With scavenger hunts i can see a complaint being too fold.

The first is the items required to obtain. My freshman year, I saw a list a group (not sure if it was a fraternity or what) had to obtain. Some were harmless items like a pink Q-tip or a High School Photo of a girl. Others were not so harmless or innocent. This could be consider (in extreme) hazing because you maybe putting someone under physical deress because they don't like confrontational sitations ("begging" for items) or public embarrisment due to the content of the list. Hazing could also occur based on the outcome of the scavenger hunt - ie punishment if all items are not obtained with in a certain time frame, or for the last group that turns in a completed list.

The second would be more of a liability issue. Someone getting hurt while wondering about the streets either on foot or car. Getting an abusive response (physical or mental) from someone the group asks. etc.

Now with that said. I disagree that scavenger hunts should be included as hazing in such a generalized form. I participated in a scavenger hunt as part of initiation with an honor society. The purpose of the hunt was to aquaint the group with the history of the college and locations of refrence items and labs for my major. In no way have i ever seen or consider this hazing.

artimis