Hazing Education

Office of Student Services

The Smart Choice

This webpage provides essential information on hazing awareness and prevention. This information is made available for students, faculty/staff, parents, alumni, and community partners, who can all contribute to hazing prevention efforts.

What is hazing?

Hazing is defined as any activity sponsored by or any method of initiation into a group, team, or organization that is likely to cause, or does cause mental or physical discomfort or embarrassment, or places any person into a demeaning or physically dangerous situation.

Hazing Question or Concerns

337-475-5609
Office of Student Services
studentservices@mcneese.edu
Student Services Resource Webpage

Online Resources

Stop Hazing: www.stophazing.org
Hazing Prevention: www.hazingprevention.org

McNeese Resources

Who can perform hazing acts?

Hazing can be conducted by anyone, but it is typically associated with joining a group, organization, or team. Sometimes hazing is associated with traditions or customs connected to a group, team, or organization. In a college environment, hazing happens across a range of student groups.

Type Of Group	Percentage Of Students Experienced Hazing
Athletics	74%
Social Fraternity or Sorority	73%
Club Sports	64%
Performing Arts	56%
Service Fraternity	50%
Intramural Team	49%
Recreational Club	42%
Academic Club	28%
Honor Society	20%
Other Organizations	30%

Hazing in View: College Students at Risk, Allen/Madden (2008) via stophazing.org

Other Notable Student Experience Hazing Statistics

26% participate in drinking games
17% of students sing or chant in a public situation
12% associate with specific people and not others
12% drink large amounts of alcohol to the point of getting sick or passing out
11% are deprived of sleep
10% are screamed at, yelled at, or cursed at by other members
25% of hazing experiences, students believed coaches and/or advisors were aware of the activities
25% of hazing experiences, students reported that alumni were present
48% and 26% of students speak about their hazing experiences with their peers and family, respectively

Hazing in View: College Students at Risk, Allen/Madden (2008) via stophazing.org

Hazing Information

Any activity that might bring physical or psychological harm to an individual or animal.
Paddling, beating, slapping, branding, burning with a cigarette, or any such activity which is life-threatening to the individual or is intended to hurt or to humiliate physically or mentally or otherwise permitting undergraduate or alumni members to hit any person.
All forms of physical activity not part of an organized, voluntary athletic contest, or not specifically directed toward constructive work.
Required members to wear any degrading or uncomfortable garments.
Depriving members of the opportunity for sufficient sleep (8 hours per day minimum), decent and edible meals, or access to means of maintaining body cleanliness.
Activities that interfere in any way with any individual’s academic efforts; e.g.-causing excessive fatigue, loss of sleep, or loss of reasonable study time.
Activities that interfere with an individual’s employment or family obligations.
Requiring members to consume alcohol and/or drugs to provoke nausea or inebriation.
Forcing, coercing, or permitting students to eat or drink foreign or unusual substances such as raw meat, raw eggs, saltwater, onions, etc., which are distasteful or designed to provoke nausea.
Having substances such as eggs, paint, honey, etc., thrown at, poured on, or otherwise applied to the body of any person.
Morally degrading or humiliating games or any other activities that make an individual the object of amusement, ridicule, or intimidation.
Kidnaps, road trips, etc., which are conducted in a manner that endangers the health or safety of any person.
Subjecting an individual to cruel and unusual psychological conditions for any reason.
Any requirement which compels an individual to participate in any of the above-named types of activities, or in any activity which is illegal, perverse, publicly indecent, contrary to the individual’s genuine morals and/or beliefs, excessive fatigue, public profanity, indecent lewd conduct, or sexual gestures in public.
The use of obscenities and vulgarities in dress, language, or action.
Any form of verbal harassment, any action or situation that subjugates an individual to a condition where he/she might tend to lose self-respect or suffer injury to personal or religious values.
Coercing a member to commit any action that violates the University’s Code of Student Conduct.

If you are knowledgeable or even suspect that hazing acts have occurred, or are planned to occur, contact the Office of Student Services at 337-475-5609 or studentservices@mcneese.edu. You can also submit a report to the Inappropriate Conduct and Hazing Reporting Form. You may elect to remain anonymous when submitting your report.

The University prohibits any form of hazing.

Hazing at state colleges and universities violates the law and is punishable by a fine, imprisonment, or dismissal from the University (Louisiana Revised Statute 17:1801.1).
Hazing is also a violation of the McNeese Code of Student Conduct Article 3.14.
Violations of the law will be handled in accordance with the criminal court system.

Students who are members of student organizations, by law, are required to receive at least two hours of training for hazing awareness and prevention.
Students who are members of organizations with higher risks receive supplemental training and development provided by the University and other outside sources.