Division of Student Affairs
Hazing Education and Prevention
Â鶹ŮÀÉ encourages a living and learning environment that promotes the health and safety of all members of the University community. Hazing behaviors can cause serious physical and neurological harm and can be life-threatening. Hazing is strictly prohibited, and the university maintains a zero-tolerance approach to hazing in any form or circumstance.
University Regulation 4.007(5) Student Code of Conduct prohibits:
(l) Hazing - Any action or situation, which occurs on or off university property, that recklessly or intentionally endangers the mental or physical health or safety of a student for purposes including, but not limited to, initiation or admission into, affiliation with, or the perpetuation or furtherance of a tradition or ritual of any University student organization or group whether or not officially recognized by the university. Hazing does not include customary athletic events or other similar contests or competitions or any activity or conduct that furthers a legal and legitimate objective. Hazing includes, but is not limited to:
- Pressuring or coercing a student into violating state or federal law;
- Any brutality of a physical nature, such as whipping, beating, branding, exposure to the elements, forced consumption of any food, liquor, drug, or other substance; or other forced physical activity that could adversely affect the physical health or safety of the student; or
- Any activity that would subject the student to extreme mental stress, such as sleep deprivation, forced exclusion from social contact, forced conduct that could result in extreme embarrassment, or other forced activity that could adversely affect the mental health or dignity of the student
Hazing is also illegal and can lead to serious criminal charges. In the state of Florida, Statue 1006.63 Hazing Prohibited states:
- Felony Hazing (Third Degree): committed when someone plans, encourages, or participates in hazing that causes serious injury, permanent harm, or death.
- Misdemeanor Hazing (First Degree): committed when someone plans, encourages, or participates in hazing that puts someone at serious risk of injury or death.
Florida laws apply to anyone involved in a student organization, including current, former, or potential members. Hazing is taken seriously and can result in jail time and fines.
Note that the following circumstances are not a defense to allegations of hazing:
- The conduct or activity that resulted in the death or injury of a person was not part of any official organizational event or otherwise sanctioned or approved by the student organization or group; or
- The conduct or activity that resulted in the death or injury of a person was not done as a condition of membership into a student organization.
Is This Hazing ?
People experience hazing in different ways, even those who go through the same situation. Some might see it as a rite of passage or feel a sense of accomplishment, while others may feel uncomfortable, confused, or deeply hurt. Reactions can depend on the type of activities, personal background, and past experiences. For those who’ve experienced trauma or abuse before, hazing can be especially harmful and even re-traumatizing.
No matter how you feel, your experience is valid. If you believe you’ve been hazed, or have witnessed something concerning, we encourage you to reach out. Reporting helps protect not just yourself, but others who may be at risk. You could be the reason hazing stops.
This page can help you reflect on your experience and emotions, and to offer you options to report or resolve the matter.
If You Are Unsure If You Have Experienced Hazing
If you’re not sure whether or not something happening to you or to someone else is hazing, ask yourself these questions:
- Would I feel comfortable participating in this activity if my parents were watching?
- Do I want the school/college administrator or my faculty to see what we’re doing?
- Am I being asked to keep these activities a secret?
- Am I doing anything illegal?
- Does participation in this activity violate my values or those of this organization?
- Can this cause emotional or physical distress or stress to myself or to others?
- Am I going to be able to get/keep a job if my employer finds out I did this?
How You Might Be Feeling
Anger, confusion, betrayal, fear, resentment, embarrassment, humiliation, hopelessness, helplessness, anxiety, and depression are all normal reactions to being hazed. Physical consequences can include exhaustion, headaches, hangovers, illnesses, injuries, and scars.
It’s common to believe that things won’t get worse, though they often do. You may feel guilty for wanting the hazing to stop, but don’t want to get the group in trouble. You may want to leave but fear the consequences or feel like you’ve invested too much already to walk away.
Self-blame can occur and is fueled by hazers who tell new members that they will let others down if they leave or tell anyone what is going on.
What You Can Do
- Stay connected with friends outside of the group. Groups that haze often try to isolate their new members from others who might challenge them to question what they are going through.
- Talk with others about what you are going through. You do not have to keep it a secret. Demanding secrecy is a common practice designed to protect people who are abusing others. You have a right to tell anyone anything you want about what you are going through, even if you were made to promise that you would not do so.
