Be a Saint: Prevent and Report Hazing

Cherilyn Nederhiser
Oct 16
4 min read

Informational sign about hazing posted in the MHCC main mall - photo by Marisa Engelhard

As we progress through our educational journey, we have finally achieved the goal of attending college. We invest time and resources to prepare for this pivotal stage, which significantly shapes our future. Once enrolled, we pursue new opportunities, build friendships, and strive for success and acceptance. While we may receive advice on managing our time, or walking with a buddy in well-lit areas, one issue too many students are still experiencing along the way is hazing.

Despite increased awareness and advocacy, hazing continues to pose a serious threat to student safety on college campuses across the United States. The practice remains widespread and too often goes underreported. Between 2018 and February 2025, 946 hazing incidents were reported by 171 colleges and universities across nine states with hazing transparency laws. Experts believe this figure represents only a fraction of actual occurrences, as approximately 95% of students who experience hazing do not report it.

The overwhelming majority of these incidents involve fraternities, sororities, and athletic teams, and 82% of hazing deaths involve alcohol. Sometimes groups believe that they are just playing harmless pranks or engaging in a fun custom or game. But these activities can become hazing if they create a risk of harm, especially when the participants agree to the activities in order to be accepted or gain a sense of belonging in a group.

On average, one college student in the United States dies every month due to a hazing-related incident. One such tragedy involved a student from an East Coast university who was blindfolded, driven to a remote area at night, and left to find his way back to campus. Disoriented and under the influence of alcohol, he became lost and tragically fell off a cliff.

Another heartbreaking case involved a 19-year-old student who suffered a fatal brain injury during an impromptu late-night “team-building” exercise. His mother continues to grieve the loss of her son.

One of the most prominent hazing fatalities was that of Timothy Piazza. He was a sophomore at Penn State University, and in February 2017, he died after consuming excessive alcohol during a fraternity initiation ritual. Piazza fell down a flight of stairs and was left without medical attention for several hours. His death led to one of the largest hazing-related indictments in U.S. history, with multiple fraternity members charged and Beta Theta Pi permanently banned from campus.

Piazza’s death sparked national outrage and catalyzed legislative efforts to address hazing on college campuses. On December 23, 2024, President Joe Biden signed the Stop Campus Hazing Act into law, marking a significant step toward preventing future tragedies.

The Stop Campus Hazing Act requires institutions of higher education that participate in federal student aid programs (such as MHCC) to report hazing incidents and improve hazing reporting and prevention measures. It amends section 485(f) of the Higher Education Act and renames the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act (the Clery Act) as the “Jeanne Clery Campus Safety Act.” The ultimate goal of the legislation is to eradicate hazing and to enhance the safety of students on college campuses across our country.

What does this mean for MHCC?

This federal legislation introduces sweeping changes on how colleges and universities address hazing, emphasizing transparency, prevention, and accountability. Institutions participating in federal student aid programs, including community colleges, are now required to:

· Report hazing in their Annual Security Reports (ASRs).

· Implement comprehensive hazing prevention policies, including education and awareness programs.

· Publish a Campus Hazing Transparency Report detailing violations by student organizations, including the nature of the incident and key dates.

The law defines hazing as any intentional, knowing, or reckless act – regardless of consent – committed during initiation, affiliation, or continued membership in a student organization that causes or creates a risk of physical or psychological harm.

WHY THIS MATTERS

Hazing continues to affect thousands of students across the United States, often under the guise of tradition or bonding. The Stop Campus Hazing Act is a unified effort to shift campus culture toward safety, respect, and inclusion. Colleges now have both the legal mandate and the community momentum to take meaningful steps in ending hazing.

Mt. Hood Community College is dedicated to fostering a safe, respectful, and inclusive learning environment, where all students can thrive and grow. The crime of hazing undermines our core values and poses significant risks to individual well-being and the overall campus community.

Hazing is not permitted at MHCC. No individual, student organization, club, team, or any other college-affiliated entity or student group is permitted to plan, engage in, or condone hazing, on or off the MHCC campus (see: AR 5505: Hazing).

Hazing is not only against MHCC policy, it’s a crime in the state of Oregon. Hazing can take many forms. Behaviors include, but are not limited to, harassment or verbal abuse, acts intended to embarrass or humiliate, any behaviors or activities that create a power imbalance between members of a group and those seeking to join or maintain membership in the group. It’s still hazing, even when students willingly consent to the activity.

Anyone may report hazing anonymously or directly to MHCC through the channels listed below. Almost all employees of MHCC are considered mandatory reporters. Reported incidents will be investigated.

There are several ways to report hazing at MHCC. If you or someone you know has experienced or witnessed hazing, we encourage you to submit a report on-line to the campus

CARE TEAM – www.mhcc.edu/about/contact/report-a-concern

This report can also be submitted anonymously and confidentially.

Title IX Office, AC 2356