Hazing Prevention

Belonging starts with respect. Help end hazing.

You have the right to belong to a safe, respectful community at IU Indianapolis. And you have the responsibility to help create it. Participating in student organizations, athletic teams, club sport teams, and more should be a positive experience focused on growth and connection.

All students are encouraged to support each other in identifying anything that may be hazing or any behavior that may interfere with a positive experience.

Starting Aug. 25, all IU students will have access to a hazing prevention training module. Completion of this training is a federal requirement and incentive of the Engage and Thrive program.

Access the module through One.IU

Suspect hazing in your group?

Submit an anonymous report online.

Report hazing

What is hazing?

Hazing is defined as any conduct that subjects another individual to a risk of physical or psychological harm greater than a reasonable risk of group participation, in the course of initiation into, an affiliation with, or the maintenance of membership in a team, group, or organization. Hazing can occur regardless of the individual’s consent or lack of consent. This behavior includes, but is not limited to, direct or indirect written, verbal, physical, or electronic actions or inactions.

Hazing is never okay

Hazing is strictly forbidden at Indiana University. If you have experienced hazing, witnessed hazing, or suspect that someone you know has been hazed, you are not alone. View some common examples of hazing below.

How do I know if it’s hazing?

We’ve compiled examples from three categories of hazing behavior—intimidation, harassment, and violence—to help you understand what hazing might look like. The Spectrum of Hazing™ is a research-based resource developed by StopHazing researchers, Dr. Elizabeth Allan and Dr. Dave Kerschner.

In addition to these categories, the time, place, and manner of an activity is evaluated to help determine whether an activity could be considered hazing.

Guidance or rule, whether required or suggested, that limits, binds, and/or impedes a member’s ability to function, such as blindfolding, dictating who members can and cannot speak to, etc.

  • New or potential members being forced to participate in tasks or duties such as cleaning, driving, serving as event monitors more often than other members, surrendering personal items, or fundraising.
  • Any guidelines, rule, or required behavior that is intended to embarrass, mock, chastise, and/or diminish a member as a condition of membership, such as requiring new members to wear specific clothing or carry items, shaming, yelling, or name-calling.
  • Activities or behaviors that impact a student’s ability to be successful in their academic progress, such as requiring students to miss class to attend an organization event or meeting, completing academic work for others, and/or modifying their routine so they miss class or are unable to complete their schoolwork.
  • Activities performed for the benefit of initiated members and/or groups of members such as wake-up calls, driving members, running errands, purchasing food, and cleaning.
  • Requiring new members or potential members to participate in behaviors that may include, but are not limited to, running, wall-sits, push-ups, sit-ups, and/or standing for periods of time.
  • Being forced to drive in the middle of the night, stay somewhere until the early hours of the morning, or adjust their schedule in ways that are unreasonable, negatively impacts their health, or impedes their academics.

  • Being forced to eat food, consume drinks or beverages including but not limited to alcohol, inhale, snort, or insert any substance.
  • Any guideline, rule, or required behavior that negatively impacts a member’s mental and/or emotional state such as isolation, sleep deprivation, being yelled at, etc.
  • Hitting, slapping, punching, pushing, paddling, or throwing items at an individual.
  • Forcing someone to engage in sexual activity, participate in harassment, or watch sexually explicit acts.
  • Verbal and/or non-verbal behaviors that cause new members or potential members to be afraid for their personal health, safety, or well-being, such as requiring someone to do something followed by a threat of harm or removal of membership.

Time
  • When is the activity happening?           
  • How long is it happening for?
  • Does it make sense? Could it change?
Place
  • Where is the activity happening?
  • Could it happen in a better location?
Manner
  • How is the activity being conducted?
  • Does it align with the organization or activity’s purpose?
  • Could it be done in a safer way?
  • Is there a better or different activity that could help us achieve the same goal?

Considerations for creating hazing-free activities

As you are brainstorming and creating activities to get to know your organization’s members, make sure to consider time, place, and manner to ensure a hazing-free experience.

Example: Your student organization hosts a game night for new members each year. The purpose of the game night is to learn more about all the new members, the current members, the organization’s history, and build new friendships.

  • What are some examples of time, place, and manner that could cause this activity to become hazing?
  • What are some examples of time, place, and manner that indicate this activity is hazing-free?

Hazing is defined as any conduct that subjects another person, whether physically, mentally, emotionally, or psychologically, to anything that may endanger, abuse, degrade, or intimidate the person as a condition of association with a group or organization, regardless of the person's consent or lack of consent.

You can report hazing using our online form or by contacting the Office of the Dean of Students via email (indycode@iu.edu) or phone (317-274-4431).

If you have questions about activities that could be considered hazing, you can reach out to a confidential advocate, the Office of the Dean of Students, the Office of Student Involvement, or your organization's advisor.

The Office of the Dean of Students is responsible for investigating all reports of organizational misconduct, including hazing. All processes can be viewed online.

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