Accomplishments
2024: Hazing Database read into Congressional Record in support of federal legislation siged by Joe Biden: Video: Congresswoman Lucy McBath of Georgia reads names of hazing victims into Congressional Record
2024: First Place, Best Column, Alaska Press Association. 2024: Second Place, Best Media humorist, Alaska Press Association.
My work is covered by the Washington Post, New York Times, NPR, CNN and leading media outlets in Great Britain, Brazil, Portugal, Russia, Ireland, Sweden, Brazil, Mexico, etc. NewsNation sample viewable at https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1471877203266247
NPR sample broadcast at https://www.npr.org/2021/05/04/993571141/as-campus-life-resumes-so-does-concern-over-hazing
CBS Sunday Morning example: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/seeking-an-end-to-hazing-deaths/
Another CBS Sunday Morning Example (2021): https://www.cbsnews.com/news/grieving-parents-tell-the-stories-of-children-lost-to-hazing/
Criminal Behaviorology Podcast: Hazing (April 23, 2024). https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/criminalbehaviorology
2021: First Place, Ohio SPJ small-market columnist of year. https://www.ohiospjawards.org/2021-winner-videos/
2020: Northeast Greek Adviser (NGLA) Association created the annual Hank Nuwer Award for excellence in student programming to combat campus hazing. https://www.ngla.org/individual-awards
2018: Induction into Buffalo State University’s Athletics Hall of Fame. https://buffalostateathletics.com/honors/hall-of-fame/mens-soccer-team-1967/209
2017 and 2007: Voted Franklin College Scholar of the Year by committee. Nominated three times as an outstanding adviser at Franklin College. Nominated three times as outstanding teacher at Franklin College. Received four research grants from F.C.
2013: Awarded a fellowship from the SUNY Buffalo State Anne Frank Project in a national competition. Performed my one-person play “A Broken Pledge.”
2011: A documentary on hazing that I, in part, narrated won the CINE Golden Eagle Award.
2010: Elected to Ball State University Journalism Hall of Fame.
2006 to present year: HazingPrevention.Org named its annual Antihazing Award the Hank Nuwer Antihazing Award. Winners have included nationally known activists Lianne Kowiak and Jim Piazza, as well as former NFL player Peyton Manning. https://hazingpreventionnetwork.org/hank-nuwer-anti-hazing-hero-award/
2006: Received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters as author and humanitarian, State University of New York. Commencement speaker for graduate students with main speaker Hillary Rodham Clinton speaking to Buffalo State undergraduates.
2003: New York State Public Library named “To the Young Writer” a “Recommended Young Adult Book of the Year” in ceremonies held in NYC.
2002: Society of Professional Journalists “Best Business Article,” Third Place. Investigative environmental journalism story on Alaska’s coal ash issues.
1999: Named Buffalo State University’s Outstanding Alumnus.
1989: Named College Media Advisers national outstanding student magazine adviser. https://collegemedia.org/honor-roll-adviser-award/
1989: Named one of top ten outstanding journalism professors by the Poynter Institute.
1988: Named Ball State University’s “Outstanding Professor” in national CASE competition; also named Ball State media adviser of year, 1988.
1988: Awarded Gannett Foundation research grant to research Broken Pledges: The Deadly Rite of Hazing.
H. Nuwer Scholarship and Miscellaneous Publications
- Books and Book Chapters:
2024: Completing a contracted biography of author Kurt Vonnegut for Indiana University Press. Research nearly completed for an untitled “history of hazing” with a 2026 publication goal.
Nuwer, Hank. “Introduction” to Hazing in the New Millenia, edited by Jay Johnson, Emerald Press, 2024.
Nuwer, Hank and Elizabeth Allan, “Fraternity and Sorority Hazing” in Gender-Based Crime: Learning Through Experts and Cases, Cognella Academic Publishing, 2023.
Nuwer, Hank, ed. Hazing: Destroying Young Lives (Indiana University Press), 2018.
Nuwer, Hank. “Forward” in Building Up without Tearing Down: How to Cultivate Heroic Leadership in You and Your Organization by Chad Ellsworth (Aviva Publishing), 2018.
