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General Regulations
7.- Policy on Hazing
Under the law, individuals or organizations engaging in hazing could be
subject to fines and charged with a criminal offense.
According to the law, a person can commit a hazing offense not only by
engaging in a hazing activity, but also by soliciting, directing,
encouraging, aiding or attempting to aid another in hazing; by
intentionally, knowingly or recklessly allowing hazing to occur; or by
failing to report first-hand knowledge that a hazing incident is planned or
has occurred in writing to the dean of students. The fact that a person
consented to or acquiesced in a hazing activity is not a defense to
prosecution for hazing under this law.
In an effort to encourage reporting of hazing incidents, the law grants
immunity from civil or criminal liability to any person who reports a
specific hazing event to the Dean of Students; and immunizes a person from
participation in any judicial proceeding resulting from that report.
This law does not affect or in any way limit the right of the University to
enforce its own rules against hazing. The University regards any form of
hazing as a major violation, and any individual and/or registered student
organization participating in such activities will be prosecuted.
The law defines hazing as any intentional, knowing, or reckless act,
occurring on or off the campus of an educational institution, by one person
alone or acting with others, directed against a student, that endangers the
mental or physical health or safety of a student for the purpose of
pledging, being initiated into, affiliating with, holding office in, or
maintaining membership in any organization whose members are or include
students at an educational institution. Hazing includes but is not limited
to:
- Any type of physical brutality, such as whipping, beating, striking,
branding, electronic shocking, placing of a harmful substance on the body,
or similar activity;
- Any type of physical activity, such as sleep deprivation, exposure to
the elements, confinement in a small space, calisthenics, or other activity
that subjects the student to an unreasonable risk or harm or that adversely
affects the mental or physical health or safety of the student;
- Any activity involving consumption of food, liquid, alcoholic beverage,
liquor, drug, or other substance which subjects the student to an
unreasonable risk or harm or which adversely affects the mental or physical
health of the student;
- Any activity that intimidates or threatens the student with ostracism;
that subjects the student to extreme mental stress, shame, or humiliation;
or that adversely affects the mental health or dignity of the student or
discourages the student from entering or remaining registered in an
educational institution; or that may reasonably be expected to cause a
student to leave the organization or the institution rather than submit to
acts described in this subsection;
- Any activity that induces, causes, or requires the student to perform a
duty or task which involves a violation of the Penal Code.
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