What exactly is hazing?
It’s a question most people think they know the answer to, but officials at one Maritime university say they have created a new policy around hazing because many students fail to recognize it.
Like many schools, the University of New Brunswick has had a zero-tolerance hazing policy for years, but this is the first year for a new policy that expands the definition of hazing.
Under the new rules, any activity that creates a hierarchy could be considered hazing if the option of participating means exclusion.
“Even simple stuff like making someone chug their drink, like simple things like that,” says student Devin Williams. “It doesn’t have to be making them dress up and do stupid things.”
UNB says the new policy is important because many people think of hazing only in extreme circumstances.
“It just became really clear that we needed to provide some clarity around what we consider hazing and what we don’t,” says university spokeswoman Sarah Rochford.
One feature of the new policy covers consent. UNB says it does not matter if the person being hazed has given permission.
Ryan Hamilton has a PhD in sport psychology and has studied the issue of hazing for years. He says clarification on consent should open students’ eyes.
“I think it will be an awakening for many people to think ‘OK, we have this great activity planned. Yeah, it’s a little risky, but everybody said we should do it, so we’re going to do it,’” says Hamilton. “I think it will cause people to be more careful about what they do.”
UNB’s new anti-hazing policy came into effect in August. Anyone caught hazing another student could be suspended or expelled.
With files from CTV Atlantic's Nick Moore
