--- title: College hazing in the Midwest description: "Hot coals, lap dances, and sleep deprivation: 113 hazing incidents reported across Midwest college campuses since 2025" image: https://hub.hazinginfo.org/hubfs/Kansas%20State.png --- [Skip to content](https://hub.hazinginfo.org/blog/college-hazing-in-the-midwest#main-content) [![UpdatedHlogo](https://hub.hazinginfo.org/hs-fs/hubfs/UpdatedHlogo.png?width=2300&height=500&name=UpdatedHlogo.png "UpdatedHlogo")](https://www.hazinginfo.org/) - [Home](https://www.hazinginfo.org/) - [All Posts](https://hub.hazinginfo.org/blog) ![A large billboard near a stadium displays the words "Welcome to K-State" with a purple background.](https://hub.hazinginfo.org/hubfs/Kansas%20State.png) # College hazing in the Midwest ![Jolayne Houtz](https://hub.hazinginfo.org/hubfs/jolayne%20head%20shot.png) [Jolayne Houtz October 8, 2026](https://hub.hazinginfo.org/blog/author/jolayne-houtz) - [Fraternity hazing](https://hub.hazinginfo.org/blog/tag/fraternity-hazing) - [Hazing laws](https://hub.hazinginfo.org/blog/tag/hazing-laws) - 7 mins ## Hot coals, lap dances, and sleep deprivation: 113 hazing incidents reported across Midwest college campuses since 2025 *Editor’s note: This is part of our series of regional snapshots examining how campuses are responding to the new federal law requiring hazing transparency.* *[![\Search your campus on HazingInfo >\](https://hubspot-no-cache-na2-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/cta/default/45705208/interactive-329889467083.png)](https://hub.hazinginfo.org/hs/cta/wi/redirect?encryptedPayload=AVxigLK1Wkw6uSXdRd2snpaUNxlhQpt4bbOUnTRJ1bUo1G8ojxUOGXw5bf3O5o2U3gN3geQa2ONOySi9MzrBqqo34OnfvgdrLGb1I8wxASKnBb6NmefGQxOmejtMOI%2Fvkl%2BA4q%2BFxuoHzNDrAEtayM%2BH%2FENFjAS2Q3Bk7p1RF0znscZtYFu6Ai3g%2Fc9Rl6Srkq0%2BtuafhgY3qJ6lqg5o8r8tlA%3D%3D&webInteractiveContentId=329889467083&portalId=45705208)* Would you walk across hot coals for your brother? That’s what potential new members had to do to join Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity at [Kansas State University](https://www.hazinginfo.org/institution-page/hazing-kansas-state-university/r/recabhB42XvH5U0al) last year. Pledges were also beaten and paddled as part of their initiation. The chapter was suspended but can apply to come back to campus in three years. Kansas State has already spelled out the specific steps the fraternity needs to complete to become a recognized student organization again. That was one of 113 hazing incidents reported by 50 colleges and universities across the Midwest in the past year, according to HazingInfo’s review of campus websites in the region. ### **Kansas campuses are the least transparent about hazing** The state of Kansas had the worst record for hazing transparency among 12 Midwestern states reviewed. Kansas reported seven hazing incidents in the past year — four at the [University of Kansas](https://www.hazinginfo.org/institution-page/hazing-university-of-kansas/r/recvqHQQf8z7bEpEY) and three at Kansas State. Only 29% of Kansas’s 24 colleges and universities publish updated hazing incident records. ![Mid-west chart](https://hub.hazinginfo.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Mid-west%20chart.png?width=1700&height=1700&name=Mid-west%20chart.png) Source: HazingInfo Ohio was the most transparent in the region, with 77% of its campuses sharing their reports on hazing incidents. Ohio was closely followed by Wisconsin at 76%. Kansas colleges and universities also came in last for sharing basic hazing information with the public. Nearly 40% of campuses provide no hazing information at all on their websites — no hazing record, policy, or online method to report hazing. In Ohio, all 65 higher education institutions provide at least some online information about hazing. Across the Midwest, just over half of its colleges and universities are fully transparent about hazing, according to HazingInfo’s review. Our analysis found that 55% of the 380 Midwest colleges and universities have published an updated hazing incident record, while 17% provide no hazing information at all. Under federal law, every US college and university must publish a Campus Hazing Transparency Report on its website documenting hazing violations starting on July 1, 2025. The law does not specifically require a report until there has been a formal finding of a hazing violation following an investigation. But advocates and prevention experts urge every campus to be fully transparent about hazing, whether there has been a formal finding or not. ### **University of Michigan has the highest total number of hazing reports** ![campus inset](https://hub.hazinginfo.org/hs-fs/hubfs/campus%20inset.png?width=325&height=406&name=campus%20inset.png)Michigan reported 29 hazing incidents in the past year, the highest among the 12 Midwestern states. Twenty-two of those cases were at the [University of