Cornell marks 20 years of hazing transparency as Stop Campus Hazing Act becomes law
By Stephen D'Angelo, Student and Campus Life
When the bipartisan Stop Campus Hazing Act was signed into law in December 2024, it strengthened the future of anti-hazing efforts across the nation. But while the law will bring significant changes to institutions of higher education to increase transparency, accountability, and prevention of hazing, Cornell has long been recognized as a leader in hazing prevention as the university to first publicly share its hazing violations and sanctions with the launch of hazing.cornell.edu in 2005.
"For two decades, Cornell’s policies and practices have emphasized transparency and accountability regarding campus hazing incidents,” said Laura Santacrose ’11, associate director of Cornell Health’s Skorton Center for Health Initiatives. “As an alumna and current member of Cornell Health’s Skorton Center for Health Initiatives, I was proud to co-author the first academic journal article reflecting a public health approach to preventing hazing on a university campus with national hazing prevention experts, Tim Marchell ’82 and Elizabeth Allan.”
This approach recognizes that students, staff, faculty, alumni, parents, community members and national organizations all have a role to play, Santacrose said, and aligns with Cornell’s health-promoting campus goal of creating a welcoming and inclusive culture where all members of our community can flourish.
Hazing is a form of interpersonal violence defined under Cornell’s Student Code of Conduct. Campus surveys show over 90% of Cornell students are opposed to humiliating or degrading new members of groups, teams, and organizations. Yet, hazing behaviors still occur and can pose physical and psychological risks to those involved, regardless of their willingness to participate. Organizations found responsible for hazing face campus disciplinary action, including suspension or expulsion.
“Hazing takes many forms, and directly affects the safety and well-being of our community,” said Jennifer Austin, director of Cornell Health’s Skorton Center for Health Initiatives. “Our campus partners understand that hazing practices are not only antithetical to Cornell’s core values but also ineffective in achieving group bonding or cultivating a sense of belonging among students.”
“Hazing also runs counter to our work as a Health Promoting Campus, which cultivates the physical and emotional health and well-being of the community as a foundation for academic, work, and life success,” she said.
While Cornell was an early adopter of transparent reporting, the new law creates a consistent, standardized approach to hazing prevention and reporting across all colleges and universities in the U.S. This historic law results from years of advocacy by families who have been personally impacted by the harms of hazing, national organizations, researchers, subject matter experts, and lawmakers.
To ensure compliance with the new law, the directors of the Skorton Center for Health Initiatives and Sorority and Fraternity Life have convened a workgroup comprised of campus partners in Risk Management, Public Safety, Cornell Health, Human Resources, and Campus and Community Engagement. This semester they will work to explore and document current evidence-based practices and actions the campus may explore to advance the field of college hazing prevention and build on the university’s award-winning bystander intervention training, online and anonymous reporting options and transparency regarding violations.
“Cornell has long been at the forefront of efforts to reduce the harms of hazing by emphasizing transparency, education, and student safety – values we have championed for years,” said David Honan, associate vice president of Public Safety. “The Stop Campus Hazing Act reinforces the principles we’ve upheld for decades as a national leader in anti-hazing education and prevention, and enforcement, remaining committed to evolving our strategies to ensure a safer campus for all.”
In addition to launching expanded educational resources on the university’s hazing website this spring, nearly 1,000 students are enrolled in Sorority and Fraternity Life’s hazing course developed by the Skorton Center for prospective and new members of Greek chapters. Nearly 2,500 members across Cornell’s Tri-Council, comprised of chapters affiliated with the Interfraternity Council (IFC), Panhellenic Council (PHC) and Multicultural Greek & Fraternal Council (MGFC), will also attend a training session offered in partnership with the Skorton Center and Sexual Assault Prevention and Safety (SAPS) students.
Skorton will also partner with the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards (OSCCS) to deliver hazing training to students, staff and faculty who volunteer on the hearing panel and educate nearly 200 resident advisors on recognizing and responding to hazing.
"Cornell will continue to evolve our policies, practices, and educational initiatives in response to campus data and developing national practices,” Austin said. “The Stop Hazing Act is an important step forward for college health and well-being, and we’re eager to improve our own campus practices as part of this movement."