Information for Athletics

“Hazing has no place at Wake Forest, and the safety and well-being of our students is our top priority. We are committed to fostering an environment where every student feels included and respected. Our clear hazing policies and educational efforts are in place to give everyone an opportunity to enjoy a World Class Student-Athlete Experience free from harm or intimidation. Through open communication, proactive measures, and support from Athletics staff and coaches, we will continue to promote a culture of respect and accountability.” 

–Vice President & Director of Athletics, John Currie

Or call the Hazing Hotline:
336.758.HAZE (4293)

The Hazing Hotline is reviewed by University staff on a daily basis. 

Our Hazing Policy and the Impact on Student-Athletes:

The following bullet points provide additional explanation and context around Wake Forest University’s definition of hazing. “Hazing” is defined as any act or action that:

  • Endangers the mental or physical health or safety of any student: In 2024, the NCAA revised best practices for student-athlete mental health. Sports settings differ for each student-athlete and include risk and protective factors for mental health at multiple levels: individual, team, athletics department, campus and societal. At its best, sport can help college student-athletes learn important mental skills, build strong team relationships and experience growth and confidence that they can carry with them outside of sport.
  • Unreasonably interferes with a student’s academic, professional, or personal obligations: Student-athletes function under unique and conflicting demands, which can lead to increased levels of stress. In addition to academic-related obligations, student-athletes have the additional challenges of training, practice, competition, and interactions with teammates and coaches.
  • Humiliates, demeans, disgraces, or degrades a student: People can underestimate the potential for significant harm from student-athlete hazing because they assume that participating in these acts are consensual. Unity is an important part of being on a team. Hazing in sports is rooted in this notion, which has been described as a ‘deviant overconformity.’ The basis behind hazing and the lack of perception of its occurrence is rooted in the athlete’s attempt to demonstrate self-worth, dedication and willingness to make sacrifices for the team by participating in acts of hazing.
  • Is not relevant to a student’s development within the context of the group, organization or team: The National Study on Student Hazing (2008) cites popular examples of student-athlete hazing such as (a) participating in drinking games; (b) being forced to sing or chant by oneself or with others in public in a situation that is not a related event or game, or (c) being forced to drink large amounts of alcoholic and/or non-alcoholic beverages. These are examples of actions that are unnecessary for an athlete or a team to succeed, and they have the potential to disrupt a student-athlete’s physical, mental, or emotional health.
  • Is an action taken or situation created that is excessive and unreasonable within the context of the group, organization or team. Every athletic team has specific roles, responsibilities, processes and rituals that are specific and important to that team. Coaches, administrators, support staff, captains and teammates need to be clear in the role and purpose of each of those specific acts and actions, and how they translate to success in competition and healthy student-athlete development on and off the field.

Wake Forest Athletics Hazing Prevention

To ensure a safe and developmental student-athlete experience, Wake Forest University founded the Athletics Hazing Working Group (AHWG). As part of a collaborative approach utilizing resources from across the institution, the AHWG has made the following progress to date:

  • Worked alongside the Dean of Students to establish a new University Hazing Policy and to create alignment and clarity across campus on the topic of hazing prevention.
  • Updated the Student-Athlete Handbook and all Team Rules with the approved hazing policy.
  • Enhanced training and educational materials and at all Fall sport “Beginning of the Year” Meetings. Training included a review of the new policy and sharing of relevant examples of hazing behavior within intercollegiate athletics nationally that would be prohibited by the new policy.
  • Created a new “University Athletics” section of the Wake Forest University Hazing Prevention website.
  • Revised hazing prevention training modules for each team within Wake Forest Athletics
  • Joined the inaugural University Hazing Prevention Coalition.
  • Focused on hazing prevention as part of the Fall semester Student-Athlete Advisory Council experience.

