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 Rhode Island, hazing is explicitly prohibited and considered a criminal offense under state law. The Rhode Island General Laws § 11-21-1 defines hazing as any conduct or method of initiation into any student organization that recklessly or intentionally endangers the mental or physical health of any student or other person. This includes, but is not limited to, the activities listed in the provided description such as forced consumption of alcohol or drugs, sleep deprivation, and acts of humiliation. Penalties for hazing can range from fines to imprisonment, depending on the severity of the act and whether it resulted in bodily injury. Additionally, educational institutions in Rhode Island are required to adopt policies against hazing, and failure to enforce these policies can result in further legal consequences. Victims of hazing also have the right to pursue civil remedies against the perpetrators and potentially the organization involved.