Michigan-Ann Arbor](https://www.hazinginfo.org/institution-page/hazing-university-of-michiganann-arbor/r/rec0gVBXIjQEfFKID), the state’s largest research university. That included hazing incidents involving multiple fraternities that required pledges to share their meal plan code with members so they could eat for free. Other incidents involved multiple sororities requiring new members to receive lap dances from new fraternity members. Campus hazing incidents also involved coerced alcohol consumption, sleep deprivation, and public humiliation. The men’s water polo and women’s gymnastics were also found to have violated the University of Michigan’s hazing policy in separate incidents. ### **21 hazing cases in Indiana** Indiana reported 21 hazing cases in the past year at seven of its college campuses, with 59% of its schools reporting. [Indiana University](https://www.hazinginfo.org/institution-page/hazing-indiana-universitybloomington/r/recaot6Ij1xGIkYER)’s main campus in Bloomington had the most hazing incidents with eight. But the way it shares that information is confusing. Its Campus Hazing Transparency Report page says there were no hazing reports for [Fall 2025](https://stophazing.iu.edu/transparency-report/index.html) and hasn’t been updated since. A [separate webpage](https://studentlife.indiana.edu/care-advocacy/dean-of-students/disciplinary-status.html) lists multiple student organizations on various types of disciplinary status as recently as last month. It provides no details about each hazing incident, despite the law’s requirement to provide a general description. Other Indiana campuses reporting hazing incidents were [Ball State University](https://www.hazinginfo.org/institution-page/hazing-ball-state-university/r/recJNw5On7s2VRgAN), where hazing at Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity left one member hospitalized with injuries; [Goshen College](https://www.hazinginfo.org/institution-page/hazing-goshen-college/r/rectMXCdCYnKsrOK9), a small private college where members of the baseball team were required to engage in simulated sex acts; and [Purdue University](https://www.hazinginfo.org/institution-page/hazing-purdue-universitymain-campus/r/recEnWu5D6Cm8BTni), which provided no details about its six reported hazing incidents. ### **Hazing in other Midwestern states** **Illinois** reported nine hazing incidents, including two at tiny [Augustana College](https://www.hazinginfo.org/institution-page/hazing-augustana-college/r/recSm3bYBkidL7AOo) and two at [Western Illinois University](https://www.hazinginfo.org/institution-page/hazing-western-illinois-university/r/reco9RXtvXeG8ybF8). Neither [Southern Illinois University in Edwardsville](https://www.hazinginfo.org/institution-page/hazing-southern-illinois---universityedwardsville/r/recUl6muhiXyHNTI4) nor the [University of Chicago](https://www.hazinginfo.org/institution-page/hazing-university-of-chicago/r/recegxt24XHp8DNeI), both large research universities, publishes a Campus Hazing Transparency Report. **Iowa** reported four hazing incidents. Three were at the [University of Iowa](https://www.hazinginfo.org/institution-page/hazing-university-of-iowa/r/recYO7L48jX8qSLhB) (two fraternities, one sorority) and the fourth involved the baseball team at [Luther College](https://www.hazinginfo.org/institution-page/hazing-luther-college/r/recQWsrniWwEOAqQs), a small private school. **Minnesota** schools reported three hazing incidents: Two at [Augsburg University](https://www.hazinginfo.org/institution-page/hazing-augsburg-university/r/rec9oPBnKIgr1mRHV) involving its men’s baseball and soccer teams, and one at Phi Sigma Kappa fraternity at the [University of Minnesota-Twin Cities](https://www.hazinginfo.org/institution-page/hazing-university-of-minnesotatwin---cities/r/recAUHweb1tkwwuJN). **Missouri** reported nine hazing incidents spread across seven campuses. The state has among the lowest number of schools reporting, with 36% posting a Campus Hazing Transparency Report. [Culver-Stockton College](https://www.hazinginfo.org/institution-page/hazing-culverstockton-college/r/rec2F2YY8XENEITMm), a small private school, reported two incidents involving its football team and Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity. [Truman State University](https://www.hazinginfo.org/institution-page/hazing-truman-state-university/r/recmE8km3nPMVTweh), a small public university, also reported two incidents, one at Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity and another at Delta Zeta sorority. **Nebraska** reported five hazing incidents, including four at the [University of Nebraska-Lincoln](https://www.hazinginfo.org/institution-page/hazing-university-of-nebraskalincoln/r/reccQd8pi4rogdphX). One fraternity, Pi Kappa Phi, was cited twice for hazing within four months for similar behaviors like forcing new members to excessively clean the chapter house. The chapter lost