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Although initiation practices can help new members become part of a group, they should not involve hazing.

Hazing is any action or situation that:

• Recklessly or intentionally endangers mental or physical health
• Creates substantial embarrassment, harassment, or ridicule
• Involves the forced consumption of food, alcohol, or drugs in the course of initiation or continuing affiliation with an organization.

“Subtle” hazing refers to activities that are often taken for granted or accepted as “harmless” or meaningless. There is an emphasis placed on a power imbalance between new members and other members of the organization, thus leading to activities or attitudes that breach reasonable standards of mutual respect, and place new members on the receiving end of ridicule or embarrassment. New members often feel the need to endure subtle hazing to feel like part of the organization. Examples include:

• Requiring new members to perform unnecessary duties not assigned to existing members
• Required calisthenics such as sit-ups or push-ups, or other forms of physical exercise
• Sleep deprivation
• The assignment of meaningless and sometimes impossible tasks
• Required “greeting” of members in a specific manner when seen on campus
• Required carrying of certain items
• Required walking in groups to class, the cafeteria, etc.
• Restriction of communication

“Harassment” hazing confuses, frustrates, and causes undue stress for new members. This behavior has the potential to cause emotional anguish and/or physical discomfort. (Note: Some types of harassment hazing can also be considered violent hazing.) Examples include: 

• Yelling or screaming
• Personal servitude or chores
• Lineups for the purpose of interrogating, demeaning, or intimidating
• Wearing of embarrassing or uncomfortable clothing
• Assigning pranks such as stealing, painting objects, or harassing other organizations
• Forced confinement
• Being dropped off somewhere and forced to find the way back

“Violent” hazing is behavior that has the potential to cause physical, emotional, and/or psychological harm. It often includes activities that tend to be the most extreme types of hazing. Examples include: 

• Capturing or kidnapping
• Total or partial nudity
• Compelled sexual activity
• Pushing, shoving, tackling, or any other physical contact
• Forced consumption of any liquid or food
• Paddling or whipping
• Branding, cutting, labeling, or shaving parts of the body

Rapid consumption of large quantities of alcohol can kill by suppressing brain functions:

• A person can pass out and then drown in his or her own vomit because of an impaired gag reflex.
• A person can pass out and then suffocate with his or her face in a pillow.
• A person's breathing or heartbeat can stop.

One in 10 college or university students report worrying that they might have a problem with alcohol or other drugs. New member processes that involve alcohol pose extra risk for students with alcohol problems.

In some cases, members are either unaware of such risks or recklessly disregard them. By creating conditions where it is difficult for a person with an alcohol problem to decline to drink, the group contributes to the person's problem.

In addition to increasing their own risk of the acute and long-term individual consequences described above, members who haze risk harming others and bringing sanctions upon themselves or their organization. When the members of a group that is hazing become intoxicated, they may make disastrous decisions. Impaired judgment can turn a premeditated act of hazing into a tragedy. One of the biggest challenges with hazing is that it gets out of hand, and what begins as an innocent prank can lead to disaster.

Students involved with hazing are significantly more likely to have a lower grade point average (GPA). This is because activities such as sleep deprivation, loss of time management, and stress can all contribute to decreased scholastic performance.