Gettysburg College opposes all forms of hazing. From a legal perspective, hazing is a crime. From an individual student's perspective, hazing damages the self-esteem of the targets of the hazing. From an organizational perspective, hazing degrades the values of the organization. From a campus community perspective, hazing creates an environment of disrespect that contradicts the values of our community. For all of these reasons, the College takes a strong position against any and all forms of hazing.
**Please note that the College's anti-hazing policy applies to all recognized student organizations.
Gettysburg College defines Hazing as:
Gettysburg College prohibits students, recognized student organizations, fraternities and sororities, varsity athletic teams and all other student groups from engaging in Hazing. For the purposes of this policy, the College defines Hazing consistent with Pennsylvania’s Timothy J. Piazza Antihazing Law.
Hazing is defined as a person that 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 following items:
- Violate Federal or State criminal law;
- Consume any food, liquid, alcoholic liquid, drug or other substance which subjects the minor or student to a risk of emotional or physical harm;
- Endure brutality of a physical nature, including whipping, beating, branding, calisthenics or exposure to the elements;
- 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;
- Endure brutality of a sexual nature;
- Endure any other activity that creates a reasonable likelihood of bodily injury to the minor or student.
Aggravated Hazing is defined as a person that commits a violation of Hazing that results in serious bodily injury or death to the minor or student; and
- The person acts with reckless indifference to the health and safety of the minor or student; or
- The person causes, coerces, or forces the consumption of an alcoholic liquid or drug by the minor or student.
Organizational Hazing is defined as an organization that intentionally, knowingly or recklessly promotes or facilitates a violation of Hazing or Aggravated Hazing.
Gettysburg College prohibits all forms of Hazing as described in this 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 and or approved by the organization.
The Timothy J. Piazza Antihazing Law defines Hazing as:
A person commits 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 following items:
- Violate Federal or State criminal law;
- Consume any food, liquid, alcoholic liquid, drug or other substance which subjects the minor or student to a risk of emotional or physical harm;
- Endure brutality of a physical nature, including whipping, beating, branding, calisthenics or exposure to the elements;
- 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;
- Endure brutality of a sexual nature;
- Endure any other activity that creates a reasonable likelihood of bodily injury to the minor or student.
A person commits Aggravated Hazing if the person commits a violation of Hazing that results in serious bodily injury or death to the minor or student; and
- The person acts with reckless indifference to the health and safety of the minor or student; or
- The person causes, coerces, or forces the consumption of an alcoholic liquid or drug by the minor or student.
An organization commits Organizational Hazing if the organization intentionally, knowingly or recklessly promotes or facilitates a violation of Hazing or Aggravated Hazing.
Gettysburg College recognizes that there are additional problematic behaviors that no longer fall under the definition of hazing within the Timothy J. Piazza Antihazing Law.
As such, the College has adopted the Organizational Misconduct Policy, which is outlined as:
Gettysburg College defines organizational misconduct as any act directed toward or an action required of an individual by an organization when the required act or action:
- Is a condition of new or ongoing membership in a student club or organization, athletic team, club sport, intramural team, band or performance group, or academic organization/society or as a condition of participation in an organizational activity; and,
- Places unreasonable limitations on another person’s activities or ability to engage or associate with others; imposes unreasonable requirements of physical appearance or dress; includes assignment of tasks or actions which are demeaning or subjects the person to excessive embarrassment or ridicule; consists of required servitude; or, organizational penalties or sanctions are applied for non-conformity; and,
- Has not been authorized by a designated employee of the College. Designated employees are defined as full-time staff members who work in offices or departments that grant recognition to and oversee the operations of a group, team, or organization. Such employees include, but are not limited to, the Associate Provost, coaches, and the Office of Student Activities & Greek Life staff.
Gettysburg College prohibits Organizational Misconduct as described in this policy. It shall not be a defense that the consent of the student was sought or obtained.
Responsibilities of Individual Students regarding Hazing or Organizational Misconduct:
All individual students have a responsibility to:
- Decline to participate in hazing/organizational misconduct activities
- Report hazing/organizational misconduct activities if they become aware of them
Examples of Hazing:
Note that this list is not intended to be all-inclusive. Please contact the Office of Student Activities & Greek Life (x6304) for clarification on any action that may be considered hazing.
- Forcing, requiring, or endorsing consumption of alcoholic beverages or any other drug use
- Any action which would be perceived as inflicting physical abuse/harm to an individual, e.g. throwing things at students, paddling, etc
- Requiring tattoos or brands
- Requiring members to shave all or part of their heads
- Requiring members to participate in "line-ups"
- Requiring any activities, which involve the deprivation of food, sleep, etc.
- Assigning or endorsing pranks such as borrowing or stealing items, vandalism to property, or harassing other individuals or organizations
- Requiring calisthenics such as sit-ups, push-ups, running, or any form of physically abusive exercising
- Verbal harassment, including yelling and screaming
- Scavenger hunts, treasure hunts, road trips, kidnapping, drop-offs, or any such activities if done in such a way as to violate the College Hazing policy described above
- Requiring the ingestion of an undesirable, unwanted substance; or excessive amounts of any substance
- Requiring the carrying of items (e.g. rocks, bricks, etc.)
Examples of Organizational Misconduct:
Note that this list is not intended to be all-inclusive. Please contact the Office of Student Activities & Greek Life (x6304) for clarification on any action that may be considered hazing.
- Requiring students to publicly wear apparel which is conspicuous or not normally in good taste
- Requiring any personal servitude such as running errands
- Conducting activities that do not allow adequate time for study or sleep
- Morally degrading or humiliating games or activities such as requiring members to sing in public or act like animals
Reporting an incident of hazing or organizational misconduct:
A hazing incident may be reported to the Department of Public Safety (x6911), the Office of Student Activities & Greek Life (x6304), or the Office of Student Rights & Responsibilities (x6900).
College response to allegations of hazing:
Any allegations of hazing reported to the College will be investigated. If the investigation yields evidence of hazing, the College will then take appropriate disciplinary action against the individuals and/or organizations deemed responsible for the hazing. The Student Conduct Review Board may hear charges against organizations and individuals. Disciplinary action would include both punitive sanctions (e.g. fines, loss of privileges, suspension or expulsion of the organization) and educational sanctions (e.g. programs, workshops, etc.). Please note that the College will also support any victim of hazing if they want to speak to the local police about the possibility of pressing criminal charges.
Amended by Student Life Council - April 27, 1999