- Seek guidance from your parents/guardian or other family member.
- Refuse to participate. Others before you have done so.
- Join together with other new members to refuse to be hazed. There is power in numbers because groups depend on getting new members to join. Some group members admit that they became very worried when it appeared that a group of new members might rebel, because the financial consequences to the group would be serious if the new members left. Hazers don’t want new members to realize how much power they have, so they work hard to keep them down.
- Leave the group. This is hard to do but is always an option. Walking away from hazing takes strength. Don’t believe it if anyone tries to tell you that it is a sign of weakness or that you weren’t tough enough to hack it. Quitting when you are being hazed takes character.
- Talk to a health care provider to help you sort out what to do
If you are concerned that someone you know is being hazed, you can make a difference by helping that person.
How to Talk About Your Concern
- Tell the person that you are concerned.
- Describe what you have observed (e.g., lack of sleep, changes in your friend’s mood, energy level, ability to do work).
- Ask your friend what they have had to do as part of joining the group.
- If the person describes being hazed, underscore that hazing is illegal and that they don't have to go along with it.
- If you suspect that your friend is being hazed but they won’t say so, ask if there are things going on that they aren’t supposed to talk about. If that is the case, it’s very likely that the person is being hazed.
- Let your friend know that it’s okay to withdraw from an organization at any point.
- Offer to support the person and ask how you can be helpful.
- Let your friend know what resources are available for support and reporting.
- If you are concerned about someone who you suspect is being hazed, you can also talk to university staff members for advice about how to support. You can also make a report to a university staff member about your concern (Fau.edu/report ). You may submit reports anonymously, but please provide as much information as reasonably possible.
Each year, students across the country get involved in campus life whether it’s joining a marching band, fraternity or sorority, military-affiliated group, athletic team, summer camp, or any other student organization. Your student may be looking for a sense of belonging or simply exploring something new.
Many student groups offer meaningful and positive experiences. However, some may engage in harmful behaviors known as hazing—defined at Florida Atlantic as any action or situation that recklessly or intentionally endangers the mental or physical health or safety of a student for purposes including, but not limited to, initiation or admission into or affiliation with any organization.
As a parent or family member, you play a vital role in prevention. What some may dismiss as "tradition" or "earning my spot" can quickly become dangerous or even deadly. Hazing can cause serious physical and emotional harm, and its impact can last a lifetime.
We encourage you to talk openly with your student about hazing, especially as they get involved in campus life. Together, we can create a safer, more supportive environment for all students.
What to Look For
Your student may or may not feel comfortable expressing concern directly to you if they are being hazed. Here are some key things to look for that might help you identify whether or not your student may be experiencing hazing:
- Sudden change in behavior or attitude after joining the organization or team
- Wanting to leave the organization or team with no real explanation
- Sudden decrease in communication with friends and family
- Physical or psychological exhaustion
- Unexplained weight loss
- Unexplained injuries or illness
- Change in sleeping or eating habits
- Withdrawal from normal activities
- Expressed feeling of sadness or feeling of worthlessness
- Increase in secrecy and unwillingness to share details
What to Ask Before They Join an Organization, Club, or Team
- What activities do you think you want to be involved in at school?
- Do you know what hazing is?
- How can you stand up or say ‘no’ if it occurs?
- What are resources online or at school you can utilize if you experience hazing?
- Do you know your school’s policies on hazing and consequences if caught?
- Do you know how to report hazing?
What to Ask After They Get Involved
- What organizations or teams are you involved in?
- How much time are you spending on the organization or team?
- What kinds of activities are involved in joining this group or team? Are you comfortable with all of these? Is there adult supervision and/or approval of these activities?
- Is alcohol involved in any of these activities?
- Have you met the organization’s advisor or coach? Do they approve of these activities?
Ways to Follow Up
At Florida Atlantic, we encourage parents and family members to empower students to advocate for themselves and develop the skills they need for future success. We also understand that some students may not yet feel ready to take that step—and in those moments, your support can make all the difference.
If your student has shared concerns with you related to hazing, you are welcome to submit an online incident report at fau.edu/report under the Hazing category. Reports may be submitted anonymously; however, we encourage you to include as much detail as possible to help us respond effectively.
