2222 and the national hazing hotline at 1-888-Not-Haze.
