"How do you do the right thing and not get fired or ruin your career?": hazing in academic institutions – the role of university administrators in prevention and education

Abstract

Hazing continues to be a pervasive issue on college campuses, posing significant risks to student health, safety, and well-being while undermining institutional efforts to create inclusive and supportive environments. One notable gap in the existing literature is the role of administrators involved in hazing prevention, education, and policy development at their respective institutions. This mixed-methods study explores hazing prevention and education by examining the mechanisms of prevention and education that administrators draw on, their perspectives and experiences, as well as the challenges faced by college administrators tasked with addressing this critical issue. Drawing on the perspective of organizational decline (Levine, 1978;1980), I argue that institutional, structural, and cultural differences significantly influence these barriers and shape how administrators navigate and overcome them. Through a combination of qualitative interviews with college administrators and quantitative surveys assessing campus hazing prevention and education efforts, this study aims to identify key obstacles to effective work in this arena and propose actionable strategies for advancing these efforts in higher education. The qualitative interviews explore administrators' experiences, perceptions, and strategies related to hazing prevention, with a particular focus on the challenges they face in balancing competing institutional priorities, gaining support from students and families, as well as the influence of donors and alumni. Based on these findings, I offer recommendations for strengthening hazing prevention initiatives. This research contributes to the literature on hazing and higher education by centering the experiences and perspectives of administrators, who play a pivotal but often overlooked role in prevention efforts. It also bridges the gap between theory and practice by integrating sociological insights with actionable recommendations, offering a roadmap for advancing anti-hazing initiatives that are both effective and sustainable.