Eliminate Hazing

If you have to ask if it's hazing, it probably is. Here are some things to think about, and to help you determine if the activity is hazing.

• Is it in line with your organization's mission and values?
• Is alcohol involved?
• Are any state, local laws or University Rules being violated?
• Will active/current members of the group refuse to participate with the new members and do exactly what they're being asked to do?
• Does the activity risk emotional or physical abuse?
• Is there a risk of injury or a question of safety?
• Do you have any reservations describing the activity to your parents, professors, University officials, or the media?
• Must members carry specific items with them at all times?
• Must members remain silent for a certain time period, or are they denied contact with friends and family?

Sources: StopHazing.org | InsideHazing.com | HazingPrevention.org

This list of prohibited practices is intended to provide examples of hazing that can occur during any initiation/training process and active membership to an organization/team. Because it is impossible to anticipate every situation that could involve hazing, this list should not be considered all-inclusive. Hazing can result in a loss of intake privileges (recruiting, training, new members, etc.), current and future, and/or university recognition (including Greek charters and atheltic eligibility), as well as other disciplinary sanctions. Student rules involving hazing may be found in the WTAMU Student Handbook.

Physchological Hazing - Defined as any act which is likely to:

(a) compromise the dignity of another; 

(b) cause embarrassment or shame to another;

(c) cause another to be the object of malicious amusement or ridicule;

(d) or cause pscyhological harm or substantial emotional strain.

Examples include:

• Forced activities for new recruits to 'prove' their worth to join.
• Forced or required consumption of alcohol.
• Requirement to eat spicy foods, or ingest other substances.
• Requirement to endure hardships such as staying awake, menial tasks, physical labor, running while blindfolded, etc.
• Humiliation of new or potential members.
• Isolation of new or potential members.
• Beatings, paddling, or other physical acts against new or potential members. 
• Requirements for new or potential memebers to do things established members are not required to do.
• Illegal activities such as a requirement to steal local items as part of a scavenger hunt.

Source: hazingprevention.org

If you want to help stop hazing, find out about the steps to take and the resources that are available. If you become aware of hazing, you can make an anonymous report to University officials. And if you are hazed, one of the most important things you can do is to resist participating in the "tradition" of hazing the next generation of members. As a member of the organization, you will have a chance to challenge hazing and help bring about a change in the culture of the group and campus.

Many individuals want hazing to stop. Some are friends or relatives of people being hazed, some are students who are being hazed themselves, and others are members of organizations that haze. They may even be hazers themselves, albeit reluctant ones. In order to play a role in the prevention of hazing, there are six steps that individuals must go through (adapted from Berkowitz, A., 1994) to move from being bystanders to active change agents:

1. Recognize the existence of hazing. Individuals may become aware that hazing is occurring through observations or reports from others. One barrier to recognizing hazing is a lack of understanding of the indications of hazing. For example, a student who is being hazed may exhibit excessive fatigue or appear disheveled. Or the sign may be more explicit, such as wearing odd clothing. Another barrier to recognition is avoidance of questions about high-risk situations. If you know that someone is going through something called “hell week,” you may need to ask him or her questions to find out what that involves.
2. Interpret the practices as a problem. Even when people are aware that someone is being hazed, they may not view the activities as being problematic. They may consider the practices to be silly or stupid, but not recognize them as being harmful or illegal. They may or may not consider what is occurring to be hazing, but even if they do they must see it as a problem or else they will not take action to challenge it.
3. Believe that they have a responsibility to do something. Even if individuals recognize that hazing is occurring and they interpret the behavior as a problem, they will not do anything about it if they do not believe that they have a responsibility to do so. But in a community, the responsibility to challenge harm to others is a shared one. It is therefore important for individuals to recognize the potential role they have in stopping hazing.
4. Know what to do. Some individuals are aware of hazing and feel a responsibility to do something about it, but they do not know what should be done. Whether there is a need to encourage someone to leave a group, make an anonymous report, or challenge a group to change its practices, it is important for bystanders to have some understanding of what should be done in order to make a difference.
5. Acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to act. Someone who is motivated and knows what must be done may still need to acquire specific knowledge (e.g., how to make a report, what alternatives to hazing exist) and the skills (e.g., a rehearsed plan of what to say) to execute what he or she knows will be required for change.
6. Overcome fear of potential negative consequences. If a person possesses the knowledge and skills to take action, he or she may still not take action because of fears (e.g., anger from the person they are trying to help or retaliation from the group being challenged).

