Date of Award

Spring 2020

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Higher Education Policy and Student Affairs

Committee Chairperson

Dana Morrison, Ph.D

Committee Member

Matthew Kruger-Ross, Ph.D

Committee Member

Jacqueline S. Hodes, Ed.D

Abstract

Hazing is a particularly aggressive initiation ritual that has been around for centuries yet still exists today causing psychological and physical harm to students in higher education across the United States. This critical action research thesis will explore my philosophical framework, the history of hazing, as well as how it occurs within primarily male organizations in higher education today. Student affairs educators should be working with these students collectively in order to help facilitate other ways of belonging. This has informed my programmatic intervention, HAZEducation. This intervention is designed to empower male students through skill-building to educate them about hazing, to help them confront and question their own hazing activities, as well as to aid them in developing less risky ways to form a sense of belonging. While this program is targeted for members of primarily male organizations, I would recommend this be expanded in the future to include all student organizations, since hazing can occur in any type of organization or group.

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