| Athletes,
coaches and administrators believed that hazing prevention
requires a clear anti-hazing message; an expectation
of responsibility, integrity and civility; and structured
initiation rites that build teams and encourage bonding.
Send a Clear Anti-Hazing Message:
- Develop a written anti-hazing policy for athletes
with clear definitions and consequences.
- Educate the administration, coaching staff and athletes
on the policy and definition.
- Develop a contract for student athletes regarding
hazing and alcohol consumption.
- Establish a record of taking strong action against
suspected and known cases of hazing.
- Immediately notify security or law enforcement of
any suspected hazing incident.
Expect responsibility, integrity and civility:
- Discuss the meaning of the anti-hazing message with
the president, student affairs officers, athletic
department and athletes.
- Require coaches to screen recruits for behavioral
and academic problems.
- Write a policy outlining coaches' and host students'
behaviors for overnight recruitment visits.
- Require each coach to meet personally with each student
host prior to recruitment visits.
- Make athletes' behavior on and off the field a part
of each coach's evaluation.
Offer team-building initiation rites:
- Write a policy on the philosophy and goals of initiation
rites in athletics.
- Train coaches and athletes on the importance of initiation
rites and the ways to conduct them.
- Integrate initiation philosophy and goals into team
goal-setting and problem-solving.
- Develop community events for the entire athletic
department.
- Require organized initiation events for each team
prior to each season.
- Recognize athletes as leaders in academic, personal,
business and community arenas.
- Rely on the Student Athletic Advisory Committee to
promote acceptable initiation rites.
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