Safety and well–being of students is everyone's concern. Students should be treated with respect and dignity. Hazing is inconsistent with the University's core values and will not be tolerated. However, to be effective in combating hazing, everyone must be a partner – parents, family, friends, advisors, faculty, staff, roommates, and coaches.
Look and listen for signs of hazing.
Often, an individual may be concerned about behavior that he/she knows or suspects is happening in an organization. Could the behavior be considered hazing? Is it “normal”? Is it harmless? What, if anything, should be done?
Parents
There is nothing quite so difficult for parents as receiving a phone call from their student describing hazing activities that they are enduring. Inevitably, the students do not want the parents to notify anyone in authority. Despite everything, they want to be a part of their organization or team and don’t want anyone to “get in trouble”. What should you do as a parent? The physical well being of your student is by far the most important thing. If you think your student is in immediate danger, call the Ann Arbor Police Department. If the decision is not so obvious, check out “Resources” and “How to Report” on this website.
Roommate/Friend/Siblings
As a peer, you may observe or have a friend or sibling confide in you about hazing activities in his/her organization or team. Even activities that may seem more stupid than harmful can always escalate into something major. Hopefully, you will do the right thing and take action. Initially, that may mean trying to empower your friend to stand up to the hazing and lead others in the same position to stick together. No organization or team will want to lose all of its new members or some of its players. Please check out “Resources” and “How to Report” on this website.
Advisors/Coach
As a mentor to college students, you are in a position to influence and support those who may be enduring hazing. Reinforcing the values of the organization or team is imperative. You should volunteer to take the burden of this problem off of the student and reassure him/her that you can handle it in a manner that will not put him/her in jeopardy. Check out “Resources” and “How to Report” on this website.
Faculty/Staff
Because even organizations or teams that haze do not want their members to miss class, you are in a unique position to observe students who exhibit signs of being hazed. Even if you don’t know which organizations or teams the student is affiliated with, that can be determined. As a University official you have an obligation to act. Check out "Resources" and "How to Report" on this website.
You are being hazed
When you joined your organization or team, you may have had some knowledge that you would be hazed. Maybe it’s gotten to be more than you expected. In any case, it’s never acceptable, and you should not put up with it. You may still want to be a member and don’t want your friends or teammates to get into trouble. You can always try talking to an older student, advisor, or coach who you trust. What you can also consider is encouraging the others who are being hazed to stick together. There is no way that any organization or team wants to or can afford to lose all of its new members or some players. Please remember that you’re not doing anyone, including your organization or team, any favor by remaining silent. Hazing activities will eventually come out, and the result of that could very well mean serious injury to someone and/or the end of your organization or team. Check out "Resources" and "How to Report" on this website.