Cornell's Student & Campus Life and Student Health and Wellbeing leadership share their perspectives on the importance of preventing hazing and fostering a safe, inclusive community in which student well-being can flourish. These statements emphasize Cornell's commitment as a Health Promoting Campus, highlight the widespread nature of hazing across different types of student organizations, and underscore the serious consequences of hazing practices. They also provide important information about reporting suspected hazing.

Ryan Lombardi, Vice President for Student & Campus Life
December 2024

The health, safety, and well-being of all Cornell students is fundamental to the campus community we strive to build – a community where every student feels a sense of belonging. It is also a critical goal of our commitment to being a Health Promoting Campus. Yet this good work and powerful mission are undermined by the continued presence of hazing in all forms. Hazing is a dangerous abuse of power and a violation of the values that define us as a community. I continue to call upon all Cornellians – students, faculty, staff, alumni, and families – for support when I say, it must stop.

Hazing is not confined to any specific type of student group. It occurs within athletic teams, pre-professional organizations, fraternities and sororities, performing arts groups, and various other student groups. It is also critical to recognize that hazing is not an innocent “tradition” or “rite of passage”. It often involves alcohol abuse, physical harm, verbal abuse, sleep deprivation, or other degrading activities. These practices are directly at odds with Cornell’s core values of well-being and belonging – but unfortunately, despite education, warnings, and even sanctions, hazing continues to occur on our campus and campuses across the country. 

Tragically, the U.S. has witnessed many preventable hazing-related deaths on college campuses. Recently, former Penn State students were sentenced to prison for their roles in the 2017 hazing death of Timothy Piazza, while hazing was suspected as the cause of a fatality at Dartmouth this summer, prompting suspensions for a fraternity and sorority. Cornell is not immune—our own history includes the loss of students to hazing incidents in 2011 and 2019. 

As a campus community, it is our responsibility to each other and to ourselves to reject any “tradition” that encourages harmful behavior in the name of belonging. Secrecy only perpetuates hazing and its negative impact, so shining a light on this problematic behavior is critical to prevention. Cornell’s hazing prevention website (hazing.cornell.edu) transparently displays all known campus hazing violations as well as the corresponding group sanctions in an effort to enhance public awareness and accountability. The website also provides information about Cornell’s policy and New York State’s law along with an online mechanism for submitting confidential reports of hazing to the institution.

If we are to foster a truly inclusive, supportive environment, we must hold ourselves accountable to the highest standards. We encourage student organizations and groups to embrace inclusive practices that treat all members with dignity and respect—values we hold dear as a community. 

If you suspect someone has experienced hazing in any group, team or organization, please report it through official channels by submitting a confidential report through the Hazing at Cornell website. Anonymous reports can be difficult to investigate and may result in a slower process or ability to respond fully, so please provide as much information as possible and a way to be contacted so we can follow up as needed. 

Thank you for partnering with us in our commitment to keeping our campus safe, and fostering a community where all students feel valued, respected, and supported.

Sincerely,

Ryan Lombardi
Vice President for Student & Campus Life

Julie Edwards, EdD, Assistant Vice President for Student Health and Wellbeing
December 2024 

As a Health Promoting Campus (HPC), Cornell is dedicated to creating and sustaining a diverse, welcoming, and inclusive culture where students, staff, and faculty can flourish. One way we demonstrate our campus commitment is by addressing a critical risk to our students’ health, safety and well-being: hazing.   

Building connections and fostering community are essential parts of college life. The need for belonging is a fundamental aspect of being human, and joining groups, teams, and organizations can provide meaningful social connections and life-long friendships. However, there are both healthy and unhealthy ways to recruit and welcome members to an organization. Intimidating or humiliating new members through degrading practices is not only unhealthy but also unacceptable.   

Our understanding of hazing has evolved significantly over time.   

Hazing exploits our innate desire for connection and belonging, often leading to lasting negative effects on individuals’ physical and emotional wellbeing. The good news is that 91% of Cornell students agree it’s never acceptable to humiliate or intimidate new members of a group, team, or organization.   

As Assistant Vice President of Student Health and Wellbeing, I am committed to advancing health and wellbeing across our campus. Each of us has a role to play in cultivating a sense of belonging and creating a healthy environment at Cornell. I encourage you to reflect on how you can contribute to fostering a positive and inclusive culture within the groups, teams and organizations you belong to at Cornell.   

For resources and information on hazing prevention, visit hazing.cornell.edu. Together, we can build a healthier, safer, and more connected campus community.  

Sincerely,  

Julie Edwards, EdD  
Assistant Vice President for Student Health and Wellbeing