No Hazing Allowed

College campuses across the nation are struggling with an increase in severe hazing incidents. Combating current views on hazing requires proactive programming and fundamental changes in student traditions.

Students and administrators at Penn State Altoona are participating in a program designed to help students better understand how to recognize and remove hazing from their campus. "The program's purpose is to increase understanding of the issue, create an open dialogue among all students, provide resources and create a starting point for the campus community to work together within their organizations as well as the larger campus community to stop hazing," says Jen Grossman, assistant director of Student Life.

Crossing the Line: CAP (Campus Anti-Hazing Program) is a student workshop, in-your-face challenge, anti-hazing seminar, and goal-setting think-tank all wrapped into one day. A professional facilitator led the workshop on campus this fall.

"Participants will hopefully leave the workshop with a better understanding of the definition of hazing, the legal ramifications, alternatives to hazing, and a course of action to combat the problem on campus," Grossman says.