Nuwer, Hank and John Nicoletti, John. “Hazing” in Violence Goes to College, Thomas Publishers, third edition, 2018
Nuwer, Hank and Tracy Maxwell, “Hazing,” World Book Encyclopedia, 2014.
Nuwer, Hank. “Literary Journalism,” in Real Feature Writing by Abe Aamidor, (Taylor & Francis), 2014. See https://tinyurl.com/yc6z8sx6
Nuwer, Hank. Sons of the Dawn: A Basque Odyssey (Shalako Press), 2013.
Nuwer, Hank. “How the United States Failed to Deal with Ragging,” Times of India commentary, March 29, 2009.
Nuwer, Hank and Fraser Drew. One Long Wild Conversation, Buffalo State Library Press, 2009.
Nuwer, Hank. The Freelance Writer’s Desktop Companion (Alta Villa Publishing), 2009.
Nuwer, Hank (ed,). The Hazing Reader (Indiana University Press), 2004.
“Nuwer, Hank. At the Crest: A History of Cedar Crest (PA) College. (CC Alumni Press), 2004.
Nuwer, Hank. To the Young Writer. (Grolier/Franklin Watts), 2002.
Nuwer, Hank. “The Man Whose Soul Is Not for Sale: Jim Harrison,” in DeMott, Robert, Conversations with Jim Harrison, University Press of Mississippi, 2002.
Nuwer Hank, “Broken Pledges” essay in Hallman Bryant, Understanding a Separate Peace, Greenwood Press, 2001.
Nuwer, Hank. “A Matter of Perception,” in David Mamet in Conversation, University of Michigan Press, 2001.
Boon, Kevin Alexander. At Millennium’s End: New Essays on the Work of Kurt Vonnegut, SUNY Press, 2001.
Nuwer, Hank. How to Write Like an Expert About Anything (Writer’s Digest Books), 1995. WD Book of the Month.
Nuwer, Hank. Broken Pledges: The Deadly Rite of Hazing (Longstreet Press), 1990.
Nuwer, Hank. “Steroids” (Franklin Watts), 1990.
Nuwer, Hank, “Elbert Hubbard,” in Riley, Sam. “American Magazine Journalists,” (Detroit: Gale), No. 91, 1990.
Nuwer, Hank in Allen, William Rodney (ed.) Conversations with Kurt Vonnegut (University of Mississippi Press), 1989.
Nuwer, Hank. Rendezvousing with Contemporary Authors (Idaho State University Press), 1988.
Nuwer, Hank. “An Appreciation of Ezra Pound, Editor” in Rendezvous at the Ezra Pound Centennial Conference; (Idaho State University Press), 1986.
Nuwer, Hank. How to Write Like an Expert, Writers Digest Books, 1995.
Nuwer, Hank . Jack Schaefer Interview in Shane: The Critical Edition (University of Nebraska Press) by Work, James C. (ed.), 1984.
- Selected Publications and Papers:
2022: Nuwer, Hank. “Rituals of Toxic Masculinity: Hazing in the Old West as Viewed in Fiction, Art and Myth,” International Conference on the American Literary West,” October 3-5, 2022, University of the Basque Country, Vitoria, Spain.
2022: Nuwer, Hank. “Homeless” in the 2022 Edition of Limberlost Press’ The Limberlost Review.
Nuwer, Hank. Review of “True North” by Gary Eller, Western American Literature, University of Nebraska Press, Spring 2022. https://muse.jhu.edu/article/851217
Nuwer, Hank. Review of “Around the World in 80 Books” by David Damrosch, Phi Kappa Phi Forum, Summer 2022.
Nuwer, Hank. “Polonia,” a creative nonfiction essay in the 2021 edition of Limberlost Press’ The Limberlost Review, 2021. https://www.limberlostpress.com/complete-catalogue/p/2021-limberlost-review
Nuwer, Hank. “Clery Center Tax Records Report Embezzlement,” Thestatehousebureau.com, October 1, 2021.