Take action. If steps 1-6 are met, a person will be prepared to take action to help stop hazing. Some people pass through steps 1-6 in an instant, others may struggle over time and not reach the point of action.

WTAMU Student Rule 2.28 | Hazing

2.28.A | Intentional, knowing, or reckless acts direct against a student, by one person acting alone, or by more than one person, occurring on or off university premises that endangers the mental or physical health or safety of a student for the purpose of pledging, or associating with, being initiated into, affiliating with, holding office in, seeking and/or maintaining membership in any organization or program whose membership consists of students. Consent and/or acquiescence by a student, or students subjected to hazing, is not a reasonable defense in a disciplinary proceeding. Hazing includes, but is not limited to:

i. Any type of physical brutality, such as whipping, beating, using a harmful substance on the body, or similar activity.

ii. Any type of physical activity that subjects the student to an unreasonable risk of harm, or that adversely affects the mental or physical health or safety of a student, such as sleep deprivation, exposure to the elements, confinement in a small space, or calisthenics.

iii. Any activity involving consumption of food, liquid, alcoholic beverages, drug, or other substance which subjects a student to an unreasonable risk of harm, or which adversely affects the mental or physical health of safety of a student.

iv. Any activity that intimidates, or threatens a student with ostracism, subjects a student to extreme mental stress, shame, or humiliation, adversely affect the mental health or dignity of a student, or discourages a student from entering or remaining enrolled at the university, or may reasonably be expected to cause a student to leave the organization, or the university rather than submit to acts described above.

v. Any activity in which a person solicits, encourages, directs, aids, or attempts to aid another in engaging in hazing; intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly permits hazing to occur; has firsthand knowledge of the planning of a specific hazing incident which has occurred and knowingly fails to report the incident to the Office of Community Standards, or the University Police Department.

vi. Any activity in which hazing is either condoned or encouraged or any action by an office or combination of members, pledges, associates, or alumni of the organization of committing, or assisting in the commission of hazing.

2.28.B | Students who are recipients and/or victims of hazing (and who have not perpetrated hazing behavior on others involved in the fact pattern for which they are reporting) and who report the activities to the VP of Student Affairs, and/or the University Police Department, will not be charged with a violation of the Hazing rule. Note: For more information on hazing, see Texas Education Code, Sections 37.151-37.155 and Section 51.936 at https://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us/?link=E

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

Texas Education Code, Chapter 37:

SUBCHAPTER F. HAZING

Sec. 37.151. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:

(1) "Educational institution" includes a public or private high school.

(2) "Pledge" means any pereson who has been accepted by, is considering an offer of membership from, or is in the process of qualifying for membership in an organization.

(3) "Pledging" means any action or activity related to becoming a member of an organization.

(4) "Student" means any person who:

(A) is registered in or in attendance at an eduational institution;

(B) has been accepted for admission at the educational institution where the hazing incident occurs; or

(C) intends to attend an educational institution during any of its regular sessions after a period of scheduled vacation.

(5) "Organization" means a fraternity, sorority, association, corporation, order, society, club, or service, social, or similar group, whose members are primarily students.

(6) "Hazing" means any intentional, knowing, or reckless act, occurring on or off 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 an organization. The term includes:

(A) any type of physical brutality, such as whipping, beating, striking, branding, electronic shocking, placing of a harmful substance on the body, or similar activity;

(B) 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 of harm or that adversely affects the mental or physical health or safety of the student;

(C) any activity involving consumption of food, liquid, alcoholic beverage, liquor, drug, or other substance that subjects the student to an unreasonable risk of harm or that adversley affects the mental or physical health or safety of the student;

(D) any activity that intimidates or threatens the student with ostracism, that subjects the student to extreme mental stress, shame, or humiliation, that adversley 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 instution rather than submit to acts described in this subdivision; and

(E) any activity that induces, causes, or requires a student to perform a duty or task that involves a violation of the Penal Code.

Sec. 37.152. PERSONAL HAZING OFFENSE.

