Hazing Prevention
Each year, Shepherd University Fraternity and Sorority Life hosts Anti-Hazing and Bystander Intervention programming for all organization members. During this week, each chapter on campus will sponsor an activity to bring attention to the problem of hazing. It is an opportunity to educate the entire campus to not just recognize hazing, but to learn ways they can prevent it from occurring in the first place. All of our organizations are committed to a risk and hazing free atmosphere for their members.
Anti-Hazing Policy
Shepherd University unconditionally opposes any action taken or situation created, intentionally or unintentionally, whether on or off premises owned or leased by the organization, which has the effect of producing psychological or physical discomfort, embarrassment, harassment, or ridicule. To read Shepherd’s entire anti-hazing policy, click here.
Types of Hazing
There are three types of hazing. Regardless of type, any form of hazing is not tolerated on our campus.
- Subtle: behavior that emphasizes a power imbalance between members. This type of hazing is most common and is often taken for granted or accepted as harmless. Subtle hazing typically involved attitudes or actions that breach reasonable standards of respect and place members of a group on the receiving end of ridicule, embarrassment, and/or humiliation tactics, often endured to feel like part of the group. Some examples of subtle hazing may also be considered harassment hazing.
- Deception
- Assigning demerits
- Silence periods with implied threats for violation
- Deprivation of privileges granted to other members (apart from voting rights/ritualistic activities reserved for active members of fraternities or sororities)
- Requiring new members or people with a specific classification (i.e., only freshmen, only sophomores, etc.) to perform duties not assigned to other members
- Socially isolated members
- Line-ups, drills, and tests on meaningless information
- Name calling
- Expecting certain items to always be in one’s possession
- Harassment: behavior that confuses, frustrates, or causes a person undue stress through emotional anguish and/or physical discomfort to feel part of a group. Some types of harassment hazing can also be considered violent hazing.
- Verbal abuse
- Threats or implied threats
- Asking or requiring members to wear embarrassing or humiliation attire
- Stunts or skits with degrading, crude, or humiliating acts
- Expecting or requiring members to perform personal service to other members (e.g., carrying books, errands, cooking, cleaning)
- Sleep deprivation
- Sexual simulations
- Expecting members to be deprived of maintaining a normal schedule of bodily cleanliness
- Being expected to harass or haze others
- Violent: any behavior with potential to cause physical, emotional, and/or psychological harm. This Is the most common type of hazing portrayed and reported in media.
- Forced or coerced alcohol, drug, or vile substance/concoction consumption
- Beating, paddling, or other forms of assault
- Branding or burning
- Water intoxication
- Expecting abuse or mistreatment of animals
- Public nudity
- Expecting illegal activity
- Bondage
- Abductions, kidnapping, or trafficking across state lines
- Exposure to cold weather or extreme heat without appropriate protection
Step up and take the Hazing Prevention Pledge!
For more information visit the National Hazing Prevention Website
Anti-Hazing Hotline
The Hotline provides an anonymous telephone line for anyone to report a suspected or recent hazing incident to one number 1-888-NOT-HAZE (1-888-668-4293) that accepts calls 24 hours a day. The Hotline connects to a dedicated voice mailbox at Manley Burke, LPA. The calls are automatically saved as audio files that are then transmitted by e-mail to the headquarters of the fraternity or sorority named in the report. This is true whether or not the reports are about one of the sponsors or another organization. In some instances, reports are about athletic teams, bands or clubs. When those calls are received, the institution where the organization is located is contacted.
Anti-Hazing Laws for West Virginia, Maryland, and Virginia:
West Virginia: http://www.legis.state.wv.us/wvcode/code.cfm?chap=18&art=16
Maryland: https://stophazing.org/policy/state-laws/maryland/
Virginia: http://law.justia.com/codes/virginia/2006/toc1802000/18.2-56.html