Welcome: Hank Nuwer Unofficial Hazing Deaths Clearinghouse
The Hazing Deaths Unofficial Clearinghouse page tracks U.S. and International hazing deaths. Moderator Hank Nuwer, an adjunct professor at the University of Alaska (Fairbanks), investigates all suspected deaths. The goal of this site is to work toward solutions-based answers to eradicate behaviors associated with tragedies. This site tracks ongoing legislation and scholarly insights into hazing prevention. The goal of the moderator is to work along with many other educators to achieve a positive impact on a longstanding social problem in education.Videos
University of Alaska (Fairbanks) adjunct professor Hank Nuwer’s research has found one or more deaths a year occurred in the U.S. each year from 1959 to 2025. Use the banner at the top of this page to locate hazing-related world deaths, occupational deaths, military deaths, high school deaths and deaths in adult secret societies (Masonic, etc.) since the colonial era.
Breaking News: Former Northwestern football coach Pat Fitzgerald is cleared of all hazing allegations that caused his dismissal.
More recent work by University of Alaska (Fairbanks) adjunct professor Hank Nuwer: see a new forward published in Cultures of Sport Hazing and Ant-Hazing Initiatives for the 21st Century published by editors Jay Johnson and Jessica W. Chin. See alsoHazing in Fraternities and Sororities by Elizabeth Allan and Nuwer in the recent Gender-Based Crime edited by Kathleen A. Bogle.
Bio: The State University of New York (Buffalo State University) awarded Hank Nuwer an honorary Doctor of Human Letters for his work and writings on hazing. Nuwer is a longtime member of IRE (Investigative Reporters & Editors), SPJ (Society of Professional Journalists), and Phi Kappa Phi & Alpha Lambda Delta National Academic Honor Societies. His master’s degree is from New Mexico Highlands University. He is an adjunct professor at the University of Alaska, Fairbanks.
He writes, in addition, about subjects other than hazing: He was awarded first place 2023 and 2024 Alaska Press Club Columnist of Year and 2023 second place best Humor Column; 2022 Ohio SPJ First Place small market Columnist of the Year and 3rd place, 2022 SPJ Indiana column that year, and 2025 Hoosier Press Association small-market Commentary of the Year.
Other involvements:
Ball State University Journalism Hall of Fame (2010).
Buffalo State University Athletic Hall of Fame (team award); 2024.
Alaska Children’s Trust 2024 Champion.
He has written about participatory magazine journalism assignments he’s done, including playing baseball three different times against professional and top amateur teams (Denver Bears, Indianapolis Clowns, New York Mutuals); rodeo bullriding, discus throwing with Olympian Al Oerter, and skydiving with Hall of Fame champion Jay Stokes.
Nuwer has received NEA, Nevada Humanities, Idaho Humanities and Franklin College Scholar grants. Now a Franklin College professor emeritus of journalism, he twice was named FC scholar of the year.
Hank Nuwer Papers: Hank Nuwer hazing archives page at Buffalo State University (SUNY Hank Nuwer Hazing Research Collection): at https://library.buffalostate.edu/archives/nuwer
Read Hank Nuwer’s weekly columns without cost at Real Alaska Daily (Realalaskadaily.com)
2025-2026 Update: University of Alaska (Fairbanks) adjunct professor Hank Nuwer’s Hazing Deaths Database Clearinghouse information is now available at HazingInfo.org, where you can access, interact with, and download data on all recorded hazing deaths from 1838 to the present. HazingInfo, the University of Washington Information School, and the University of Maine are pleased to announce that Nuwer’s hazing deaths database is available on the HazingInfo.org website.