(a) A person commits an offense if the person:

(1) engages in hazing;

(2) solicits, encourages, directs, aids, or attempts to aid another in engaging in hazing;

(3) recklessly permits hazing to occur; or

(4) has firsthand knowledge of the planning of a specific hazing incident involving a student in an educational institution, or has firsthand knowledge that a specific hazing incident has occurred, and knowingly fails to report that knowledge in writing to the dean or students or other appropriate official of the institution.

(b) The offense of failing to report is a Class B misdemeanor.

(c) Any other offense under this section that does not cause serious bodily injury to another is a Class B misdemeanor.

(d) Any other offense under this section that causes serious bodily injury to another is a Class A misdemeanor.

(e) Any other offense under this section that causes the death of another is a state jail felony.

(f) Except if an offense causes the death of a student, subject to the same conditions imposed on a person placed on community supervision under Section 11, Article 42.12, Code of Criminal Procedure, for an appropriate period of time in lieu of confinement in county jail or in lieu of a part of the time the person is sentenced to confinement in county jail.

Sec. 37.153. ORGANIZATION HAZING OFFENSE.

(a) An organization commits an offense if the organization condones or encourages hazing or if an officer or any combination of members, pledges, or alumni of the organization commits or assists in the commission of hazing. 

(b) An offense under this section is a misdemeanor punishable by:

(1) a fine of not less than $5,000 nor more than $10,000; or

(2) if the court finds that the offense caused personal injury, property damage, or other loss, a fine of not less than $5,000 nor more than double the amount lost or expenses incurred because of the injury, damage, or loss.

Sec. 37.154. CONSENT NOT A DEFENSE.

It is not a defense to prosecution of an offense under this subchapter that the person against whom the hazing was directed consented to or acquiesced in the hazing activity.

Sec. 37.155. IMMUNITY FROM PROSECUTION AVAILABLE. 

In the prosecution of an offense under this subchapter, the court may grant immunity from prosecution for the offense to each person who is subpoenaed to testify for the prosecution and who does testify for the prosecution. Any person reporting a specific hazing incident involving a student in an educational institution to the dean of students or other appropriate official of the institution is immune from civil or criminal liability that might otherwise be incurred or imposed as a result of the report. Immunity extends to participation in any judicial proceeding resulting from the report. A person reporting in bad faith or with malice is not protected by this section.

Sec. 37.156. OFFENSES IN ADDITION TO OTHER PENAL PROVISIONS.

This subchapter does not afect or repeal any penal law of this state. This subchapter does not limit or affect the right of an educational institution to enforce its own penalties against hazing.

Sec. 37.157. REPORTING BY MEDICAL AUTHORITIES.

A doctor or other medical practitioner who treats a student who may have been subjected to hazing activities:

(1) may report the suspected hazing activities to police or other law enforcement officials; and

(2) is immune from civil or other liability that might otherwise be imposed or incurred as a result of the report, unless the report is made in bad faith or with malice.

Texas Education Code, Chapter 51:

Subchapter Z. Miscellanous Provisions

Sec. 51.936. HAZING.

(a) Subchapter F, Chapter 37, applies to a postsecondary educational institution under this section in the same manner as that subchapter applies to a public or private high school. 

(b) For purposes of this section, "postsecondary educational institution" means:

(1) an institution of higher education as defined by Section 61.003;

(2) a private or independent institution of higher education as defined by Section 61.003; or

(3) a private postsecondary educational institution as defined by Section 61.302.

(c) Each postsecondary educational institution shall distribute to each student during the first three weeks of each semester:

(1) a summary of the provisions of Subchapter F, Chapter 37; and

(2) a list of organizations that have been disciplined for hazing or convicted for hazing on or off campus of the institution during the preceding three years.

(d) If the institution publishes a general catalogue, student handbook, or similar publication, it shall publish a summary of the provisions of Subchapter F, Chapter 37, in each edition of the publication.

(e) Section 1.001(a) does not limit the application of this section to postsecondary educational institutions supported in whole or in part by state tax funds.

If you have observed the activities of a student organization and you feel that the organization is violating the terms of its constitution or by-laws, student or university rules, or the law, please complete this form to report the issue to the Office of Community Standards: Incident Reporting Form

If you are in an emergency situation, please call 9-1-1 or contact the University Police Department at (806) 651-2300.