Recognizing Hazing

Friends, roommates, RAs, parents, coaches, faculty, staff and community members are often the first people to identify when something seems “off” with a particular student.  It could seem, subtle, harmless or innocuous, but that behavior may be symptomatic of a student that is a victim of hazing.

While not exhaustive, the following are potential warning signs that a student may be involved in hazing related activities:

• Student appears exhausted and sleep deprived
• Student seems withdrawn from normal activity; personality changes
• Moving slowly or physical exhaustion; problems moving or sitting
• Students being required to carry unusual objects/materials
• Extreme weight change/loss
• Communication with student drops off
• Student references being “unavailable” if you try to meet with or contact them. Student offers vague references as to why s/he is unavailable.