Hazing / Initiations

Student-Athlete Agreement Concerning Hazing and Dangerous Initiation Activities

The Athletics Department strictly prohibits hazing of any kind as well as dangerous initiation activities.  The Athletics Department defines hazing and/or dangerous initiation activities as

“any action taken, created, or situated which intentionally or recklessly subjects any person to the risk of bodily harm, mental or physical discomfort, embarrassment, harassment, or ridicule; or causing or encouraging any person to commit an act that would be a violation of law or college regulations; for the purpose of initiating, promoting, fostering, or confirming any form of affiliation with a student group or organization.”

Actions and activities which are prohibited by the Athletics Department include, but are not limited to, the following:

1. Any activity or action that creates a risk to the health or safety of another person.
2. Any type of initiation or other activity where there is an expectation of individuals who are joining a particular team to participate in behavior designed to humiliate, degrade, or abuse them regardless of the person’s willingness to participate.

Examples of prohibited behavior include, but are not limited to:

• forcing, requiring, or pressuring the consumption of alcohol or other drugs;
• forcing, requiring, or pressuring the ingestion of any substance;
• forcing, requiring, or pressuring the shaving of any part of the body including hair on the head;
• forcing, requiring, or pressuring the participation in any activity which is illegal, perverse, publicly indecent, or contrary to the individual’s genuine moral beliefs, e.g. public profanity, indecent or lewd conduct, or sexual gestures in public;
• forcing, requiring or pressuring an individual to tamper with or damage College property;
• dietary restrictions of any kind;
• sleep deprivation;
• creation of excessive fatigue;
• paddling, whipping, beating or physical abuse of any kind;
• forced tattooing or branding;
• calisthenics or any type of physically abusive exercise;
• compulsory servitude;
• work projects without the participation of the full membership
• road trips, kidnapping, drop-offs, or any other such activities;
• assigned or endorsed pranks such as borrowing or stealing items, painting property or objects, or harassing other individuals or groups;
• morally degrading or humiliating games or activities;
• verbal or cruel harassment including yelling and screaming;
• line-ups, kangaroo courts, or any interrogation not consistent with the legitimate testing for information about the purposes and history of the team;
• any activity which interferes with one’s ability to study or complete one’s course of study;
• forcing, encouraging, or pressuring the wearing of apparel in public which is conspicuous, not normally in good taste, or designed to humiliate the individul(s) wearing it;
• participation in sexual rituals or assaults and/or required nudity;
• mentally abusive or demeaning behavior;
• deception or threat contrived to convince new members that she/he will not be permitted to join;
• requiring the answering of phones or doors with songs, chants, riddles;
• requiring yelling or screaming upon entering or leaving a facility;
• requiring new members to “great” initiated members;
• activities that promote or encourage the violation of state law or college policy;
• collective behavior such as marching;
• requiring members to escort each other on campus;
• dressing alike, etc; and
• requiring the carrying of items such as bricks, pumpkins, lunch boxes, items for members, etc.