NBC News and MSNBC Report on 'Hazing in America' in New Special Series

NBC News will investigate the hazing epidemic facing colleges and universities with a new special "Hazing in America" series across all broadcast and digital platforms - including "TODAY," "NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt," MSNBC, NBCNews.com - beginning this Monday, Sept. 18, the first day of National Hazing Prevention Week.

Leveraging its UNRIVALED multi-platform presence, NBC News will collectively report on how hazing affects more than half of college and university students involved in clubs, sports teams and organizations, according to HazingPrevention.org.

On Monday, "TODAY" will feature a discussion on the plaza with the Piazza family, whose son died during a pledge event at Penn State University this year, as well as their lawyer. Reps. Patrick Meehan (R-Pa.) and Marcia Fudge (D-Ohio), co-sponsors of the Report and Educate about Campus Hazing (REACH) Act, will also join the conversation, led by Savannah Guthrie and Matt Lauer. Kate Snow will also report for "TODAY" on the state of hazing in America, including what college parents and students navigating the Greek system need to know.

On "NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt," Kristen Dahlgren will speak with the parents of a Penn State student who committed suicide after being hazed and then having to haze pledges himself. A grand jury previously dismissed a link between hazing and the suicide, but now another grand jury is deciding whether there is a connection.

MSNBC will feature reporting on hazing and feature special guests, including lawmakers involved on the issue.

NBCNews.com will feature all series content on NBCNews.com/Hazing, including an interactive map on each state's hazing laws, original stories and videos as well as a livestream of Monday's "TODAY" plaza conversation. NBC News' social media platforms will also feature content from "Hazing in America," including custom Snaps with stories featuring victims of hazing.

More than 10,000 Americans participated in an NBC News|SurveyMonkey online poll about hazing on college campuses and whether it can be effectively eliminated. Poll numbers will be released Monday morning.

Tune in next week as NBC News and MSNBC examine the hazing epidemic across all broadcast and digital platforms during National Hazing Prevention Week.

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