Hazing Prevention at GW

GW HALT Hazing is a comprehensive safety and leadership initiative designed to empower GW students. HALT adopts a dual-focus approach to hazing prevention: psychological and physical dangers of hazing while equipping students with the medical literacy to prevent alcohol-related tragedies and the skills to transform their organizations with healthy, values-based new member programs. 

In line with Virginia’s Adam’s Law and in the spirit of promoting a shared vocabulary of safety and respect across campus, the program is mandatory for all potential new members, current members, and advisors of select student organizations. The program leverages award-winning curriculum from University of Virginia’s Gordie Center, which focuses on preventing hazing and substance misuse through peer education and bystander intervention. 

GW HALT seeks to ensure that every Revolutionary has the knowledge to protect themselves and the courage to protect each other.

MANDATORY ANTI-HAZING TRAINING REQUIREMENTS

To maintain active status, organizations identified as "Student Organizations with New Members" must ensure that 100% of the following individuals complete annual in-person training. These are defined as officially recognized organizations where individuals do not automatically become members upon invitation and must complete a "new member period" before full initiation. 

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is Adam’s Law?

Adam’s Law is a Virginia state mandate designed to prevent hazing and ensure the safety of students participating in campus organizations. The law requires that the George Washington University provide in-person anti-hazing training to all current members, potential new members, and advisors of organizations that maintain a selective membership process. Adam's Law is named for 19-year-old Virginia Commonwealth University first year student Adam Oakes, who died from alcohol poisoning during a 2021 fraternity initiation. 

Does this Apply to My Organization?

The legislation specifically targets “Student Organizations with New Members.” These are defined as officially recognized organizations where individuals do not automatically become members upon invitation and must complete a "new member period" before full initiation. The Division for Student Affairs uses questions during the annual re-registration process each year to determine which organizations must comply and provides notification to those organizations directly. If a student organization has any process where potential members are selected and must complete a period of time before being fully initiated, it is most likely subject to the in-person training requirements of Adam’s Law.  If you have questions about whether this educational requirement applies to your organization, please contact orghelpgwu [dot] edu (orghelp[at]gwu[dot]edu).

Consequences for Non-Compliance

GW requires a 100% completion rate for all potential new members, current members, and advisors. If an organization fails to obtain 100% compliance by the conclusion of the academic year, it will be placed on frozen status until members missing the training complete it. While frozen, the organization is prohibited from reserving campus space, accessing university funding, or conducting official operations until all missing members are trained. 

UNIVERSITY POLICY ON HAZING

Hazing is any actual, planned, or attempted act, whether or not the reported victims voluntarily participated in the act, if the act:

• is committed in the course of an initiation into, an affiliation with, or the maintenance of membership in, an organization or group, and
• creates more risk of physical or psychological injury than an individual would typically/reasonably encounter while participating in an organization or group.

The George Washington University is committed to promoting an educational environment where community members may participate in activities and organizations without compromising their health, safety, or welfare. The impact of hazing activities can result in irrevocable harm to their victims, victims' families, and the university community, and is therefore prohibited.  For full details on the policy and reporting options, visit our Anti-Hazing Policy overview.