Hazing used to be widespread years ago in all kinds of organizations, including boarding schools. While it occurs much less frequently, hazing is still out there. So, we asked Dr. Hank Nuwer, a nationally recognized authority on the subject of hazing, to share his expertise with us.
We parents always worry about what goes on when we are not around to supervise our children. We all know that getting into mischief is part of growing up. Inevitably, it is going to happen. But we also want to know that there are well-known limits and accepted standards of behavior, especially when we send our children off to boarding school.
Hazing is a practice that used to be rampant in schools and organizations just about everywhere. Fortunately, in these times, in which smartphones, social media, and reporting systems make it extremely difficult to keep bad news out of the public eye, hazing is far less tolerated in boarding schools. That is a positive turn of events.
As Dr. Nuwer clearly notes, boarding schools are indeed virtually free of hazing. That is because boarding schools insist on a high standard of supervision and community life designed to protect their students from any kind of harm. Most schools have a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to hazing. It is one more reason why boarding schools are safe schools. They take their in loco parentis responsibilities very seriously.
Is it true that hazing is no longer found in U.S. boarding schools?
The good news is that boarding school hazing is not reported nearly as often as hazing in commuter-style high schools or colleges. You do get a smattering of complaints about athletes being subjected to Dazed and Confused-type pranks or minor forms of servitude, such as new players carrying equipment or food trays. The bad news is that when a big story breaks, often there are allegations of disrobing, improper touching, or behavior of a criminal nature.
In military schools, the news stories are most commonly associated with verbal abuse of younger cadets and occasionally raised cries of physical pummeling. The good news is that I see educators all the time installing and enforcing hazing policies at boarding schools. Clearly, any out-of-control behavior now stands a good chance of incurring swift punishment and consequences.
Parents evaluating a school should also review current safety practices, including supervision, reporting procedures, and discipline policies. Boarding School Review offers related guidance in Boarding School Safety Checklist for Parents 2025 and How Boarding Schools Handle Bullying Today.
Can you give examples of the latter?
Yes, in 2004, several senior girls at a prominent boarding school were under national scrutiny following allegations of improper requests of younger students during a game of Truth or Dare, a game that sometimes fits the definition of hazing if newcomers are required or expected to participate. The senior girls in this incident were immediately suspended from the school, and the punishment was noted on their school records.
How do cases surface in the news?
Sometimes it is a parent who approaches a newspaper in hopes that additional details about an incident will be uncovered. Sometimes it is through civil litigation. Historically, it is interesting with military schools to see that in 1920, a court ruled that hazing was appropriate and needed at the New York Military Academy of Cornwall and ruled against Dr. Emmett Hoa of Troy, who had sued on behalf of his son Helmer, who had been subjected to acts of servitude.
Bullying has become even harder to detect these days as it has gone electronic. Cyberbullying is now the new contagion. Has hazing gone electronic? Is there any sign of cyber-hazing?
In a way, the use of cell phone cameras, videotaping, and photographing a hazing incident becomes the second hazing in my opinion. The victim cannot forget the trauma. It shows over and over again on social media.
For additional perspective on student life challenges in residential settings, see A Day in the Life of a Boarding School Student.
Is hazing illegal in any states? If so, are the laws on the books enforced?
As of 2026, hazing laws vary considerably by state. StopHazing reports that 44 states and the District of Columbia have anti-hazing laws, although the strength, scope, and application of those laws differ significantly. Some laws focus mainly on colleges, fraternities, and sororities, while others extend more broadly to schools and youth organizations.
At the federal level, the Stop Campus Hazing Act, signed in December 2024, applies to colleges and universities that participate in federal student aid programs. While that law does not directly regulate boarding schools, it reflects a broader national trend toward clearer reporting, prevention education, and institutional accountability.
When political pressure comes upon a local prosecutor, or if a school waits too long to call law enforcement, and a cover-up by perpetrators takes place, in many instances, serious hazing cases merely drop off the map and are unprosecuted.
What kind of educational materials, training sessions, and seminars on hazing are available for schools, their staff, and students?
I'll start with my own. I began the Hazing Collection at Buffalo State University library to place all forms of hazing research, such as doctoral dissertations, videos, and scholarly articles, in Special Collections for any scholar or graduate student to consult so that more research on hazing might be encouraged.
I also wrote an interactive hazing program for administrators and students, which has been used by schools and organizations as part of prevention education. I have also worked with national prevention groups, including Hazing Prevention Network and StopHazing, both of which provide resources for schools, colleges, families, and students.
There are also many speakers who put on educational programs, such as I did at Wilmington Friends School in Delaware, a very enjoyable experience for me. A long list of prevention resources is available through StopHazing. There has also been important research on hazing, with in-depth studies conducted by Elizabeth Allan and colleagues at the University of Maine.
Conclusion
While hazing has not disappeared entirely, the landscape in 2026 reflects meaningful progress. Stronger policies, increased transparency, and cultural shifts toward student safety have significantly reduced its presence in boarding schools. Schools today are more proactive, combining supervision, education, and accountability to create safer residential communities.
For families, the takeaway is clear. Hazing prevention is not just about rules; it is about culture. When evaluating boarding schools, parents should look closely at how schools foster respect, responsibility, and open communication. These elements, combined with firm enforcement of anti-hazing policies, help ensure that the boarding school remains a supportive and transformative environment for students.
