Hazing Prevention Resources for Student Organizations

All student organization leaders for new and returning organizations must sign the Anti-Hazing Agreement to register their organizations for the year. Student leaders can bring the Anti-Hazing Agreement to life with transformative, positive changes in their organizations to prevent hazing at Tufts.

Creating Change

If you are part of an organization that hazes, you can be an agent of change. Change often does not happen overnight, but can happen with hard work. If you are looking for a place to start, hazing research suggests you:

Identify a practice as hazing.
Work with others to identify hazing as a problem; beginning by building a consensus that hazing is a problem is a first step to change.
Recognize ability to change as a group.

Hazing Alternatives

Organizations often mistakenly believe that hazing will help them accomplish goals with their new members. Those group members who believe hazing has value may be more likely to support changes when your group identifies other activities that serve the same purported purpose.

Below are some common goals of hazing and non-hazing activities to achieve those goals. These goals come from stophazing.org and the alternative activity ideas were developed with current Tufts students.

Create group bonding, unity, or cohesion

Have members work together on a service project
Ask members to plan a social or philanthropic event
Ask members to work together to overcome an obstacle like a ropes course or escape room

Appreciate group membership and history

Plan a special ceremony for older members to reflect on their membership experience
Engage alumni to bond with new members

Respect a tradition or rite of passage

Focus on alternative, positive traditions of the group
Engage older members, especially those who may have endured a hazing rite-of-passage experience, in change management discussions to find healthier new traditions

Instill discipline and a sense of accomplishment

Have members complete a challenging task together, like working on a community service project
Holding group study hours for all members of your group
Create a system of peer mentors and tutors to help all members address difficult academic or personal challenges