Nuwer, Hank. “On Kurt Vonnegut,” a scholarly examination of Vonnegut published in the 2020 edition of Limberlost Press’ The Limberlost Review.
Nuwer, Hank. “Hazing in Fraternities and Sororities,” International Encyclopedia of the Social & Behavorial Sciences, 2nd ed., vol. 10, 2020.
Nuwer, Hank. “Garfield Park’s Confederate Monument in Perspective,” Thestatehousebureau.com, June 12, 2020.
Nuwer, Hank. “Hazing Abuses (by Guards) in U.S. Prisons,” The Prison Systems Review, Warsaw, Poland, 2020. Delivered first in 2019 as a paper at a University of Economics and Human Sciences conference in Warsaw.
Nuwer, Hank. “Brutal and Vicious Inmate Hazing in U.S. Prisons,” Paper delivered at Cardinal Stefan Wyszynski University of Warsaw conference on prison abuses and human trafficking2019.
Nuwer, Hank. Review of “Echeverria” by Gertrude Skivington, Western American Literature, University of Nebraska Press, Spring 2019.
Nuwer, Hank. “Poland Must Preserve Its Constitution,” Thestatehousebureau.com, July 5, 2018.
Nuwer, Hank. “Why Hazing Continues to Be a Rite of Passage, The Conversation, October 16, 2017.
Nuwer, Hank. “The Wrongs of Passage in Fraternity Hazing,” The Conversation, August 28, 2017.
Nuwer, Hank. “Hazing Death No Longer Shrugged off by Juries,” Thestatehousebureau.com, December 26, 2017.
Nuwer, Hank. “Penn State’s Tim Bream: Betrayed by the Brotherhood,” Thestatehousebureau.com, September 15, 2017.
Nuwer, Hank. “Penn State University’s Tarnished Lions,” Thestatehousebureau.com, September 4, 2017.
Nuwer, Hank. “Must the USA Endure 50 Years of Hazing Deaths?” Thestatehousebureau.com, “September 1, 2017.
Nuwer, Hank. “The European Commission Digs a Line in the Sand Against Poland,” Thestatehousebureau.com, July 26, 2017.
Nuwer, Hank. “Is Poland’s Departure from the European Union Inevitable?” Thestatehousebureau.com, July 26, 2017.
Nuwer, Hank. “Trump Fiddled while Democracy Burned in Poland,” Thestatehousebureau.com, July 21, 2017.
Nuwer, Hank. “Parent Alert: Check Out Your Kids’ Camp for Hazing Masked as Pranks,” Thestatehousebureau.com, July 5, 2017.
Nuwer, Hank. “A Quiet Protest to Raise Hazing Awareness,” Thestatehousebureau.com, June 23, 2017.
Nuwer, Hank. “Maurice Sendak Q & A” in Conversations with Maurice Sendak, edited by Peter C. Kunze (University Press of Mississippi), 2016.
Nuwer, Hank. “A Skull Session with Kurt Vonnegut” in Conversations with Kurt Vonnegut by Rodney Allen (ed.). University Press of Mississippi, 2015.
Nuwer, Hank. One-act play “A Broken Pledge” (Shalako Press). Performed twice at University of Cincinnati, once at Buffalo State College, three times at Franklin College, 2015.
Nuwer, Hank. “Challenges Being Made to Licensure Exam Following Educator Frustration, Thestatehousebureau.com, December 8, 2015.
Nuwer, Hank. “Elegy for an Indianapolis Mad Dog,” Thestatehousebureau.com, October 23, 2015.
Nuwer, Hank. “Seeing the Writing on the Wall,” Thestatehousebureau.com, October 7, 2015.
Nuwer, Hank. “On Not Judging by Appearances,” Thestatehousebureau.com, October 1, 2015.
Nuwer, Hank. “Unsafe at Any Speed: Volkswagen’s Emission Scandal,” Thestatehousebureau.com, September 24, 2015.
Nuwer, Hank. “Exclusionary Policies in the Old American West,” University of the Basque Country Western American Literature Conference. October 10, 2014.
