RESULTS OF IN-DEPTH HAZING STUDY RELEASED

Daniel McCarthy

Two professors at the University of Maine, Drs. Elizabeth J. Allan and Mary Madden, recently spearheaded one of the most in-depth and thorough hazing studies ever conducted.  The initial findings of the study, entitled, Hazing in View: College Students at Risk, were released earlier this year.  The study was based on an analysis of over 11,000 survey responses from undergraduate students enrolled at over 50 colleges and universities and personal interviews with over 300 students and campus personnel at 18 of the schools.  The initial findings included the following:

• 55% of college students who participate in clubs, teams and student organizations, including Greek organizations, experienced hazing in some form.
• Common forms of hazing include forced alcohol consumption, humiliation, isolation, sleep-deprivation, and sex acts.
• Pictures of hazing activities are posted to public web pages in more than half of all hazing incidents.
• In a very troubling sign, more students perceive positive outcomes from hazing than negative outcomes.
• Approximately 90% of students who experienced hazing did not consider themselves to have been hazed.

The report was the first of a planned series of reports detailing the data collected during the hazing study.  The forthcoming reports will look at other aspects of the data in more detail.  The initial report can be found at www.hazingstudy.org.