Fifty-five percent of students involved in organizations on college campuses nationwide reported experiencing some form of hazing, according to a national study released Tuesday.
The study, conducted by two associate professors at the University of Maine, surveyed more than 11,000 students at 53 universities across the country. The study says 95 percent of students who reported experiencing some form of hazing did not report anything to campus authorities.
University of Wisconsin has few reported cases of hazing, and Committee on Student Organizations Chair Connor Ewing said UW students may simply not be reporting hazing.
CSO carries out the disciplinary processes of registered student organizations and reviews disciplinary processes and procedures. Ewing said in the year-and-a-half he has served on the committee, it has reviewed only two cases of hazing.
?The fear of the committee is that people are willing to endure some of this stuff to get into these organizations,? Ewing said.
UW Assistant Dean Ervin Cox said it is understandable that most people would not want to let others know about their experiences with hazing.
Hazing cases can be processed by the Offices of the Dean of Students and CSO for student organizations, and the Greek Judicial Board for sororities and fraternities.
Although cases of hazing are rarely reported, UW had a major incident with the marching band in 2006.
On a bus ride back from an away football game at the University of Michigan, there was reportedly inappropriate dancing from semi-nude band members that made people feel uncomfortable and unsafe; one band member also had his head reportedly shaved in an apparent hazing incident.
UW defines hazing as any action taken or any situation created whether on- or off-chapter premises, to produce mental or physical discomfort, embarrassment, harassment or ridicule.
According to Jeffrey Benson, fraternity and sorority program adviser, the Fraternal Information and Programming Group ? which insures sororities and fraternities on campus ? has strict policies against hazing.
?We do a lot of work with hazing education because it is a national problem, especially with fraternities,? Benson said.
When reports of hazing are brought to CSO or the Offices of the Dean of Students, Cox said they are reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Cox added punishment is based on different factors, including the severity of the case and whether it caused physical or psychological harm to another person.
Under Wisconsin state law, hazing is considered forced activity, which is a condition of initiation or admission into an organization, regardless of a student’s willingness to participate in the activity. A person who violates this is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor if the act results in bodily harm and a Class E felony if the act results in great bodily harm or death.
Cox and Ewing said they don?t think there is a serious problem with hazing on campus but that it is a serious concern.
?The Committee on Student Organizations knows that hazing is a serious issue, and we’re committed to doing what we can to prevent and punish such activity,? Ewing said. ? The best way to reduce any possible hazing on our campus is to start a dialogue about it and increase awareness that there are serious consequences for such behavior.?
