Training and Education

Mandatory Programs

Annual Hazing Prevention Training for WSU Employees

All WSU faculty and staff (including students, temp hourly, and graduate students) are required to complete the Hazing Prevention course within the first six months of hire, then annually afterward. Staff and faculty can access the training through Precipio 

The goal of these courses are to assist WSU in maintaining a safe and respectful working and learning environment. It defines hazing, identifies key WSU Executive Policies addressing these topics, gives examples of “look-fors” for managers when supervising staff, and provides links to resources available to help in cases of alleged hazing incidents. The training also highlights employee and supervisor responsibilities when hazing misconduct is reported or observed.

Current Student Training: Hazing and Hosting

All incoming and transfer students, undergraduate, graduate, and professional, on all WSU campuses must be made available a Hazing Prevention Course. Hazing & Hosting is a state-law-specific course that emphasizes personal responsibility for both hazing and social hosting as it relates to underage drinking. This course will help students identify the various forms of hazing that can occur and how and when to file a report. See how to access and complete the course here. 

Additional Opportunities

Cougs Stand Strong: Hazing Prevention & Bystander Empowerment
  • legal definitions of hazing,
  • highlights harmful behaviors like intimidation and harassment, and
  • introduces the Five D’s of Bystander Intervention- Distract, Delegate, Document, Delay, and Direct.

Participants engage in case studies to apply these strategies and are encouraged to report concerning behavior to university resources or law enforcement. 

Request the Cougs Stand Strong workshop.

Peer Health Education Workshop: Cougs Against Hazing: An Introduction

Health Education offers a variety of workshops to support student health, happiness, safety, and success. Our health education staff and student peer educators can facilitate workshops for all types of campus groups like residence halls, Greek organizations, student groups, or classes.

Workshops must be requested at least two weeks in advance. Workshops are generally 60 minutes in length with interactive activities and discussion. Facilitators are available starting at 8:00 a.m. and ending no later than 8:00 p.m. Submit a workshop Request

Workshops

  • Cougs Against Hazing: An Introduction- An introduction to hazing including definitions, institutional responses, and resources with scenarios and engaging discussion. (60 minutes)
  • Cougs Against Hazing: Breaking the Cycle- This workshop builds upon 'An Introduction' and explores with participants how hazing happens, why it's prevalent, and how to intervene. (60 minutes) 

Complete a workshop request to bring a specific mental or emotional health topic of interest to your group, class, or event.

WSU Hazing Prevention Week

WSU hosts Hazing Prevention Week to help raise awareness of hazing’s negative effects, promote its prevention and encourage students to stand up against it. This is part of National Hazing Prevention Week at a time that best serves our students.

Events and information will be posted on our WSU Hazing Prevention Week Page.

Healthy Group Activities

For many groups, initiations and bonding rituals are important to creating a sense of community among members. Initiations and other activities are fine as long as they are voluntary and don't involve any hazing behaviors.

If your group is looking for a way to connect, try one of these activities: 

  • Have new members opt into playing a favorite sport or activity (for example, frisbee or video games) against current members, with no penalties for losing 
  • Host a talent show 
  • Try the UREC challenge course 
  • Participate in a service project together (get ideas from CCE)
  • Host a quiz night to review knowledge about your organization's history and values (with no penalties for incorrect answers)

Remember: a healthy group bonding activity does not cause physical, emotional, or mental harm and is completely optional.

See the student handbook for additional resources. 

Additional Resources

Materials

Gordie Center:

The Gordie Center is located at the University of Virginia and houses many resources for students and organizations, including alcohol, hazing, and drugs.

Hazinginfo.org:

Hazinginfo.org is a searchable database of resources and hazing incidents across the United States. Sam Martinez was hazed at Washington State University in 2019, causing his death. His parents, Jolayne Houtz and Hector Martinez, advocate for changes in Washington and the United States. They formed this database to provide students and families with data to make informed decisions about the social organizations they are interested in joining.

Hazing Prevention Network: 

The Hazing Prevention Network’s goal is to educate individuals on the dangers of hazing, advocate for change, and utilize stakeholders to incorporate strategies on campus.

Penn State University – Piazza Center:

The Timothy J. Piazza Center for Fraternity and Sorority Research is at Penn State University. Timothy J. Piazza died from pledging activities as a sophomore in February 2017, and this research center was named after him. The center’s goal is to provide research-based prevention methods to shift the minds of students and universities.

StopHazing: 

StopHazing’s goal is to promote safe school, campus, and organizational changes through shared resources, research, and data-driven strategies for hazing prevention. They have a lot of free resources for student organizations and employees.