UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — With the week of Sept. 25-29 marking National Hazing Prevention Week, Penn State is reminding all students of their obligation to protect the safety and welfare of their peers by eliminating hazing.
Hazing is illegal and prohibited by University Policy AD98. Penn State defines hazing as “any action or situation that recklessly or intentionally endangers the mental or physical health or safety of a student or that willfully destroys or removes public or private property for the purpose of initiation or admission into or affiliation with, or as a condition for continued membership in, any registered student organization.”
Student safety is a top priority at Penn State, and the University will investigate every allegation of hazing to the fullest extent possible. Any individual or organization found responsible for hazing is subject to University discipline under the Student Code of Conduct, up to and including expulsion from Penn State or termination of University employment.
Individuals and organizations also are subject to criminal prosecution and the forfeiture of property. Under Pennsylvania’s Timothy J. Piazza Anti-Hazing Law, passed in October 2018, hazing in the commonwealth can lead to a felony conviction and a possible prison sentence. The law is named after Timothy Piazza, who tragically died in February 2017 after being hazed at the chapter house of the now permanently banned Beta Theta Pi fraternity at Penn State.
The law establishes a tiered penalty system with stricter punishments for hazing; classifies new types of hazing; holds both individuals and organizations accountable for hazing; and requires secondary schools and institutions of higher education to publish anti-hazing policies. It applies to all organizations, including athletic teams, clubs, service organizations, fraternities and sororities, and similar groups.
The law also provides immunity for individuals in need of medical assistance as a result of hazing or underage alcohol consumption, as well as for those who seek help for others, as long as the caller notifies the proper authorities, believes they are the first caller, provides their name, and stays with the person until authorities arrive. Click here for more information about Pennsylvania's Medical Amnesty Law and Penn State's Responsible Action Protocol.
Students and other community members can take action to prevent hazing by:
- Learning to recognize hazing and reporting incidents.
- Resisting anyone who encourages you to join hazing activities.
- Notifying police and appropriate University staff if you are aware of a potential incident.
To report instances of hazing by an individual or within any University-affiliated or recognized organization or group, contact the Office of Ethics and Compliance, the Office of Student Accountability and Conflict Response or the Penn State Hotline, or submit a report through an anonymous online form. In an emergency, call 911 or contact Penn State Police.
Penn State offers anti-hazing training through Prevent.Zone, a two-course virtual learning experience that teaches how to identify, prevent and report hazing. For the 2022-23 academic year, 84% of students who took the training reported afterward that they felt less inclined to take part in hazing, 87% indicated that they would be more likely to report hazing if they saw it, and 87% said they felt more empowered to prevent hazing on campus. Access to the training is available to anyone with a Penn State login.
Additional information about hazing prevention programming and resources is available from the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life. For more information about national efforts to eliminate hazing, visit HazingPrevention.org.
National Hazing Prevention Week programming
During National Hazing Prevention Week (Sept. 25-29), the Penn State Interfraternity Council, Multicultural Greek Council, National Pan-Hellenic Council, and Panhellenic Council, with support from the Penn State Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life, will offer educational activities and events to raise awareness around the issue of hazing. Created by HazingPrevention.org in 2007, National Hazing Prevention Week is an initiative that focuses on educating university communities about hazing and encouraging students and others to take a stand against hazing.
Hazing Prevention Week programming at Penn State’s University Park campus will include:
- “These Hands DoNut Haze” — 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 25, HUB lawn gazebo. Students will be encouraged to sign a pledge to prevent hazing, add their handprint to a banner, and receive a donut for their participation.
- Anti-Hazing Trivia and Tabling — 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 27, ground floor of the HUB-Robeson Center. Students are encouraged to stop by to answer trivia questions about hazing and learn about campus resources.
- Fraternity & Sorority Life Preview — 1 to 4 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 28, HUB lawn. First-semester students are invited to preview their options for when they become eligible to join a fraternity or sorority in future semesters; fraternity and sorority governing council officers will be tabling and encouraging participants to sign a pledge to prevent hazing.
In addition, scholars from the Timothy J. Piazza Center for Fraternity and Sorority Research and Reform at Penn State will present three webinars Sept. 25-27 as part of National Hazing Prevention Week. The sessions will look at key research findings from the Piazza Center focused on supporting students and professionals to make fraternities and sororities safer and stronger. More information about the Piazza Center webinars is available here.
Additional information about hazing prevention programming and resources is available from the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life. For more information about National Hazing Prevention Week 2023, visit HazingPrevention.org.