This year's National Hazing Prevention Week (NHPW) took place Sept. 22-26. NHPW serves as an opportunity for colleges across America to take part in a program that looks to raise awareness of the problem of hazing, provide education about hazing, and ultimately promote the prevention of hazing. The program was initially intended for the use of universities but is now widely used in more schools and organizations to help people recognize hazing and learn ways to preemptively stop it from occurring. It consists of education efforts, the development of policies and reinforcement, and ongoing planning and effort by the community.  

National Hazing Prevention Week is put on by HazingPrevention.org, who provides the program, resources and ideas that go into the platform. HazingPrevention.org repeatedly states their mission, which is to empower people to prevent hazing. They also seek to educate people on the definition of hazing and the difference between it and bullying. They explain that bullying involves singling someone out as a means to exclude them; hazing is seen as the same but in an effort to include someone into a group.  

HazingPrevention.org does a lot, such as instilling this program, to contribute to their cause, and they also offer awards and grants to those who have done the same. They offer the Hank Nuwer Anti-Hazing Hero Award and Zeta Tau Alpha Grant to individuals and campuses. The Nuwer award is given to an individual that stood up to hazing or spoke out to educate others. The grant is given to a select schools that implements new and inclusive education or hazing programs.  

The sub definition of hazing defines it as, “humiliating and sometimes dangerous initiation rituals, especially as imposed on college students seeking membership to a fraternity or sorority.” This definition shows how the widely implicit representation of hazing directly links it negatively with involvement in Greek life. Chapters around the country have taken part in this specific program and have gone above and beyond. Sigma Kappa at Indiana University Purdue University - Indianapolis even adapted their own program called RESPΣΚT, which deals with eliminating bullying and hazing and encouraging a safe and healthy lifestyle.  

Hazing Prevention Week’s national theme this year is “Challenge Hazing. Challenge Yourself.” This theme focuses on promoting others to challenge the harmful behavior or hazing that is occurring in the community and challenging oneself to become part of the conversation in solving the problem of hazing. For more information visit www.hazingprevention.org or www.nationalhazingpreventionweek.com.