recognition until 2029. **North Dakota** reported one hazing violation at [North Dakota State](https://www.hazinginfo.org/institution-page/hazing-north-dakota-state-universitymain---campus/r/rec7VpEwD1HX26ahE) involving its Bison Dance Team for forcing members to participate in an outdoor activity for multiple hours while exposed to the weather and windchill of 38°F without being allowed to wear coats or hats. **Ohio** campuses reported 20 hazing incidents. That included five at [The Ohio State University](https://www.hazinginfo.org/institution-page/hazing-ohio-state-universitymain-campus/r/reckkGs0iYrZChQkg) involving three fraternities, one sorority, and a coed professional organization focused on aviation. At [Ohio Northern University](https://www.hazinginfo.org/institution-page/hazing-ohio-northern-university/r/recctmLk73jWsiyd4), a student reported a possible hazing case involving a friend who belonged to the theater fraternity Theta Alpha Phi. Security footage reviewed by staff showed new members being blindfolded and yelled at while someone banged a garbage can to create loud noises. The [University of Dayton](https://www.hazinginfo.org/institution-page/hazing-university-of-dayton/r/recb1iPsgwMjqLRwF) reported three incidents that led to three students being hospitalized for overconsumption of alcohol. In **Wisconsin**, five hazing incidents were reported by three campuses, including three incidents at the [University of Wisconsin-Whitewater](https://www.hazinginfo.org/institution-page/hazing-university-of-wisconsinwhitewater/r/recWWUBcCpfzruu01) involving two fraternities and one sorority. The investigation of the incident at Delta Chi fraternity found students had trash and liquids poured on them and were driven around with their heads covered and music blaring at high volume. **South Dakota** was the only Midwestern state that reported no hazing incidents on its 11 campuses. But only four of those 11 institutions published a Campus Hazing Transparency Report. It’s impossible to say how many hazing incidents might have gone unreported. #### Read HazingInfo's series of regional snapshots investigating college hazing in[Western states](https://hub.hazinginfo.org/blog/college-hazing-in-the-west), [New England](https://hub.hazinginfo.org/blog/college-hazing-in-new-england), the [Mountain West](https://hub.hazinginfo.org/blog/college-hazing-in-the-mountain-west), the [Mid-Atlantic](https://hub.hazinginfo.org/blog/college-hazing-in-the-mid-atlantic), and the [South](https://hub.hazinginfo.org/blog/college-hazing-in-the-south). ![Jolayne Houtz](https://hub.hazinginfo.org/hubfs/jolayne%20head%20shot.png) ### Jolayne Houtz Jolayne Houtz is the founder of HazingInfo.org. ## Latest posts - [ALL POSTS](https://hub.hazinginfo.org/blog/all) [![A large billboard near a stadium displays the words "Welcome to K-State" with a purple background.](https://hub.hazinginfo.org/hubfs/Kansas%20State.png)](https://hub.hazinginfo.org/blog/college-hazing-in-the-midwest) [Fraternity hazing](https://hub.hazinginfo.org/blog/tag/fraternity-hazing) [Hazing laws](https://hub.hazinginfo.org/blog/tag/hazing-laws) Thu, Oct 8, 2026 ### [College hazing in the Midwest](https://hub.hazinginfo.org/blog/college-hazing-in-the-midwest) [![A diverse group of college students sits in a classroom, checking their cell phones.](https://hub.hazinginfo.org/hubfs/Auburn%20(1).png)](https://hub.hazinginfo.org/blog/new-hazing-data-2026-27) [HazingInfo.org Updates](https://hub.hazinginfo.org/blog/tag/hazinginfo-org-updates) Wed, Sep 30, 2026 ### [New hazing data for 2026-27](https://hub.hazinginfo.org/blog/new-hazing-data-2026-27) --- Contact us:  [info@hazinginfo.org](mailto:info@hazinginfo.org) [Contact form](https://www.hazinginfo.org/contact-us) ## [Subscribe to our newsletter](https://www.hazinginfo.org/newsletter-sign-up)   HazingInfo.org PO Box 40003, Bellevue, WA 98015 --- - [Privacy](https://www.hazinginfo.org/privacy-policy) [Follow us on Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/hazinginfo) [Follow us on LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/99420445) [Follow us on Twitter](https://www.instagram.com/hazinginfo) [Follow us on Facebook](https://www.youtube.com/@HazingInfo) [Follow us on Facebook](https://hub.hazinginfo.org/blog/info@hazinginfo.org) [Follow us on Facebook](https://www.hazinginfo.org/) ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Jolayne Houtz", "url" : "https://hub.hazinginfo.org/blog/author/jolayne-houtz" }, "dateModified" : "2026-10-08T17:41:37.386Z", "datePublished" : "2026-10-08T17:37:10.000Z", "headline" : "College hazing in the Midwest", "image" : [ "https://hub.hazinginfo.org/hubfs/Kansas%20State.png" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://hub.hazinginfo.org/blog/college-hazing-in-the-midwest", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://hub.hazinginfo.org/hubfs/UpdatedHlogo.png" } } } ```