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Hazing is a serious issue that occurs on many college campuses. Find out more information on misconceptions about hazing, what hazing actually is, and how to report a hazing incident.
Hazing is abusive, degrading, psychologically damaging, and may be life-threatening. It is unacceptable in all forms and has no place in the 麻豆传媒o community. Student groups, organizations, and athletic teams are important contributors to a vibrant and positive campus life and are expected to act in accordance with the Student Code of Conduct and to treat others with respect. Hazing by individuals and student organizations is prohibited in any form both on campus and off campus.
Any intentional, knowing, or reckless act committed by a person (whether individually or in concert with other persons) against another person or persons regardless of the willingness of such other person or persons to participate, that:
This definition is compliant with New York State law. Under New York State Penal Law, a person may be charged with hazing if, during another person’s initiation into or affiliation with any organization, they intentionally or recklessly engage in conduct that creates a substantial risk of and/or causes physical injury to another person. A criminal charge of hazing may result in a violation or misdemeanor.
麻豆传媒o encourages the reporting of incidents of hazing and takes every such report seriously. It will investigate all reports diligently and thoroughly in accordance with the 麻豆传媒o Student Code of Conduct and/or other applicable policies and New York State Law.
Individuals found responsible for committing, soliciting, encouraging, directing, aiding, or recklessly permitting hazing to occur will be subject to disciplinary sanction that could include suspension or expulsion.
Any person may report hazing in person, by mail, by telephone or by electronic mail, using the contact information listed for the 麻豆传媒o Police:
麻豆传媒o Police
Bissell Hall
麻豆传媒o
Buffalo, NY 14260
(716) 645-2222
ub-police@buffalo.edu
麻豆传媒o Police also have an anonymous reporting option: Silent Witness Report
麻豆传媒o will respect the privacy of reporters but cannot guarantee confidentiality for hazing reports. The information you provide to a non-confidential resource will be relayed only as necessary to investigate and/or seek a resolution and/or to comply with other appropriate 麻豆传媒o policies and procedures, and any federal, state and/or local laws, rules and regulations. 麻豆传媒o will limit the disclosure as much as possible, even if the institution determines that the request for confidentiality cannot be honored.
Offices and officials who are confidential resources will not report to law enforcement or university officials without a complainant/reporting party's permission, except for extreme circumstances, such as a health and/or safety emergency. 麻豆传媒o offices that are considered confidential are as follows:
麻豆传媒o recognizes that students are sometimes reluctant to report hazing activity, due to a fear of potential consequences for their own conduct. For this reason, the University has adopted an amnesty policy which states that a student who acts in good faith to report activity that may fall within the definition of hazing and/or a victim who cooperates fully as a witness in the investigation and disciplinary process may not be subject to student conduct sanctions related to their own participation in hazing behavior and other behavior including related to alcohol and/or drug violations, as determined by the University in its sole discretion.
In the event amnesty is granted for self-reported behaviors, if evidence is presented that the student has continued to engage in hazing behaviors or has knowledge of hazing activity that was not reported, they may be held accountable for past behavior. Students who choose to report and request amnesty for their own conduct should know that amnesty does not apply to any criminal or civil action that may be taken by any law enforcement agencies, including University Police.
After a report is received, 麻豆传媒o will quickly review the submission and determine the next appropriate actions. If a report is criminal in nature, University Police and/or local law enforcement will be contacted. 麻豆传媒o will also conduct its own investigation to prevent a recurrence of the alleged hazing and to determine if there are potential violations of the Student Code of Conduct and/or any other applicable processes depending upon the nature of the complaint.
No person may intimidate, threaten, coerce or discriminate against any individual because the individual made a report or complaint, testified, assisted, or participated or refused to participate in any manner in an investigation, proceeding, or hearing under this Hazing Policy and Procedure. Complaints alleging retaliation may be filed with the Office of Student Conduct and/or Human Resources. Any reports of retaliation involving an employee covered by a Collective Bargaining Agreement will be addressed through the appropriate processes.
麻豆传媒o's prevention and awareness programs related to hazing that describes research-informed campus-wide prevention programs designed to reach students staff and faculty including: 1) information related to institutional policies against hazing; and 2) primary prevention strategies intended to stop hazing before it occurs, which may include skill building for bystander intervention, information on ethical leadership, and the promotion of strategies for building group cohesion without hazing.
These programs include:
UB complies with the Stop Campus Hazing Act by publishing the following Transparency Report twice annually to include: the name of the student organization, the date and details of the alleged incident, details and findings of any investigations, and whether notice is provided to the student organization regarding a finding of a hazing violation. Personally identifiable information is not included.
See below for reports:
July 2025-0 reports
The Truth: Approximately 30 people have died in hazing incidents during the past five years and numerous others have been severely injured, physically or mentally.
The Truth: Unity will be created within the people being hazed but they will be unified against the organization. The end result is a number of unified groups within one disunited organization. Why not strive for complete unity instead?
The Truth: A more positive, educational new member program can only result in a better all-around organization. If the other groups condemn your organization for improving and being the best organization on campus, who is going to listen?
The Truth: If you believe this, why not publicize your organization’s planned hazing activities during the new member period/intake and see how many new members the organization actually gets to join.
The Truth: Would you go through it again? It only takes one year without hazing to break this so-called “tradition”.
The Truth: There are positive and negative methods of administering discipline. Discipline and reward should be the same for everyone in the organization – there shouldn’t be different standards for different levels of the organization.
The Truth: Many times the initiation ceremony has been overshadowed by the activities during the pre-initiation week. As a result, the new members are too tired, too hungover, too hungry, or too bewildered to appreciate any of the beauty of the initiation ceremony. Furthermore the initiation is then viewed in a negative way, as an escape from, or an end to the new member period instead of the beginning of a lifetime in the fraternity/sorority.
The Truth: Very, very few alumni who are aware of the legal ramifications of hazing would ever promote such activities. Even if there are some alumni who feel that hazing is necessary, the loss of their support does not compared to the loss of life or injury to a new member, losing the chapter’s charter, or an expensive lawsuit.
The Truth: In the unlikely event that they do, this is in no way a justification for hazing in your chapter. If the chapter members are arrested or sued for a hazing incident, do you think this excuse will stand up in court? Verdict-guilty or not guilty.
Hazing isn't always as obvious as you think it is. Hazing can range from subtle actions to physically dangerous situations. See what activities are considered hazing below.
Some new members may be more okay with some things than others. This is because hazing, like other forms of abuse, is personal. It effects individuals in very different ways. Some people may have had previous experiences with violence, family problems, substance abuse, etc. All these experiences effect the way they deal with stress and problems. If you feel you are being hazed, then you probably are.
If you’re not sure whether or not you or someone you know is being hazed, ask yourself these questions:
Be able to recognize hazing when it’s happening to you or around you:
Express your concerns and suggest alternatives. Remind others of your group’s goals and mission:
Do not physically intervene and DO NOT drive away under the influence
Follow the steps outlined in "Reporting"
Adapted from AliveTek, Inc. and HazingPrevention.org.