We strongly encourage you to read Brown's Full Definition of Hazing above. In short, Hazing can be understood by its three key components:

1. Behavior that holds the potential for physical, psychological and/or emotional harm;
2. Behavior that is connected to group membership; and
3. It can occur regardless of a person’s willingness to participate.

The Spectrum of Hazing helps illustrate the range of hazing behaviors, how recognizable they are, and how frequently they occur. The behaviors listed on the left are often overlooked or explained away as harmless traditions, initiations, pranks and/or jokes. The behaviors toward the right happen less frequently, tend to be more violent, and are more recognizable as hazing. All of the hazing behaviors listed are prohibited by Brown University’s Anti-Hazing Policy.

Often, hazing prevention and response focus on explicit hazing (located on the right side of the spectrum), while behaviors on the left side are often disregarded, go unnoticed, or remain unaddressed. Once we recognize the variety of hazing behaviors that tend to be normalized, we are better equipped to intervene and prevent hazing – and, like dominoes, when we knock down one form of hazing, the rest will topple with it.

Hazing is prohibited in Brown University’s Code of Student Conduct and Anti-Hazing Policy, and by the criminal laws of the State of Rhode Island. R.I.G.L. 11-21-1.

Brown's Anti-Hazing Policy states that no faculty or staff member, student, student organization, or volunteer shall engage in or participate as a witness in hazing. Individuals and student organizations engaging in hazing will be held accountable as individuals, teams, or groups for their involvement in hazing. Individual members, advisors, and coaches of such organizations, teams, and groups may also be held accountable for hazing.

 Brown's Anti-Hazing Policy

Brown’s Office of Student Conduct & Community Standards oversees the process for filing a complaint about a violation of the University’s Anti-Hazing Policy. Complaints alleging violations of the Code of Student Conduct can be submitted through the Campus Incident Complaint Form. Individuals who are unable to access or use the online form should contact the Office of Student Conduct & Community Standards at student-conduct@brown.edu or 401-863-2653.

View the Complaint Process        File a Complaint

Allegations of hazing should also be reported to the Department of Public Safety at 401-863-4111. Additionally, allegations of hazing may be reported: 

• to the Providence Police Department at 401-272-3121, other applicable law enforcement agencies, or 911 in the event of an emergency; 

• via the Campus Security Authority form; or

• via Brown’s Anonymous Reporting Hotline, which allows anonymous and confidential reporting on matters of concern online or by phone at 877-318-9184.

Once a report is made, Brown’s Office of Student Conduct & Community Standards will review the report for behaviors that violate University policies and follow the procedures outlined on their website. Individuals who fail to comply with the University’s Anti-Hazing Policy are subject to disciplinary action, up to and including:

• Suspension or expulsion for students
• Suspension without pay or termination of employment
• Suspension or de-recognition for student organizations, University-recognized groups, and athletic teams
• Suspension or revocation of the individual’s relationship with Brown University
• Banning from campus for volunteers

State and/or local law enforcement agencies investigate allegations of Hazing under Rhode Island State Law. 

In an ongoing effort to promote social well-being and prevent instances of hazing, in 2019, Brown formed the Hazing Prevention Coalition (HPC) in conjunction with Stop Hazing, an organization based at the University of Maine. 

Brown continues to expand prevention efforts through online courses for students and staff and a variety of new initiatives designed to reduce hazing and associated high-risk behaviors while increasing social well-being and pro-health behaviors.

Efforts of the Hazing Prevention Coalition at Brown

Since its inception in 2019, Brown’s HPC has conducted rigorous assessments, including an evaluation of current University practices, focus groups with stakeholders, a risk and protective factor analysis and a survey of social behaviors for undergraduate students. 

The findings from these efforts have led to the creation of the Hazing Prevention Education Scaffold, which supports our collective goal of developing sustainable plans to prevent hazing and encourage practices that foster healthy behaviors for connection and belonging.

Brown’s Hazing Prevention Education Scaffold is a set of specific goals, each aimed at improving a particular part of social well-being that can directly prevent hazing. Below is a graphic that illustrates these goals, along with a corresponding timeline that shows when and which steps have been implemented.

Download the infographic PDF

Brown’s Hazing Prevention Micro-Course 

Engage with Brown’s Hazing Prevention micro-course to identify behaviors/indicators of group dynamics that may compromise safety and well-being. You will also learn the definition of hazing, understand its impacts and have a chance to develop pro-health skills for preventing and interrupting harmful behaviors. 

Take the Course

Article: University Hazing Prevention Coalition expands StopHazing partnership with mandatory online modules for student groups

Read about Brown’s hazing prevention efforts in this October 2023 Brown Daily Herald article highlighting Campus Life’s partnership with StopHazing. Read the article.