Anti-Hazing Policy

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Policy Statement

Susquehanna University believes that an effective group, organization, or team is nurtured in an atmosphere of social and moral responsibility, respect for duly constituted authority and loyalty to the principles of higher education and does not tolerate hazing. Any student, alumnus, student group, or student organization including varsity athletics found responsible of hazing, aggravated hazing, or organizational hazing under this policy, whether occurring on or off campus, may face disciplinary action from the Susquehanna University, and may also face criminal charges under state law, including The Timothy J. Piazza Antihazing Law, 18Pa. C.S. 2801, et seq.

Purpose

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

Application

All individual students who attend, has been admitted to, has applied to attend, or prospective students and athletic recruits visiting Susquehanna University, student organizations to include fraternity/ sorority, association, corporations, order, society, corps, club or service, varsity athletics, social or similar group who members are minors, students, or alumni of an organization or Susquehanna University. In addition, this policy applies to university officials and any other persons associated with an organization.

Jurisdiction

This policy applies to any acts of hazing, aggravated hazing, or organizational hazing occurring on or off campus, including travel to and from organization, athletic, or university sponsored trips.

Prohibited Acts

Susquehanna University adheres to The Timothy J. Piazza Antihazing Law. The Timothy J. Piazza Antihazing Law defines hazing to include: Hazing, Aggravated Hazing, and Organizational Hazing. Hazing, Aggravated Hazing, and Organizational Hazing (defined below) are each prohibited by this policy. It shall not be a defense that the consent of a 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). Hazing shall NOT include reasonable and customary athletic, law enforcement or military training, contests, competitions or events.

  1. Violate Federal or State criminal law;
  2. Consume any food, liquid, alcoholic liquid, drug or other substance which subjects a student to a risk of emotional or physical harm;
  3. Endure brutality of a 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.

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 offence of Organization Hazing if the organization intentionally knowingly, or recklessly promotes or facilitates a violation of Hazing or Aggravated Hazing.

In addition to Hazing, Aggravated Hazing, and Organizational Hazing as defined by the Timothy J. Piazza Antihazing Law, the following actions taken or situations created on or off Susquehanna University campus grounds; by a student, alumnus, student group, or student organization including varsity athletics; that endanger another person(s)’ mental or physical health or safety, or produces mental or physical discomfort, embarrassment, harassment or ridicule; with or without consent; as an explicit or implicit condition for initiating, admitting, or for the purpose of continuing of enhancing a student’s membership or status in an organization are prohibited.

An individual violates the anti-hazing policy if they cause, coerce, or force a student to do any of the following:

  1. Violate Susquehanna University Code of Student Conduct, Sexual Misconduct & Gender Based Violence Policy, Code of Academic Honesty, Policies for Student Organizations, or any other regulations and policies of Susquehanna University as outlined in the Student Handbook;
  2. Endure activities that might be morally offensive or humiliating, including tasks of servitude, pranks, public stunts, quests or scavenger hunts, harassment of another organization, wearing public apparel that is conspicuous and not normally in good taste, dress that is inconsistent with weather conditions, or activities that might interfere with scholastic activities and participation in other university events
  3. Endure an intimidating or hostile situation, whether directly or indirectly, through social media, created by an attempt of a student, group of students, or student organization to interfere with a person(s)’ ability to function in the academic or residential setting, or to subject a person(s) to unwanted and unsolicited attention in accordance with the judgement of university officials.

Additional Definitions Applicable to this Policy

“Alcoholic liquid”: A substance containing liquor, spirit, wine, beer, malt or brewed beverage or any combination thereof.

“Bodily injury”: Impairment of physical condition or substantial pain.

“Drug”: (I) substances recognized in the official United States Pharmacopoeia, or official National Formulary or any supplement to either of them; and (ii) substances intended for use in the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment or prevention of disease in man or other animals; and (iii) substances (other than food) intended to affect the structure or any function of the human body or other animal body; and (iv) substances intended for use as a component of any article specified in clause (I), (ii) or (iii), but not including devices or their components, parts or accessories.

“Group of students”: a number of persons who are associated with each other, but who have neither complied with University requirements for registration as an organization nor have a specific membership or team identity.

“Minor”: an individual younger than 18 years of age.

“Organization” or “student organization”: fraternity/ sorority, association, corporations, order, society, corps, club or service, varsity athletics, social or similar group who members are minors, students, or alumni of an organization or Susquehanna University

“Serious bodily injury”: Bodily injury which creates a substantial risk of death or which causes serious, permanent disfigurement, or protracted loss or impairment of the function of any bodily member or organ.

“Student”: All individual students who attend, has been admitted to, has applied to attend, or prospective students and athletic recruits visiting Susquehanna University.

“University Official”: any individual who is employed by Susquehanna University as a professional administrator, faculty member, staff member, or student staff which may include designated student employees.

Reporting Violations of this Policy

Susquehanna University encourages all members of the Susquehanna community who believed that they have witnessed, experienced or are aware of conduct that constitutes Hazing, Aggraded Hazing, or Organizational Hazing in violation of this Policy to report the concern directly to the Office of Leadership & Engagement, Vice President for Student Life & Dean of Students, Associate Director of Athletics, Campus Safety or by submitting a Hazing Concern Form found on the Student Life mySU page.

Enforcement of this Policy

Any violation of this Policy shall be deemed a violation of Susquehanna University’s Student Code of Conduct and applicable laws. All allegations of Hazing, Aggravated Hazing, or Organizational Hazing will be investigated by Susquehanna University Campus Safety.

Sanctions

Anyone found responsible for violating this Policy may face disciplinary action including expulsion from Susquehanna University. In addition to a description of the university conduct process, an outline of sanctions can be found in the Susquehanna University Student Handbook. Sanctions as a result of a violation of this policy are in addition criminal charges under state law, including The Timothy J. Piazza Antihazing Law, 18Pa. C.S. 2801, et seq.

Medical Amnesty Policy

An outline of the Susquehanna University Medical Amnesty Policy as it relates alcohol and drug- related medical emergencies and students and organizations can be found in the Susquehanna University Student Handbook. Student organizations are requested to seek immediate medical assistance for their members or guests when any potential health risk is observed, including medical emergencies related to the use of alcohol and/or drugs. It is paramount that organizations seek assistance in any emergency situation.

Susquehanna University Biannual Anti-Hazing Report

Susquehanna University will maintain a report of all violations of this Policy or of Federal or State laws related to hazing that are reported to Susquehanna University. Susquehanna University will update the report biannually on January 1 and August 1 and will post the updated report on Susquehanna University’s publicly accessible website.