Anti-Hazing Policy

Section I: Policy Statement

Ursinus College does not tolerate hazing. Any student, student organization, team, or other persons associated with a student organization found responsible of Hazing, Aggravated Hazing, or Organizational Hazing under this Policy, whether occurring on or off campus, may face disciplinary action from the college, and may also face criminal charges under state law including The Timothy J. Piazza Antihazing Law, 18 Pa. C.S. § 2801, et seq.

Section II: Purpose

The purpose of this document is to state Ursinus College’s Anti-Hazing Policy; identify how Ursinus will enforce this Policy; and identify resources for reporting violations of this policy.

Section III: Application

This policy applies to students, organizations, and “other persons associated with an organization” as defined below by 18 Pa. C.S. § 2801:

  • Students
    • an individual who attends or has applied to attend or has been admitted to an institution or a secondary school.
  • Organizations
    • (1) A fraternity, sorority, association, corporation, order, society, corps, club or service, social or similar group, whose members are primarily minors, students or alumni of an organization, an institution or secondary school.
    • (2) A national or international organization with which a fraternity or sorority or other organization as enumerated under paragraph (1) is affiliated.

“Other persons associated with an organization” may include advisors, alumni, coaches, national affiliates or others with some demonstrable association with the organization, as required by The Timothy J. Piazza Antihazing Law, 18 Pa. C.S. § 2801, et seq.

Section IV: Jurisdiction

This Policy applies to any acts of Hazing, Aggravated Hazing, or Organizational Hazing occurring on or off campus.

 

Section V: Prohibited Acts

Ursinus college adheres to The Timothy J. Piazza Antihazing Law which defines hazing to include: Hazing, Aggravated Hazing, and Organizational Hazing, each prohibited by Ursinus College’s Policy. It shall not be a defense that the consent of the minor or student was sought or obtained. It is also not a defense that the conduct was sanctioned or approved by the organization.

  • Hazing: A person commits the offense of hazing if the person intentionally, knowingly or recklessly, for the purpose of initiating, admitting or affiliating a minor or student into or with an organization, or for the purpose of continuing or enhancing a minor or student’s membership or status in an organization, causes, coerces or forces a minor or student to do any of the items listed below in (1) – (6).
    1. Violate Federal or State criminal law:
    2. Consume any food, liquid, alcoholic liquid, drug or other substance which subjects the minor or students to a risk or emotional or physical harm;
    3. Endure brutality of the physical nature, including whipping, beating, branding, calisthenics or exposure to the elements;
    4. Endure brutality of a mental nature, including activity adversely affecting the mental health or dignity of the individual, sleep deprivation, exclusion from social contact or conduct that could result in extreme embarrassment;
    5. Endure brutality of a sexual nature;
    6. Endure any other activity that creates a reasonable likelihood of bodily injury to the minor or student.

Hazing shall NOT include reasonable and customary athletic, law enforcement or military training, contests, competitions or events.

  • Aggravated Hazing: A person commits the offense of aggravated hazing if the person commits a violation of Hazing that results in serious bodily injury or death to the minor or student; and
    1. The person acts with reckless indifference to the health and safety of the minor or student; or
    2. The person causes, coerces, or forces the consumption of an alcoholic liquid or drug by the minor or student.
  • Organizational Hazing: An organization commits the offense of Organizational Hazing if the organization intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly promotes or facilitates a violation of Hazing or Aggravated Hazing.

Section VI: Reporting Violations of this Policy

Ursinus College requires all Responsible Employees (i.e., all faculty and staff) who believe that they have witnessed, experienced or are aware of conduct that constitutes Hazing, Aggravated Hazing, or Organizational Hazing in violation of this Policy to report the violation to the College’s Dean of Students. Ursinus College further encourages all other members of the Ursinus community who believe that they have witnessed, experienced or are aware of conduct that constitutes Hazing, Aggravated Hazing, or Organizational Hazing in violation of this Policy to report the violation to the College’s Dean of Students. If any employee, student or community member has any questions about what constitutes hazing under this Policy, they are encouraged to contact their supervisor, the Title IX Coordinator and/or the College’s Vice President & General Counsel for guidance.

Section VII: Prohibition against Retaliation

Ursinus College will not in any way retaliate — or tolerate retaliation in any form by any employee, student or community member — against any individual who makes a report pursuant to this Policy or who assists or cooperates in the investigation into a potential violation of this Policy. Any individual who believes there has been an act of retaliation should immediately report such conduct to the College’s Dean of Students or person(s) handling the report or investigation.

Section VIII: Enforcement of this Policy

Any violation of this Policy shall be deemed a violation of Ursinus College’s Student Code of Conduct, College policies and/or related applicable laws. All allegations of Hazing, Aggravated Hazing, or Organizational Hazing, and any retaliation related thereto, will be investigated by the College.

Section IX: Sanctions

Anyone found responsible for violating the provisions of this Policy may face disciplinary action up to and including dismissal and/or termination from the College consistent with College policies and procedures.

Section X: Institutional Bi-Annual Report

Ursinus College will maintain a report of all violations of this Policy or of Federal or State laws related to hazing that are reported to the College. The report will be updated biennially on January 1 and August 1 and posted on the College website for review.

Consider Location/Distribution of Policy

18 Pa. C.S. § 2808(a)(2) states that “each institution and secondary school shall provide a copy of the policy, including the institution’s or secondary school’s rules, penalties and program of enforcement to each organization within the institution or secondary school.” It also provides that “[e]ach secondary school shall ensure that students are informed of the secondary school’s policy, including the secondary school’s rules, penalties and program of enforcement.”

 

18 Pa. C.S. § 2808(a)(3) states that “each institution and secondary school shall post the policy on the institution’s or the secondary school’s publicly accessible Internet website.”