Hazing, bullying and how to stop them

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Members of the Florida A&M University band lead a horse drawn carriage carrying the casket of fellow band member Robert Champion following his funeral service on Nov. 30, in Decatur, Ga. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

Hour 2

A number of hazing-related deaths have made headlines in recent months. Florida A&M University drum major Robert Champion died within an hour of a hazing ritual, according to the state medical examiner, that involved “multiple blunt trauma blows to the body.” And eight soldiers in Afghanistan have been charged with involvement in the death of Army private Danny Chen, who was allegedly driven to suicide after being hazed and bullied by follow soldiers. This hour we examine hazing – what is it, why people participate as both perpetrator and victim, and how schools and organizations can combat it.  First New York Time’s columnist CHARLES BLOW reflects on his experience with hazing from his college years — he wrote an op-ed on it.  Then ELIZABETH ALLAN, an associate professor of Higher Education at the University of Maine, Orono, discusses why hazing is still so prevalent on campuses today. Finally, we take a look at hazing in the military with author HANK NUWER, an associate professor of journalism at Franklin College.

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[audio: 010512_110630.mp3]

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