Nuwer Hank. “How to Write a Query Letter,” in Feature & Magazine Writing by David Sumner and Holly G. Miller, Wiley-Blackwell, 2013.
Nuwer, Hank. “A Band Hazing May Forever Increase the Legal Consequences for Hazing Deaths,” Fraternal Law, January 2012.
Nuwer, Hank: “What’s the life of a dead fraternity pledge worth?–$1,000,” Orlando Sentinel op-ed, July 11, 2012.
Nuwer, Hank and Fraser Drew. One Long Wild Conversation, Buffalo State Library Press, 2009
Nuwer, Hank, “Book Review of Nicholas L. Syrett The Company He Keeps,” Men and Masculinities, July 20, 2010.
Nuwer, Hank., “Good Libations,” monthly wine and beverage column in Indianapolis Monthly, 2009-2010.
Nuwer, Hank. “Vonnegut’s Home Forever,” Indianapolis Star, April 13, 2007.
Nuwer, Hank, et al. “Interview with Norman Mailer” in Mailer, Norman. The Spooky Art: Some Thoughts on Writing, Random House, 2003.
Nuwer, Hank. “Canada” and “Northern Ireland” and “Sweden” entries in World Education Encyclopedia edited by Rebecca Marlow-Ferguson, Gale, 2002.
Nuwer, Hank. “Harry Crews Plays with Pain,” Perspectives on Harry Crews, University of Mississippi Press, 2001.
Nuwer, Hank. “The Coal Truth,” Indianapolis Monthly, June 2001. Indiana Society of Professional Journalists Award-Winning investigation. Shttps://tinyurl.com/mtjv78yy
Nuwer, Hank. “Hazing: Separating Rites from Wrongs,” American Legion Magazine, 1, 147, 2001.
Nuwer, Hank. High School Hazing. Scholastic, 2000.
Nuwer, Hank. “Greek Letters Don’t Justify Cultlike Hazing of Pledges,” Chronicle of Higher Education, November 26, 1999. https://www.chronicle.com/article/greek-letters-dont-justify-cult-like-hazing-of-pledges/
Nuwer, Hank. “The Writer Who Plays with Pain,” in Getting Naked with Harry Crews by Eric Bledsoe. University of Florida Press, 1999.
Nuwer, Hank. “Source Quotations” in The Process of Media Writing by Beverly Pitts, Allyn & Bacon, 1996.
Nuwer, Hank. “Lots of Pain, Any Gain?” New York Times Sunday Magazine, August 4, 1996.
Nuwer, Hank. “Comes a Horseman-Poet: An Interview with Henry Taylor” in The South Carolina Review, Fall 1994/Spring 1995.
Nuwer, Hank. Steroids, Impact Book, 1990.
Nuwer, Hank. “A Conversation with George Plimpton,” Ball State University Forum, Summer 1989.
Nuwer Hank, “Limitations and Infinities” in The Voiced Connections of James Dickey: Interviews and Conversations, Edited by Ronald Baughman (University of South Carolina Press), 1989.
Nuwer, Hank. “Tom Wolfe and the Agrarians” presented at Tom Wolfe Symposium, Randolph-Macon, 1988.
Nuwer, Hank. “A Skull Session with Kurt Vonnegut,” South Carolina Review, Spring 1987.
Nuwer, Hank. “Dead Souls of Hell Week” (with first-ever hazing death database), Human Behavior, Number 10, October 1978.
Nuwer, Hank. “Robinson Jeffers’ Influence on Walter Van Tilburg Clark” in Robinson Jeffers Newsletter, Number 44, March 1976.
Nuwer, Hank. “Ice Breaking” in Shoptalk (Kansas State University Freshman Composition periodical), 1976.
Nuwer, Hank. “Cannibal Imagery in King Lear,” University of Nevada Literary Studies, 1975.
Additional Information:
The Buffalo State Hank Nuwer Hazing Collection
Link to all Videos
Stopping bullying and hazing
Alternatives to hazing
Especially for Parents
End Hazing
Mike Ayalon and Hank Nuwer ponder the history of hazing
Gabe Cohen’s powerful look at state hazing laws