Educational Block 2 | 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

Many student organizations and groups are increasingly using big/little or mentorship programs to help new members transition into communities. These programs can be effective tools for creating connection, support, and a sense of belonging. However, a number of hazing-related incidents surround events associated with the big/little relationship. Join us for an engaging session where you'll learn how to develop effective training for bigs and mentors. We'll share strategies and tools to help practitioners empower mentors to foster healthy, respectful, and meaningful relationships with their mentees. 

In an era where attention spans are short and expectations are high, we have an opportunity to adjust our programs. This session explores how to design prevention programs that students actually want to attend by using relevant language, identity-aware content, and trends. We'll dive into how to center important topics (e.g., hazing) without relying on traditional formats, and share practical ideas for building programs that are worth showing up for. 

After a student group accepted responsibility for hazing-related policy violations of the Code of Student Conduct, educational interventions were developed to adress the misconduct. One key intervention involved the students participating in a pilot program for anti-hazing education. Their role included participating in focus groups to assess their experience, perceptions, and knowledge development after a semester of educational sanctions. The intention was to assess their experiences to educate future student groups. A working group composed of individuals experienced in anti-hazing education and investigative work was established to design the focus group assessment. This session will explore the development of the multidisciplinary working group, the significant benefits of the focus group design for assessment purposes, and the recommendations for moving hazing prevention education forward. 

This one-hour presentation will explore the new federal anti-hazing law, the Stop Campus Hazing Act, and Ohio's Collin's Law, highlighting their key provisions, differences, and implications for educational institutions. The Stop Campus Hazing Act, signed by President Biden on December 23, 2024, federally mandates comprehensive hazing reporting and prevention measures, including amendments to Clery reporting obligations. Collin's Law, enacted in Ohio, similarly requires public reporting of hazing violations and imposes stricter penalties. By comparing these laws, attendees will gain a deeper understanding of the legal landscape surrounding hazing, the specific requirements for compliance, and the steps institutions must take to foster safer campus environments. 

This interactive program reviews the research on the relationship between alcohol and hazing, models engaging ways to provide education to students on standard drink sizes through "bartender school, and teaches how to identify the signs of alcohol overdose using "PUBS". You'll learn ways to engage students in alcohol and hazing education to increase student motivation to be active bystanders by monitoring impaired for signs of overdose, never leaving anyone alone to sleep it off, and intervening effectively when they are concerned about hazing. 

Investigating hazing can be difficult. From working with anonymous reporters to interviewing uncooperative witnesses, this session will provide open exploration around some of the "pain points" that plague organizational hazing cases. Let's work together using a guided conversation to identify common challenges we have faced during hazing investigations and share the best practices and creative solutions we have used to help navigate these challenges. 

Preventing hazing requires more than rules - it demands leadership, coordination, and a proactive, campus-wide commitment to culture change. This session offers a comprehensive roadmap for establishing and sustaining an effective Anti-Hazing Task Force. Participants will explore how to engage diverse stakeholders, set clear and measurable goals, and create structures that ensure accountability and long-term success. Drawing from real-world examples and institutional case studies, the session will address legal considerations, evidence-based prevention strategies, and ways to embed anti-hazing principles into daily campus life. Attendees will leave equipped with practical tools and insights to launch or strengthen an Anti-Hazing Task Force that moves their campus from a place of reaction to one of prevention and resilience.