Hazing Prevention
ALPHA CHI OMEGA BELIEVES HAZING PREVENTION IS A SHARED RESPONSIBILITY.
We are dedicated to creating a healthy, supportive sisterhood by actively working to eliminate hazing in all its forms. Alpha Chi Omega recognizes the lasting effects of hazing and is committed to educating members on how to lead with our values. Explore our hazing policies, resources and educational programs designed to empower members and chapters in their year-round hazing prevention efforts.
alpha chi omega hazing policy
Alpha Chi Omega does not condone unkind, undignified or humiliating activities. No chapter, new member, student, alumna or volunteer shall engage in or permit hazing activities. Hazing is any reckless or intentional act that produces physical, mental or emotional pain, discomfort, humiliation, embarrassment or ridicule – regardless of a person’s willingness to participate – and is required or expected of a member and not related to the Fraternity’s mission. This includes any activity, whether it is presented as optional or required, that places a member in a position of servitude as a condition of membership.
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?
Alpha Chi Omega interprets our hazing policy as any action or situation, with or without consent of the participants, which recklessly, intentionally or unintentionally endangers the mental, physical or academic health or safety of a member.
RETALIATION POLICY
Alpha Chi Omega prohibits retaliation against any individual – members and nonmembers – for reporting, inquiring about or cooperating with a report around a violation of risk management policy. Retaliation is any action, statement or behavior that is designed to punish an individual for filing a report, cooperating with an investigation or seeking guidance regarding a concern or to deter one from taking such action.
UNDERSTANDING HAZING LAWS
FEDERAL ANTI-HAZING LAW
In December 2024, the Stop Campus Hazing Act (SCHA) became the first federal law to directly address hazing in higher education. This legislation requires colleges and universities that receive federal student aid to report hazing incidents in their annual security reports, implement prevention policies and publish a public Campus Hazing Transparency Report detailing violations by student organizations. The law defines hazing as any intentional, knowing or reckless act – regardless of a person's willingness to participate – that occurs during initiation or membership in a student group and poses a risk of physical or psychological harm.
HAZING state laws
While the federal law establishes a national standard, state hazing laws differ significantly. These variations can lead to different protections and penalties depending on the campus. Therefore, it's essential for members to understand how hazing is defined in the state where their institution is located.
Click on the map to learn more about your state’s hazing laws and their impact on you, your chapter or your community.
ANNUAL AWARENESS CAMPAIGN
NATIONAL HAZING PREVENTION WEEK (NHPW)
Alpha Chi Omega participates in National Hazing Prevention Week sponsored by the Hazing Prevention Network during the last full week of September each year. This annual awareness campaign focuses on campuses, schools, organizations and individuals empowering one another to make a collective effort to raise awareness about hazing and increase education on hazing. During this week, chapters are encouraged to organize workshops, facilitate educational programs, host a tabling event on campus and share their efforts on social media using Alpha Chi Omega’s official campaign hashtag #RSWDontHaze.
NATIONAL PARTNERSHIPS
The Hazing Prevention Network is a national nonprofit dedicated to empowering people to prevent hazing before it starts. Through education, resources and programming, the Hazing Prevention Network works to educate students and communities on the dangers of hazing and ways to advocate for change and to engage others in strategies to end hazing in all its forms. Alpha Chi Omega’s partnership provides our members with the tools and support they need to prevent hazing at the local level.
HAZING PREVENTION RESOURCES
SPEAK UP FOR A SISTER TRAINING AND DISCUSSION GUIDE
The Speak Up for a Sister hazing prevention training helps members learn more about how to recognize, prevent and report hazing behavior while committing to creating a healthy, safe member experience. This interactive self-guided module is designed for all collegiate members to complete.
Use the Speak Up for a Sister discussion guide to reflect individually or discuss with members of your chapter how to prevent hazing and build a hazing-free sisterhood.
EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AND TOOLs
Alpha Chi Omega members can access exclusive hazing prevention resources to help educate their chapter on this important topic, such as:
- The hazing tolerance and new member mindset sections of the Sisterhood Survey, which give officers and volunteers insight into chapter-specific data, along with processing questions to foster a positive chapter culture, found in the Chapter President section of the Resource Center
- The Alpha Chi Omega backstops
- Programs with Purpose that address hazing prevention, including Sisterhood and Accountability, Challenging Bystander Behavior, Challenging Bystander Behavior in the Red Zone and Empowered Women Prevent Hazing
- Hazing prevention educational posters and conversation starters
REPORT HAZING
SISTERS SPEAK UP: WHEN YOU SEE IT, SAY IT
We encourage our members to act when there are concerns about experiences created in our chapter or campus communities. Whether you have witnessed, experienced or have concerns that hazing activity may be occurring, be an upstander and speak out about what you noticed. Being an upstander means choosing to act rather than be silent, no matter the circumstances.
- In an emergency: Call 911 immediately if someone is injured, involved in illegal activity or facing life-threatening harm.
- On campus: Contact the fraternity/sorority life office, student conduct or campus security to report hazing involving any organization, sports team, student group or individual.
- Anonymous reporting: Call the Anti-Hazing Hotline at 888-NOT-HAZE (888-668-4293) to anonymously report a suspected or recent hazing incident.
- Within Alpha Chi Omega: Reach out to Alpha Chi Omega headquarters at 317-579-5050 or email collegiateexperience@alphachiomega.org to report hazing concerns.