Hazing today is still a major problem on college campuses, especially in sports and Greek Life. Through student voices and events like Anti-Hazing Week, it explains what hazing is, what to watch out for and why speaking up matters. The goal is to create a safer campus for everyone.
What is hazing?
While hazing is important to talk about, it is even more important to understand what hazing actually is, so it can help you recognize when it happens.
According to the website Stop Hazing, hazing is defined as: "Any activity expected of someone joining or participating in a group that humiliates, degrades, abuses or endangers them, regardless of a person's willingness to participate."
This website is a valuable resource that breaks down everything you need to know about hazing. One of the biggest problems is that students and athletes often experience hazing without even realizing what's happening to them, so staying educated should be a top priority to further help in preventing hazing.
Hazing can range from seemingly small things like being forced to use demeaning names, to serious violations like sleep deprivation or even sexual assault. Knowing the warning signs is the first step to protecting yourself and others.
Hazing in sports
Joining a new team comes with many challenges: being the new face on the team will instantly draw eyes to you, since nobody knows you and you are not yet a part of any potential dynamics within the team. This can be a target on your back and is one of the ways hazing can start.
Hazing still happens in sports today, even if people do not always see it or talk about it. The reality is, no athlete should have to experience that. Playing a sport you are passionate about should be a learning experience and a key step into the career you may want, not something that comes with fear of what your own teammates might do to you.
TR Hope is a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon and a club sports member. He discussed the importance of anti-hazing awareness.
"It's a real thing, it happens all the time on campuses all over the country. People die every year because of hazing and you have to talk about it to bring awareness to it," Hope said.
He also adds what he does to learn about it: "I had to sit in a seminar and listen to two moms talk about their sons dying on college campuses because of hazing. The less we talk about it, the more it happens."
For Hope and other athletes, this is personal. Being the new face on a team should not mean dealing with hazing to earn your spot. The sport you love should open doors for your future, not create problems you will carry with you.
When athletes stand up against hazing, the whole team is better for it.
Hazing on campus
Not only is hazing an issue with college athletes, but it is common for sororities or fraternities to experience.
Wright State University's Greek Life hosted Anti-Hazing week was from Sept. 22-26, and the organizations held many different events to spread awareness. Some events included "Donut Haze," "Hazing's Not Hot, But the Dogs Are" and "Raider Hands Don't Haze.
For "Raider Hands Don't Haze," students could visit the tunnels between Fawcett Hall and the Medical Sciences Building to paint their handprint on the large anti-hazing mural.
Another member of Sigma Phi Epsilon spoke on hazing.
"With these events, the hope is to lower this percentage as well as drop others for other organizations. Especially with the sigma around Greek Life, we’re doing all we can to change the negative views on Greek Life while also trying to help others outside of Greek Life as well," The member said.
The work do not end when Anti-Hazing Week is over. Organizations like Sigma Phi Epsilon know that changing the culture takes time and constant effort.
No matter what group you are a part of on campus, like Greek Life, athletics or any other organization, hazing should never be tolerated. When students keep speaking up and spreading awareness, they are making WSU a safer place for the people coming after them.
