Helping Others Who Are Hazed

Hazing does not go unrecognized; friends, family, and co-workers often witness the harmful effects of hazing and often the hazing itself. However, the isolation hazing creates makes it difficult for these groups to support the student being hazed. Here are some suggestions for reaching out to a person you suspect is being hazed and to offer support.

• Tell the person that you are concerned.
• Describe what you have observed (e.g., lack of sleep, changes in your friend's mood).
• Ask your friend what he or she has had to do as part of joining the group.
• If the person describes being hazed, underscore that hazing is wrong and that he or she does not have to go along with it.
• If you suspect that your friend is being hazed but he or she will not say so, ask if there are things going on that he or she is not supposed to talk about. If that is the case, it is very likely that the person is being hazed.
• Let your friend know that it is okay to withdraw from an organization at any point.
• Offer to support the person and ask how you can be helpful.
• Stay connected; allowing your friend to maintain ties outside the organization will help him or her think more clearly about available options and resources.
• Be willing to approach University staff for advice or to report hazing activity:
  • Fraternity and Sorority Affairs: (585) 275-3167
  • Office of the Dean of Students: (585) 275-4085
  • Public Safety: (585) 275-3333 (off-campus), or x13 (on-campus)
  • University Counseling Center Professional On-Call: (585) 275-3113 or (585) 275-2361
  • The CARE Network
  • University Ombuds: (585) 275-9125

You can also report hazing to the chapter advocate, alumni/ae advisor, and national headquarters, and get advice on next steps.

Adapted from the Cornell University website.

“In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.”
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.