To some, hazing is a familiar word.
Hazing is defined as any activity that humiliates, degrades, abuses or endangers them regardless of a person's willingness to participate.
Researchers from hazingstudy.org found that 5 percent of students knew they were being hazed.
For National Hazing Prevention Week, a webinar was hosted for universities around the country to define situations as hazing.
"The webinar was offered to support the education effort of Auburn University regarding hazing and to support National Hazing Prevention Week," said Paul Kittle, director of Greek Life. "Auburn University recognizes that in order to impact the incidents of hazing, the entire community must be educated about the issue."
Students and faculty members attended this live discussion to learn about the hazing awareness and how to prevent hazing on and around campus.
Group discussions were held to identify hazing situations.
Some practices labeled as hazing were freshmen on a swim team being required to shave their heads before a meet and requiring new members to clean a house.
"The webinar was very informative concerning how students in the research will perceive hazing as normal," said Felicia Pressley, graduate student in counselor education.
Students said some hazing is acceptable as long as it isn't harmful and it is to better the person.
Some organizations require study hours every week for new member in order to help the freshmen get into a routine and establish good study habits and time management. Study hours weren't labeled hazing, unless the hours required were excessive.
Positive hazing is used to unite organizations and help new members learn and adjust to the organization.
Hazing is known to humiliate and single out a person or group as initiation.
Acting as a personal servant, requiring tattoos or piercings or being tied up are behaviors that most new members perform, but do not report to officials.
It may be that students do not report any hazing because of their lack of awareness of being hazed, wanting to keep the status quo or because they didn't mind.
Although Auburn is an anti-hazing campus, there is still hazing occurring without students knowing. Prevention can happen by spreading the definition of hazing and reporting it if it occurs.
"Hazing can be prevented by understanding the signs of hazing and reporting them," said Amy Walker, a sophomore in chemical engineering. "Reporting hazing can protect yourself and other students."
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