TIP SHEET

Hazing

Hazing is a ritualistic test and a task involving harassment, abuse or humiliation used as a way of initiating a person into a gang, club, military organization or other group. This can include physical (sometimes violent) or mental (possibly degrading) practices.

It may seem like a right of passage so you can be accepted into what you think is a cool group at school, but the practices are humiliating and often dangerous. It can even be slandering and if posted on the Internet, it will be there forever.

With recent reports of school hazing, mean girls and sexual inuendos, it's time to look at what your kids are doing at school and what they think is the cool thing to do.

• 1.5 million high school students are hazed each year.
• 10% of all college students admit to being hazed in high school.
• 91% of all H.S. students belong to at least one group, and half of them, 48% report being subjected to hazing activities.
• 43% were subjected to humiliating activities and 30% performed potentially illegal acts as part of their initiation.
• 79% of the NCAA Athletes report being hazed initially in high school.
• 92% of the high school students will not report a hazing.
• 48% of the students acknowledge participating in activities which are defined as hazing, 29% did potentially illegal things to join a   group, however only 14% admit to being hazed.
• 46% believe that the most important thing is to keep the code of silence.

How To Help Your Kids

• Teach your kids that they have every right to feel safe and that no one has the right hurt them in any manner.
• If you behave loving, moral and ethical, so will your kids.
• Communicate with your children. If they are in any danger or at-risk of injustice talk to them about doing the right thing and the consequences.
• Discuss with your kids age appropriate dangerous hazing.
• Discuss legal and ethical consequences to your kids if they are involved in hazing groups with no adult supervision.
• Know where your kids are and who they’re with. Are they being supervised by an adult? Make sure your kids know where to reach you and you should know where to reach them.
• Let your children know, that no matter what trouble they might be in, that they can always call you in a crisis or emergency and that you will not judge them.