Hazing Defined

The Stop Campus Hazing Act (SCHA), enacted on December 23, 2024, amends the Jeanne Clery Campus Safety Act to prioritize the prevention of and transparency about hazing incidents at colleges and universities. The federal anti-hazing law defines hazing as follows.

The term ‘hazing‘, for purposes of reporting statistics on hazing incidents…means any intentional, knowing, or reckless act committed by a person (whether individually or in concert with other persons) against another person or persons regardless of the willingness of such other person or persons to participate, that:

  • is committed in the course of an initiation into, an affiliation with, or the maintenance of membership in, a student organization; and
  • causes or creates a risk, above the reasonable risk encountered in the course of participation in the institution of higher education or the organization (such as the physical preparation necessary for participation in an athletic team), of physical or psychological injury including—
    • whipping, beating, striking, electronic shocking, placing of a harmful substance on someone’s body, or similar activity;
    • causing, coercing, or otherwise inducing sleep deprivation, exposure to the elements, confinement in a small space, extreme calisthenics, or other similar activity;
    • causing, coercing, or otherwise inducing another person to consume food, liquid, alcohol, drugs, or other substances;
    • causing, coercing, or otherwise inducing another person to perform sexual acts;
    • any activity that places another person in reasonable fear of bodily harm through the use of threatening words or conduct;
    • any activity against another person that includes a criminal violation of local, State, Tribal, or Federal law; and
    • any activity that induces, causes, or requires another person to perform a duty or task that involves a criminal violation of local, State, Tribal, or Federal law.

A student organization is defined as an organization at an institution of higher education (such as a club, society, association, varsity or junior varsity athletic team, club sports team, fraternity, sorority, band, or student government) in which two or more of the members are students enrolled at the institution of higher education, whether or not the organization is established or recognized by the institution.

Examples of Hazing

An infographic table listing examples of subtle hazing, harassment hazing and violent hazing. Examples listed under subtle hazing include: wearing specific clothing, line-up or drills, tests on meaningless information, name calling, and being expected to have items with you at all times. Examples listed under harassment hazing include verbal abuse, threats or implied threats, sleep deprivation, degrading or humiliating acts, and expectations to carry books, run errands, cook, clean, etc. Examples listed under violent hazing include binge drinking or drug consumption, beating or paddling, branding or burning, eating disgusting things, and water intoxication.
Joining or participating in a group should never involve these behaviors.
Examples of Subtle Hazing

Subtle hazing includes behaviors that emphasize a power imbalance between new members/rookies and other members of the group or team. Termed “subtle hazing” because these types of hazing are often taken-for-granted or accepted as “harmless” or meaningless. Subtle hazing typically involves activities or attitudes that breach reasonable standards of mutual respect and place new members/rookies on the receiving end of ridicule, embarrassment, and/or humiliation tactics. New members/rookies often feel the need to endure subtle hazing to feel like part of the group or team. (Some types of subtle hazing may also be considered harassment hazing).

  • Deception
  • Assigning demerits
  • Silence periods with implied threats for violation
  • Deprivation of privileges granted to other members
  • Requiring new members/rookies/initiates to perform duties not assigned to other members
  • Socially isolating new members/rookies
  • Line-ups and Drills/Tests on meaningless information
  • Name calling
  • Requiring new members/rookies to refer to other members with titles (e.g. “Mr.,” “Miss”) while they are identified with demeaning terms
  • Expecting certain items to always be in one’s possession
Examples of Harassment Hazing

Behaviors that cause emotional anguish or physical discomfort in order to feel like part of the group. Harassment hazing confuses, frustrates, and causes undue stress for new members/rookies. (Some types of harassment hazing can also be considered violent hazing).

  • Verbal abuse
  • Threats or implied threats
  • Asking new members to wear embarrassing or humiliating attire
  • Stunt or skit nights with degrading, crude, or humiliating acts
  • Expecting new members/rookies to perform personal service to other members such as carrying books, errands, cooking, cleaning etc
  • Sleep deprivation
  • Sexual simulations
  • Expecting new members/rookies to be deprived of maintaining a normal schedule of bodily cleanliness.
  • Be expected to harass others
Examples of Violent Hazing

Behaviors that have the potential to cause physical and/or emotional, or psychological harm.

  • Forced or coerced alcohol or other drug consumption
  • Beating, paddling, or other forms of assault
  • Branding
  • Forced or coerced ingestion of vile substances or concoctions
  • Burning
  • Water intoxication
  • Expecting abuse or mistreatment of animals
  • Public nudity
  • Expecting illegal activity
  • Bondage
  • Abductions/kidnaps

UCI celebrates a positive and healthy culture where hazing isn’t tolerated.