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Student Organizations

Honor. Trust. Integrity. Respect. Self-Governance. Tradition.
Hazing has no place in the University experience.

Alternatives to Hazing

Organizations value their new members and want them to feel part of the team. Creating or maintaining rituals and practices often stem from a leader’s desire to create a bond and foster a sense of unity. The most effective way to do this is to by choosing traditions and practices that based on respect and trust. There are many creative ways to make membership a challenging but positive experience:

FOSTER UNITY
DEVELOP PROBLEM-SOLVING ABILITIES
DEVELOP LEADERSHIP SKILLS
INSTILL A SENSE OF MEMBERSHIP
PROMOTE SCHOLARSHIP
BUILD AWARENESS OF HISTORY
AID CAREER GOALS
INVOLVE NEW MEMBERS IN THE COMMUNITY
BUILD COMMUNITY RELATIONSHIPS

Eliminating Hazing

When organizations are challenged to eliminate hazing practices, some members are often resistant to this change. In many cases, those who are most vocal against eliminating hazing are those who are bitter and angry about the hazing that they themselves endured (but don’t admit this publicly) and expect that others should be abused in order to gain “true” membership in the group. You will also find that some of these folks are likely to be bullies of the group–people who enjoy a “power trip” at the expense of someone else.

Of course, if you try to eliminate hazing in your organization, you will likely encounter many elaborate reasons for why this will be devastating for your group. While there will be some staunch supporters of the status quo, there will be many who can be convinced of the negative effects and potential risks of hazing. Believers in the supposed “benefits” of hazing may be more likely to change their opinion if they can envision some alternatives. The supposed “benefits” of hazing follow in bold with non-hazing alternatives to accomplish the same goal listed alongside.

Adapted from UVA and www.stophazing.org.