1. Purpose and Scope

The purposes of this policy are to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the campus community; to promote the university’s educational goals, both curricular and co-curricular; and to comply with applicable laws, including the state law prohibiting hazing at  colleges and universities [RCW 28B.10.900]. The policy applies to all university-sponsored student organizations and living groups, their individual members, applicable faculty and staff employees, and others attending the university.

2. Prohibited Conduct

Hazing is prohibited on or off-campus. Hazing includes any act committed as part of a person’s recruitment or initiation, pledging,  admission into, or affiliation with a student organization, athletic team, or living group, or any pastime or amusement engaged in with  respect to that organization or group (other than customary athletic events or similar contests or competitions) which, with or without the  consent of the participant(s):

  1. causes, or is likely to cause, bodily danger or physical harm, or serious psychological or emotional harm, to any student or other person; or
  2. subjects a student or other person to conduct or conditions which a reasonable person in the circumstances would find harmful, including but not limited to excessive psychological or physical discomfort, including causing, directing, coercing, or forcing a person to consume any food, liquid, alcohol, drug, or other substance which subjects the person to risk of harm, physical  confinement, abandonment, verbal or physical abuse, or substantial interference with the person’s educational pursuits; or
  3. otherwise involves a violation of a law or university policy or which encourages a student or other person to violate a law or university policy, including but not limited to the Code of Conduct, Student Integrity Code, Alcohol and Drug Policy, Campus Policy Prohibiting Sexual Misconduct, and Campus Policy Prohibiting Discrimination and Harassment.

3. Sanctions

3.1. Individual Sanctions

A student who participates in or encourages hazing shall be subject to disciplinary action by the university. Hazing that endangers a person’s psychological or physical safety is also a criminal offense. As required by state law, a student who participates in criminal hazing, in addition to the possibility of being subject to prosecution, shall forfeit any entitlement to state-funded grants, scholarships, or awards for a period of time determined by the university, but not less than one academic term.

A faculty or staff member who is directly engaged in the planning, directing, or act of hazing of students shall be subject to disciplinary action by the university. In addition, the faculty or staff member may be liable under state law for resulting harm to persons or property. 

3.2. Group Sanctions

A student organization or living group that knowingly permits hazing to occur by its members or by others subject to its direction or control shall itself be subject to sanctions, including but not limited to the university’s withdrawal of its recognition of the group. In addition, the organization or group may be liable under state law for resulting harm to persons or property.

4. Procedures

This policy shall be enforced following the procedures of the Student Integrity Code (and, as applicable, the university’s "Fraternity and Sorority Recognition Policy" or "Theme House Recognition Policy") for students and student organizations and living groups, or, as applicable, relevant faculty/staff policies.

5. Reporting

5.1 Reporting Alleged Hazing

Any campus community member, other than a confidential resource (e.g., chaplain or minister, counselor, doctor, etc.), who becomes aware of alleged hazing should report it to the Office of Rights & Responsibilities in the Division of Student Affairs.

5.2 Public Report; Contents

The university will maintain and publicly report on its website actual findings (for previous 5 years) of violations by any student organization, athletic team, or living group of the institution’s code of conduct, antihazing policies, or state or federal laws relating to hazing or offenses related to alcohol, drugs, sexual assault or physical assault.

The report shall include the following:

(a)       The name of the student organization, athletic team, or living group;

(b)       The date the investigation was initiated;

(c)       The date on which the investigation ended with a finding that a violation occurred;

(d)       A description of the incident or incidents, including the date of the initial violation, and the violations, findings, and sanctions  placed on the student organization, athletic team, or living group;

(e)       The details of the sanction or sanctions imposed, including the beginning and end dates of the sanction or sanctions; and

(f)        The date the student organization, athletic team, or living group was charged with a violation.

5.3 Confidentiality of Certain Information 

The public report identified in Section 5.2 shall not include any personal or identifying information of employees or individual students and shall be subject to the requirements of the federal family education rights and privacy act of 1974, 20 U.S.C. Sec. 1232g.

6. Training and Education

6.1 Educational Programming for Students 

The university will provide students with an educational program on hazing and the dangers of and prohibition on hazing, which shall include information regarding hazing awareness, prevention, intervention, and the institution's policy prohibiting hazing. The educational program may be offered in person or electronically. The university will incorporate the educational program as part of new student orientation sessions. The educational program will also be posted on the university’s website for parents, legal guardians, and volunteers to view.

Institutional materials on student rights and responsibilities given to student organizations, athletic teams, or living groups, either  electronically or in hard copy form, shall include a statement on the institution's policy prohibiting hazing and on the dangers of hazing.

6.2 Educational Programming for Employees 

The university will provide hazing prevention education on the signs and dangers of hazing as well as the institution's prohibition on hazing to employees, including student employees, with direct ongoing contact with students in a supervisory role or position of authority. This hazing prevention education will be provided either in person or electronically. The prevention education shall be provided to employees at the beginning of each academic year and for new employees at the beginning of each academic term.

7. Effective Date

November 1, 2022

8. Related Statutes, Regulations, and Policies

  • Chapter 28B.10.900 et seq RCW
  • Code of Conduct
  • Student Integrity Code
  • Alcohol and Drug Policy
  • Campus Policy Prohibiting Sexual Misconduct 
  • Campus Policy Prohibiting Discrimination and Harassment
  • Residence Life Policy
  • Fraternity and Sorority Recognition Policy 
  • Theme House Recognition Policy
  • Faculty Code
  • Staff Corrective Action Policy

 

Policy Owner:         Vice President for Student Affairs

Date Adopted:         October 1998

Date Revised:         October 28, 2022