Hazing Policy

The Stop Campus Hazing Act (SCHA) amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 by requiring colleges and universities to report hazing incidents in their annual security reports. The law requires institutions to define hazing, track and disclose reported incidents, and maintain clear policies for hazing prevention and reporting.

Howard University has a zero-tolerance policy against hazing, as hazing violates campus regulations, the Student Code of Conduct, chapter rules and sometimes city and state laws. The information provided below is intended to be educational and should not be viewed as all-Inclusive in its content and definitions. Specific questions and reports of hazing should be directed to the Office of Student Life and Activities at 202-806-5990.

Howard University recognizes that student groups and associations, including, but not limited, to clubs and organizations, fraternities and sororities, are an integral part of the University. They contribute to the academic and social experience of the students and the University community. This relationship carries with it certain rights of the University to protect and preserve an appropriate environment in which all students and organizations may operate. As such, all students are expected to conduct themselves as responsible members of the University community and to respect their fellow citizens. Any departure from these standards as defined in the Student Code of Conduct, national fraternity/sorority documents, or the laws and regulations of local, state or federal jurisdictions may subject any individual(s) or group(s) to disciplinary action.

Hazing is defined as any forced action that could possibly endanger the mental, physical, or emotional health or safety of a student. Hazing may include, but is not limited to, line formations; the prevention of wearing or the requirement to wear certain colors; the destruction or removal of public or private property; any activity conducted on or off-campus that causes or intends to cause an unreasonable
expenditure of funds, or embarrassing, intimidating or demeaning behavior; exposure to unreasonable situations that could result in physical, mental, or emotional harm; or as an abuse of power by a member of an organization and/or group used against an individual as a condition for seeking to join, hold membership, or affiliate in any sanctioned or unsanctioned group or organization at the
University.
 

An abuse of power may be exercised through direct action against another or through indirect action by encouraging and/or influencing another individual to commit an act of hazing. A failure to address and/or report an act of hazing committed against another individual may also be considered an abuse of power and a violation of this policy. Neither the intent of the initiator(s), nor consent/willingness of the participant(s) will serve as factors in determining responsibility, but will be
considered in the application of sanctions.

Under this policy, many of the activities which traditionally have been part of pledging to a fraternity or sorority are banned as hazing.

Depending upon circumstances, these activities have at one time or another been construed as hazing by the courts and/or institutions of higher education. Such actions are often required or implied as conditions of inclusion or exclusion from a group, formal or informal.

Thus, hazing may be perpetrated by individual(s), individual against group, or group against individual.

• Requiring calisthenics such as sit-ups, push-ups, running, or any form of physically abusive exercise
• Forcing, requiring, or endorsing consumption of alcoholic beverages or any other drug
• Requiring the carrying of items such as rocks, bricks, pumpkins, etc.
• Requiring the ingesting of an undesirable, unwanted substance (e.g. spoiled food, drink concoctions, etc.)
• Scavenger hunts, treasure hunts, road trips, kidnappings, drop-offs, or any other such activities
• Morally degrading or humiliating games and activities such as requiring members to sign in public or act like animals
• Assigning or endorsing pranks such as borrowing or stealing items, painting property and objects, or harassing other individuals or groups
• Deprivation of sleep
• Verbal harassment including yelling and screaming
• Blindfolding or hand-tying
• Requiring any personal servitude such as running errands
• Line-ups, kangaroo courts, or any interrogations not consistent with legitimate testing for information about the history, purpose or direction
• Requiring new members to publicly wear apparel that is conspicuous and/or not normally in good taste
• Requiring new members to be branded
• Requiring new members to answer phones or doors with chants, riddles, songs, or rhymes
• Deceptions and/or threats contrived to convince the new members they won’t be able to join the organizations
• Conducting activities that do not allow adequate time for study or sleep
• Requiring new members to yell when entering or leaving any residence hall or building
• Work projects without the participation of the full membership
• Any action which could be perceived as infliction physical abuse/harm to an individual, for example, paddling or throwing things at new members.
  This list by no means covers all activities and actions that can be considered hazing.

All reports of hazing will be reviewed in accordance with the procedures outlined in this policy. Any person may file a complaint of hazing against a university student, defined as a person who is taking or auditing courses at the institution either on a full- or part-time basis or as a staff member. Alumni are not precluded from being charged if the victim is a student and the incident occurred while the alum was enrolled as a student.

There is no time limit to filing a formal complaint; however, persons are encouraged to promptly report alleged acts of hazing in order to maximize the University’s ability to investigate and respond. The University strives to resolve all complaints within a reasonable timeframe of the filing of a formal complaint. The resolution time may vary depending on the complexity of the investigation, severity and extent of the alleged misconduct and totality of the circumstance.

Retaliation: Retaliation against any person filing a complaint or against any person cooperating in the investigation of such complaint is strictly prohibited. Retaliation includes but is not limited to direct or indirect intimidation, threats, and/or harassment for or against any party involved in the investigation. Students found to be responsible for retaliation will be subject to disciplinary action under the Code of Student Conduct. Retaliatory conduct may also constitute a criminal offense.

Interim Measures: All formal reports of alleged hazing, regardless of whether the complainant chooses to pursue resolution through the student conduct process, will be investigated and steps will be taken to provide support to the complainant. This support may include taking appropriate interim action prior to the completion of the investigation and conclusion of the student conduct process.
 

Interim measures may include a “no contact” directive serving as notice to the organization or its members that they must not have verbal, electronic, written or third-party communication with one another or with the student(s) seeking membership. Interim measures may also include alteration of students’ academic, University housing, and/or University employment arrangements and a cease
and desist of all organizational activities of the group being investigated. Failure to comply with interim measures may result in a student being charged with additional disciplinary violations.