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Former FAMU administrator creates anti-hazing hotline

The "hazing hotline" launched back in April.
www.antihaze.com
The "hazing hotline" launched back in April.

The arrest of 11 people in the death of a Florida A&M University band drum major has brought the issue of hazing even more into the national spotlight. Now Lynn Hatter reports, a retired Florida A&M University professor believes she has found a way to help colleges and universities deal with hazing within campus organizations.

Most hazing happens OFF of campus, and to an extent, colleges and universities are limited in what they can control. But Dr. Barbara Barnes, a retired FAMU administrator, had an idea. She created a hazing hotline.

“We have three components, alert, alarm and reporting. Most of the existing hotlines only have a reporting component.”

Students can report incidents anonymously, and acts as a referral service to law enforcement and university administrators to help them track hazing incidents, planned or in-progress.  Barnes says since creating the hotline, she’s been in talks with universities around the nation who are showing interest in the service since it launched in April.

The number is 1-855-NOHAZIN

Follow @HatterLynn

Lynn Hatter is a Florida A&M University and Florida State University graduate with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and a master's in Professional Communication. Lynn has been with WFSU since 2007 with education and health care issues as her key coverage areas.  She has worked with several organizations, including Kaiser Health News.  Lynn has also partnered with USC-Annenberg's Center for Child Wellbeing on the nationally acclaimed series "Committed," which explored the prevalence of involuntary commitment use on children.
She serves on the board of RTDNA and the United Way of the Big Bend, with previous service on the board of the First Amendment Foundation of Florida.

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