Subscribe to one of our news e-mail lists . However, in a study released August 28 by Alfred University, hazing is widespread among high school students seeking acceptance in various school-related and extracurricular groups. Dr. Pollard was a member of the advisory committee for Alfred University's 1999 study of hazing by member NCAA intercollegiate athletic teams. He has been a frequent speaker on hazing to various professional organizations and has presented several workshops on hazing prevention at colleges and universities. Forty-eight percent said they were first hazed in high school.
Most societies have initiation rites.
Hazing, by definition, is designed to humiliate new members to join that group. Ancient initiation was a process of welcoming new members into that group, tribe or clan. Also, in ancient societies, the elders would facilitate the initiation. Oftentimes in current hazing, it's the peer group that's doing the abuse. We want our youth to learn not only from their parents, but also from all community members.