Allan speaks with Austin American-Statesman for article about hazing

Elizabeth Allan, a professor of higher education at the University of Maine, spoke with the Austin American-Statesman for the article “Crackdown on hazing gains momentum among state lawmakers.” A series of hazing-related deaths in Texas has led to a push by state legislators to combat hazing on college campuses, according to the article. Allan has studied hazing for 15 years and defines it as “any activity expected of someone joining or participating in a group that humiliates, degrades, abuses or endangers them regardless of a person’s willingness to participate.” The most frequent hazing behaviors include drinking large amounts of alcohol, acting as a personal servant to others, associating with specific people and not others, sleep deprivation and being screamed or cursed at by other members of the group, the article states. Most students don’t recognize hazing for what it is, and students will put up with it because of peer pressure, power dynamics, a desire to belong and other factors, Allan said. “Sometimes organizations that have a long history and tradition and prestige tend to have hazing associated with them. It’s basic cost-benefit analysis — if students see membership as highly desirable, then they might be more willing to do things that they wouldn’t ordinarily do,” said Allan.