Database of hazing victims now available, thanks to University of Maine

ORONO, Maine (WMTW) - A new, online database is now sharing the stories of hundreds of people who died in hazing incidents across the United States, thanks in part to the University of Maine.

“The hazing deaths database is invaluable as it illuminates the horrendous consequences of hazing for so many individuals, families, and communities,” said UMaine professor Elizabeth Allan, who leads the Hazing Prevention Research Lab in the UMaine College of Education and Human Development and is the founder of the research organization StopHazing.

UMaine worked with HazingInfo.org, the University of Washington and award-winning journalist Hank Nuwer to research the information and develop the first-of-its-kind digital memorial and searchable database.

The researchers found at least 333 young people have died from hazing in the United States since 1838, with 122 deaths since 2000.

The project is also being used to raise awareness about the consequences of hazing.

“The secrecy and silence that often surround hazing are barriers to change. Making the tragedies more visible to the public is a necessary step toward prevention,” Allan said.

The data shows an average of two hazing deaths per year between 1838 and 2025, but since 2000, that has increased to an average of five hazing deaths per year.

Ten is the highest number of hazing deaths recorded in a single year, occurring in 2002, 2012 and 2019.