Hazing

Hazing can be physically, mentally, and emotionally harmful for those who are hazed … and for those who haze them.

Despite the fact that 90% of Cornell students believe it's never okay to humiliate or intimidate new members, some Cornellians still experience hazing in one form or another as part of their joining or participation in a student organization, group, or team. [View campus violations.]

If you need support or medical attention after being hazed, we can help. Learn about our confidential primary care, mental health care, and victim advocacy services. You can also call us 24/7 at 607-255-5155 for phone consultation with an on-call health care provider.

About hazing

Hazing is not a harmless prank. For some students, the secret initiation rites they undergo when joining campus groups can have a significant negative impact on their physical and mental health. [read more about forms of hazing]
There's no good defense for hazing. Many students who haze defend their practices as important traditions that foster group unity and challenge individuals to grow through adversity. But group bonding and personal growth can also be achieved through non-hazing activities.
Hazing is perpetuated by secrecy. Students who have been hazed are often reluctant to report their experience because they don’t want to get the group in trouble or they fear retribution. Cornell’s hazing website allows students and others to submit reports of hazing to campus officials.
Parents and friends can play a key role in stopping hazing. The demands of hazing may isolate students from their friends and families, so asking about their extracurricular activities can reveal whether hazing is occurring. Read more about what to say if someone is being hazed. Report hazing privately here.

Contact the Office of the Dean of Students to talk about information, concerns, policies, strategies, and alternatives related to hazing at Cornell.