Hazing vs. Team Building (NCAA):

Hazing Team Building
Humiliates and DegradesPromotes Respect
Tears Down Individuals Supports and Empowers
Creates Division Creates Real Teamwork
Lifelong Nightmares Lifelong Memories
Shame and Secrecy Pride and Integrity
Power Trip Shared Positive Experience

Hazing Prevention Discussion Questions for any Team (NCAA):

Why is it that you chose to participate in athletics? You chose to be involved with athletics to:

  • Challenge yourself physically and emotionally
  • Enjoy the excitement of competition
  • Develop friendships and the camaraderie of teammates
  • Set goals and work toward accomplishment
  • Enhance one’s self-confidence and pride
  • Build on the value of community
  • Enjoy the experience and have fun

What do you think will be the most positive outcome of your participation?

  • The most positive, lasting outcomes of athletics are the relationships established through mutual respect with teammates and coaches, which last a lifetime.

What do you know about traditions and why do they exist?

  • Traditions are time-honored acts that repeat the customs and beliefs of a culture. They are honorable and instill a sense of pride in its members. 

What purpose does an initiation serve and what place does it have in athletics?

  • Initiations are designed to instruct new members in the principles of an organization. They are ceremonial in nature and often carry a spiritual significance, and should be instructive. By joining an athletic team, one should expect to learn customs and procedures but should never have to prove his or her right to be respected and treated with dignity at all times. 

What do you believe that the hazing of a teammate or yourself accomplishes?

  • Hazing does not bond a team; quite the opposite, it tears it apart. 
  • Hazing does not instill pride in the team … It humiliates the victims and the team. 
  • Hazing does not allow freedom of choice to participate; it creates an environment of expectations, leaving the victim powerless to choose.

Student-athlete Hazing – National Statistics:

  • 74% of Student Athletes Experience Hazing (Allen & Madden, 2008)
  • In 25% of hazing experiences, students believed coaches and/or advisors were aware of the activities (Allen & Madden, 2008)
  • 50% of the female NCAA Division I athletes reported being hazed (Allen & Madden, 2008)

Myths About Hazing Within Athletics:

  • Hazing and initiation are essential for team building: The opposite is true. Isolating rookies negatively affects athlete and team cohesion. Activities focused on working towards a common goal increase team belonging and togetherness. 
  • The concept of hazing is such a gray area. Any activity can be considered hazing: It’s all about how an activity is structured. Refer back to the hazing policy and ask yourself if the activity in question is likely to cause mental or physical stress, embarrassment, harassment, or ridicule. 
  • If someone agrees to participate in an activity, it can’t be considered hazing: Consent is not a defense for hazing.
  •  Hazing teaches respect and discipline: Respect is something that is earned, not forced. Hazing reinforces the existing hierarchical team structure and places the person(s) being hazed at the bottom. 
  • Hazing is okay as long as it is not physically dangerous: Hazing can lead to severe mental and emotional damage that can last even longer than physical injuries, with the most severe cases creating a risk of suicide. 

Hazing Reporting Form

The Hazing Reporting Form is an in-depth way for anybody to share information regarding acts or actions that may constitute hazing. This online form allows an active bystander to share information in as much detail as possible. University staff review and follow up on any information that comes in via the Hazing Reporting Form.

The Hazing Hotline – 336.758.HAZE (4293) is a voicemail service that allows any member of the campus community to leave a message. Though not a live service, The Hazing Hotline is reviewed by University staff on a daily basis. 

Anonymous Reporting via RealResponse

RealResponse offers a feature that allows student-athletes to submit an anonymous report at any time. This enables student-athletes to report issues or concerns that they do not feel comfortable discussing with a coach or administrator 24/7. As a third-party resource, RealResponse strictly protects the confidentiality of all responses, so reports will remain anonymous unless the student-athlete chooses to self-identify. Reports will be received and reviewed by a WFU athletics administrator who may respond, if necessary, through the RealResponse system, which protects the student-athlete’s identity and keeps all follow-up responses anonymous as well. Reports may be shared with other Athletics or University administrators, when necessary, to address specific problems or concerns.

To report an issue or concern, simply text “Report an Issue” to 66595 and you will immediately receive a link you can use to make an anonymous report. Student-athletes can also access the “Report an Issue” feature by logging into their RealResponse account and clicking on “Report an Issue.”