New Resolution Backs 'National Hazing Awareness Week' in September 2025, Pushing Campus Transparency

This resolution is all about formally throwing support behind the designation of September 22 through September 26, 2025, as "National Hazing Awareness Week." If you’re a parent sending a kid off to college, or just someone who remembers the headlines about tragic campus incidents, this is a clear signal that lawmakers are paying attention to the serious, often deadly, issue of hazing.

The Fine Print on Hazing

The resolution starts by defining hazing clearly: it’s any intentional or reckless act done to someone to join or stay in a student group that causes, or risks causing, physical or mental harm beyond what’s normally expected in college activities. The key detail here is that even if the person agrees to it, it still counts as hazing. This definition matters because it reinforces that consent doesn't make dangerous or damaging acts okay, especially when the goal is group membership. They cite data showing that roughly 55% of students in clubs or teams have experienced some form of hazing, which underscores just how pervasive this problem is on campuses nationwide.

Accountability and Transparency

One of the most important aspects of this resolution is how it reinforces existing accountability measures. It points directly back to the Stop Campus Hazing Act signed in late 2024, which requires colleges to be transparent about hazing incidents. Specifically, schools now have to include hazing violations in their annual security reports and release a Campus Hazing Transparency Report detailing who was disciplined for policy violations. For a student or a parent looking at a college’s security record, this means the hazing numbers should be front and center, making it easier to gauge a school’s real commitment to safety before applying or enrolling.

Education Beyond the Students

While the focus is often on student behavior, the resolution makes a point of saying that prevention education needs to be broad. It recommends that these efforts include not just students, but also campus staff, administrators, faculty, and alumni. This is crucial because hazing often involves alumni or is overlooked by staff who aren't properly trained. If you work in a university setting, this suggests that hazing prevention training might soon be part of your required professional development, ensuring everyone from the grounds crew to the dean understands the policy and the risks.

What This Means on the Ground

Ultimately, this resolution doesn't create new laws or penalties; it’s a show of support that aims to boost awareness and prevention efforts during that specific week in September 2025. It serves as a mandate for increased scrutiny. For student organizations, especially those with a history of hazing, this heightened awareness means increased pressure and administrative oversight. For the rest of us, it’s a reminder that hazing isn't just bad behavior; it's a serious risk to student safety, a point driven home by the resolution’s inclusion of the names of hundreds of students who have died or suffered life-altering injuries due to these incidents.