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Sunday, November 02, 2003 Page: 1C
PERCENT OF HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS SUBJECT TO HAZING
A survey by Alfred University in New York asked high school students from
across the country if they had been subject to hazing.
Was subject to … Pct
Hazing of any form 48
Humiliating hazing 43
Potentially illegal hazing 29
Substance abuse hazing 23
Dangerous hazing 22
HOW HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS ARE HAZED
A survey by Alfred University found that 48 percent of high school students
were subjected to hazing. Here’s a breakdown of the percent of students who
were subjected to each behavior the study classified as hazing.
Humiliation Male Female Total
Be yelled, cursed, or sworn at 20 14 17
Associate with specific people, not others 15 16 16
Act as a personal servant to other members 14 11 12
Undress or tell dirty stories or jokes 12 10 11
Embarrass yourself publicly 10 13 11
Be thrown into a pool, ocean, creek, pond or toilet 12 8 10
Skip school or refuse to do school work or chores 10 10 10
Tattoo, pierce, or shave yourself or each other 11 8 9
Eat or drink disgusting things 8 9 8
Deprive yourself of food, sleep or cleanliness 8 7 7
Substance Abuse
Drink alcohol 16 11 13
Participate in drinking contests 13 10 12
Smoke cigarettes or cigars, or use tobacco 12 10 11
Use illegal drugs 12 9 11
Drink or exercise until you pass out 11 8 9
Dangerous Hazing
Make a prank phone call or harass others 11 9 10
Destroy or vandalize property 10 8 9
Steal, cheat or commit a crime 9 7 8
Beat up others or pick a fight with someone 9 5 7
Inflict pain or brand self, take part in satanic rite 5 6 6
Be tied up or exposed to extreme cold 7 5 6
Be physically abused or beaten 8 5 6
Be cruel to animals 4 3 3
WHY KEEP QUIET
Forty percent of high school students who responded to an Alfred University
study who been hazed said they would not report it. Here are the reasons why:
Reason Pct
There’s no one to tell. Who could I tell? 36
It’s not a problem. Sometimes accidents happen 28
Adults wouldn’t know how to handle it right 27
Other kids would make my life miserable 24
I just wouldn’t tell on my friends. 16
WHY PARTICIPATE IN HAZING
The Alfred University study on high school hazing asked those who
participated in a hazing activity for the reason or reasons why they did.
Reason Pct.
It was fun and exciting 48
We felt closer as a group 44
I got to prove myself 34
I just went along with it 34
I was scared to say no 16
I wanted revenge 12
I didn’t know what was happening 9
Adults do it 9
Other reasons given included: I wanted to show my status or rank in an
organization; that it was part of a tradition; I felt pressure to do it; I
wanted to get out my aggression; I was immature.
PERCENT OF STUDENTS HAZED TO JOIN A SPECIFIC ORGANIZATION
The Alfred University study on the hazing of high school students broke
down the percent of students who were hazed to join an organization
Group Pct
Peer Group or Gang 76
Sports Team 35
Cheerleading Squad 34
Vocational Group 27
Church Group 24
Music, Art or Theater group 22
Political or Social Action 21
Social Club or Organization 21
Newspaper or Yearbook 17
Scholastic/Intellectual Club 12