Hazing and Harassment

Gr 7 Up—Hazing has evolved from harmless pranks to physical, emotional, and sexual harassment and abuse as a result of the degrading and demeaning activities that have become part of this rite of passage. This program explores why teens would submit to this type of activity and explains why they should walk away and seek help. It also discusses the importance of students standing up for each other and not allowing hazing to take place. The introduction contains a viewer discretion warning because of the non-explicit sexual content. Viewers are introduced to the world of hazing as a necessary beginning to a social society, in high schools as well as college campuses. Viewers are told how to recognize hazing and shown how the intervention of one person can make a difference. In interviews, two students who were hazed explain the circumstances and how it affected their lives. Teaching students to "stand up to the crowd" is often very difficult, and this important program will open the door to discussions on an oftentimes very secret activity.—Jeana Actkinson, ESC Region XI, Ft. Worth, TX