Hazing at UNH

Pop quiz. A UNH organization was just suspended for hazing that involved underage drinking, saran wrap, blindfolds, and telling their subjects they weren't allowed to talk. Was this organization:

A) A fraternity
B) A sorority
C) Actually just members of my apartment
D) CommUNHiversity, the student organization dedicated to bettering the UNH community.

Ding! Ding! Ding! If you guessed (D), CommUNHiversity, you are right! You're either really good at picking out obvious irony or you remember the fact that they were under review and had to cancel their "UNH Best Dance Crew" event.

Thanks to an anonymous tipster, I was able to get the full PDF on the organization's disciplinary hearing. Although, it doesn't not say what exactly was done, the explanations to the charges and the board's rulings sheds some light onto the situation.

Since I can't upload the entire PDF to Blogger, below are the screen grabs of the entire document that I was sent. (Click to enlarge).

If you don't feel like reading through all of it, here are a few of the basics:

• Found responsible of hazing, coercion, intimidation, providing and use of alcohol for those underage and hosting a gathering where illegal drinking occured
• Younger members where blindfolded and saran wrapped by seniors and apparently put into cars that were said to be "speeding and swerving"
• Members could opt out, but they felt peer pressure not too
• They are on organizational suspension through May of 2012
• They are on probation through May of 2014
• They did not receive further penalties in fear that the organization would completely dissolve

So there you have it. Ask and you shall receive. It took a while for this report to come out and for me to get a hold of it, but thanks to a great source the entire UNH community can now see where CommUNHiversity went wrong. Honestly, I think that it is too bad that an organization like this, one dedicated to bettering the UNH community, improving school spirit and basically being all about UNH would pull off these events. CommUNHiversity has really grown since they started just a few years ago, I remember when it was just a Facebook group trying to get more students to attend basketball games and things like that. They put on UNH's Best Dance crew two years ago and it was great. Hopefully this won't be the demise of the organization, because it has potential to do great things on campus. Also, hopefully this will be a lesson to other organizations, if you haze and intimidate kids there is a decent chance that someone might turn you in. I'm sure stuff like this happens often (and I've heard of other things like this involving rush events), but it's almost too bad that this type of organization is the one that gets caught.

I'm sure some people will point a finger at whoever turned them in, but say what you want, hazing is a serious offense. And I don't buy it for a second that the leaders "didn't think it would be hazing." This has hazing written all over it, it is blatantly obvious.

According to the UNH Greek and MUB Hazing Prevention Agreement, which applies to all UNH organizations and teams: “Student hazing” is defined as “any act directed toward a student, or any coercion or intimidation of a student to act or to participate in an act, when (1) such act is likely or would be perceived by a reasonable person as likely to cause physical or psychological injury to any person; and (2) such act is a condition of initiation into, admission into, continued membership in or association with any organization.” The implied or expressed consent of any person toward whom an act of hazing is directed is not a defense to a charge under this anti-hazing statute.


Members weren't forced to do these things, but it is obvious there was at least some degree of intimidation and pressure involved. So other UNH organizations, think before you do things like this. Sure it may be all fun and games, but in the end, is it really worth it? Have fun and party, but leave it at that.

Stay classy, not UMassy.