The Dangers of Hazing and Bullying | Kathleen Wiant | TEDxDayton

The practice of hazing, as a subset of bullying, is a subject few ever hear about unless it results in a death that makes it newsworthy. Kathleen knows this intimately, having lived the nightmare of being awoken to the news of her son’s death at college due to hazing. Through sharing her heartbreaking experience, Kathleen brings to light the hidden dynamics of hazing and its deceptively slow build. She shows how the twisting of consent and the use of shame work to keep hazing victims silent, and how it will take courage from authority figures, peers, and family members to help victims avoid the abusive consequences of hazing. Kathleen Wiant, mother of five children, had her world change forever in November 2018 when her 18-year-old son, Collin, died from fraternity hazing at Ohio University. This motivated her to learn about hazing and in the process, she discovered a critical remedy for it…courage. She now speaks at universities across the country to share her findings and lobbies for anti-hazing legislation on a national level. She is also progressing with Ohio’s anti-hazing & anti-bullying law, Collin’s Law. Kathleen has spent her career in professional training and leadership development. As a board member of The Collin Wiant Foundation, she is passionate about its mission to “bring more Kindness Courage to the world.” This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at