Hazing generally includes mistreatment of students or other persons (pledges or plebes) in a ritualistic or tradition-based way that must be endured by the prospective members to gain admission to a group, club, or organization. The members doing the hazing often attempt to justify these hazing practices by referring to them as a rite of passage or rationalizing that all current members had to endure it and new prospective members should as well.

Hazing can take many forms, including:

• Requiring victims to act as a personal servant to senior (older) group members

• Forcing victims to binge drink or consume large amounts of alcohol or drugs

• Requiring victims to engage in embarrassing acts, such as wearing a costume or sign around their neck in public

• Depriving victims of sleep, food, or the ability to use the restroom

• Prohibiting victims from associating with family, friends, or other persons

• Swearing or yelling insults at victims.

Most schools have policies against hazing and in many states hazing may be prosecuted as a criminal offense if it results in bodily injury.

In Kansas, hazing is addressed under state law and is considered a criminal offense. Kansas Statutes Annotated (K.S.A.) 21-5418 defines hazing as 'any action or situation, including harassing behavior, which recklessly or intentionally endangers the mental or physical health or safety of a student for the purpose of initiation or admission into or affiliation with any organization operating under the sanction of or recognized as an organization by an institution of higher education.' The law covers a range of activities that could potentially harm students physically or mentally, as described in the provided topic. Hazing is a Class B misdemeanor in Kansas when it does not result in bodily harm, and it can be elevated to a more serious charge if injury occurs. Educational institutions in Kansas typically have their own policies that prohibit hazing, which can lead to disciplinary actions independent of any criminal proceedings. It is important for individuals and organizations to understand that justifying hazing as a tradition or rite of passage does not exempt them from legal consequences.