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Hazing: see Policy Statement above.

Recognized Group or Organization: As defined in the University’s Group and Organization Recognition Policy. 

A broad range of behaviors may be considered hazing.  The range of activities cross a continuum from minor to more severe forms of conduct. Severity can be measured both by the level of pressure to engage in the conduct (expecting, encouraging, urging, requiring, coercing, forcing, etc.) and the type of the behavior involved (behavior that is very unlikely to cause physical or psychological harm to behavior that is very risky and almost always will result in some degree of harm).  Creating an expectation to participate in activities as a condition of joining, affiliating with, or maintaining membership in a group where harm could result is likely to be considered hazing.

University employees, as well as contractors, consultants, temporary employees, and volunteers with responsibilities for academic, extracurricular, research, occupational training, or other programs and activities sponsored by or affiliated with the University are required to report possible hazing incidents in a prompt and effective manner to University Police Services, as detailed in the contact information section of this Policy. Students and all other members of the University community are strongly encouraged to report possible hazing incidents as soon as possible to University Police Services.

The Chief of Police Services, or designee, will promptly take steps to investigate and respond to hazing reports consistent with the exercise of reasonable professional discretion, including the notification of responsible University administrators. Separate and apart from any determination by law enforcement as to whether alleged conduct meets the legal standard for hazing, incidents shall also be reviewed to determine whether the provisions of University policy have been violated, as outlined in the section titled "Administrative Response," below.

University Police Services may refer conduct that may constitute a violation of criminal law to appropriate law enforcement officials, subject to the requirements of governing law.

Individuals who are the target of hazing or who have knowledge of a hazing incident, but did not participate, and who truthfully report such activities shall not be individually charged with a violation of this or related conduct policies in relation to the alleged incident. 

When reviewing a case, consideration will be given to whether an organization or group has self-reported a hazing behavior and identified individuals who are responsible for the hazing to an appropriate University administrator, as contemplated in the Administrative Response section of this policy, or ¶¶Òõ̽̽ Police Services.

The University’s response to hazing allegations will occur through the processes outlined in the Code of Student Conduct, the Student Organization Misconduct Operating Procedure, the Student-Athlete Handbook, the Staff Handbook, the Officers’ Manual, or the applicable collective bargaining agreement.  Upon completion of a thorough investigation, determinations as to whether hazing occurred are made by the appropriate University official, hearing officer, or hearing body with due consideration of the relevant facts and circumstances.

Individual students may also be subject to review of the same conduct for (1) violation of professional standards related to an academic program; (2) conduct standards associated with Athletics; (3) conduct standards associated with recognized student organizations; (4) Housing and Meal Plan Contract Terms and Conditions; (5) eligibility to participate in other University sponsored programs. Similarly, for employees, since hazing may violate the policy(ies) of more than one institutional governing body, the same incident may be referred to more than one hearing body or go through more than one process.

Recognized Groups and Organizations, varsity athletics teams, and locally sponsored bodies may also be subject to suspension or revocation of University privileges or recognition for policy violations or while an investigation is on-going and until such time that the case is resolved.

University hearing officials or bodies responsible for imposing sanctions upon individuals and/or organizations for violation of this policy may consider factors such as the following:

• Nature of the offense, including whether aggravated conduct occurred and whether it is shown that the conduct was premeditated
• Severity of the harm or damage resulting from the offense
• Disciplinary history of the Respondent(s)/organization
• Whether the Respondent(s)/organization sought to threaten or purposefully intimidate a complainant, witnesses, or others involved in the University’s disciplinary process
• Whether there was an active attempt to conceal or hide the violation(s)
• Any leadership role or seniority of the Respondent(s) in the organization relative to which hazing occurred, and/or at what level of the organization the hazing behavior was encouraged, endorsed, or otherwise sponsored
• Whether any offense involved behavior directed at a person’s actual or perceived membership in a legally protected category as defined in ¶¶Òõ̽̽ Policy V.7.4.9, Equal Opportunity in Educational Programs and Activities and Non-Harassment.
• Sanctions imposed by other University reviews or hearings
• Whether a risk of continued harm, or threat of harm, to the campus community or individual members exists
• Whether there is convincing evidence that a Respondent was provoked or pressured into the situation, even though the Respondent made a conscious choice to participate
• Whether the organization and/or Respondent(s) have individually or collectively expressed a clear understanding of the severity of the offense, including resulting damage, injury or harm
• Whether the organization and/or Respondent(s) have individually or collectively taken steps to positively address their behavior, or otherwise take responsibility for their actions

Hearing officials or bodies responsible for imposing sanctions will do so exercising reasonable discretion in light of factors such as those just described above.

Examples of sanctions that may be imposed upon individuals are:

• Disciplinary suspension or dismissal, or suspension or termination of employment;
• Attendance at, or creation of, educational programs or other trainings;
• Appropriate reflection activities;
• Monetary Fines;
• Restitution; and/or
• Participation in alcohol, drug, or other counseling services

Examples of sanctions that may be imposed upon organizations that knowingly permit, authorize, or condone hazing are:

• Probation;
• Revocation or suspension of the organization’s existence or recognition;
• Attendance at, or creation of, educational programs or other trainings;
• Appropriate reflection activities;
• Restitution;
• Cancellation of some or all the organization’s activities or events (such as intercollegiate or intramural sports contests); and/or
• Decrease in, or restriction of, the organization’s privileges
• Mandatory restructuring or higher level oversight

Training will be provided on an as-needed basis as determined by the Approval Authority or the Responsible Official.