We value our partnership with parents and families and appreciate your role in helping us keep our campus community safe and accountable.
Amnesty
Incident Reporting
How to Report Hazing
If you or someone you know finds themselves in an emergency situation, please dial 911 or contact the Florida Atlantic Police Department at (561) 297-3500. Reporting an incident or occurrence of hazing can be submitted by anyone with knowledge or information pertaining to an actual or potential event of hazing in numerous ways.
How to Report Hazing
- (select “Hazing” for “Nature of this report”)
- University Ethics Hotline (click on “Â鶹ŮÀÉ Ethics Hotline” button)
*These online reports are not for emergency response and will be reviewed during business hours.*
- Florida Atlantic Police Department
- 911
- 561-297-3500
- Campus Operations Bldg. 69
777 Glades Road
Boca Raton, FL 33431
- Victim Services
- 561-297-4841 (office)
- 561-297-0500 (24/7; ask to speak to an advocate)
- Victimservices@fau.edu
- Dean of Students Office
- 561-297-3542
- deanofstudents@fau.edu
- studentconduct@fau.edu
- Student Services Building (SS #8), Room 222, Boca Raton, FL 33431-0991
- Office of the Ombuds
- 561-297-3693
- ombuds@fau.edu
- Bldg 03/Wimberly Library Room 156B, Boca Raton Campus (appointment only)
FAPD and university staff are available at the Jupiter (MacArthur), Davie, Harbor Branch (HBOI), Fort Lauderdale, and Dania Beach (SeaTch) campuses as needed.
Prevention and Educational Efforts
- Additional modules are available for Fraternity and Sorority Life, Campus Recreation, Performing Arts Organizations, Student Organizations, Advisors, and Faculty and Staff.
- fau.edu/healthwellness/fitfirstyear
- September 21-25, 2026
- /fslife/programs/hazing/nhpw/
- September 26, 2026
- Hazing Education and Prevention presentation for all incoming new members
- September 23-26, 2026
- Hazing Education, Prevention, and Conflict Management presentation for any student leader.
- fau.edu/lead-and-serve
Additional Information
The links below offer important information about reported hazing at Â鶹ŮÀÉ, along with helpful resources available on campus and national organizations.
- As of October 2026, Â鶹ŮÀÉ provides hazing crime statistics in the Annual Security Report and Fire Safety Report.
- Campus Security Authority Training (CSA) is provided virtually every year by the Florida Atlantic Police Department. CSAs are required by law to complete the annual refresher training.Please speak with your direct supervisor to determine if you are classified as a CSA under the Jeanne Clery Campus Safety Act.
- For more information, please see /police/clery/.
- Pursuant to the federal Stop Campus Hazing Act, the University publishes a report summarizing responsible findings of hazing misconduct involving recognized student organizations.
- For more information, please see /dean/studentconduct/hazing-transparency-report/
Florida Atlantic Resources
External Resources
The external links below connect you to resources from non-university agencies and organizations dedicated to hazing prevention, awareness, and education. These materials support the university community in promoting safety, belonging, and accountability.
- Hazing Prevention Network is a nonprofit dedicated to empowering people to prevent hazing. Their goal is to educate people about the dangers of hazing, advocate for change, and engage the community in strategies to prevent hazing.
- StopHazing’s mission is to promote safe and inclusive school, campus, and organizational environments through research, resource sharing, and the development of data-driven strategies for hazing prevention and the promotion of positive and inclusive group climates.
- The mission of the Gordie Center is to end hazing and substance misuse among college and high school students nationwide. They are dedicated to sharing Gordie Bailey's story to prevent future hazing-related alcohol overdose deaths. The Gordie Center empowers students to transform their campus and community cultures through peer education and bystander intervention using our evidence-informed, student-tested resources. Our APPLE Training Institutes are the leading national substance misuse prevention and health promotion conferences for NCAA student-athletes.
- Their mission is to provide methods of prevention and intervention in hazing; to explain the psychology of hazing in high school, college, the military, and the workplace. It also presents the theoretical perspective of Susan Lipkins, PhD, author of "Preventing Hazing: How Parents, Teachers, and Coaches Can Stop Violence, Harassment, and Humiliation."