Hazing Guidelines and Procedures
Definition
"Hazing" means any intentional, knowing, or reckless act committed by a student, whether individually or in concert with other persons, against another student, and in which both of the following apply:
- The act was committed in connection with recruitment, an initiation into, an affiliation with, or the maintenance of membership in any organization that is affiliated with the College; and
- The act contributes to a substantial risk of potential physical injury, mental harm, or personal degradation; or causes physical injury, mental harm, or personal degradation — even if the conduct appears minor, harmless, or is willingly participated in.
Hazing includes any activity expected of someone in joining or participating in a group that humiliates, degrades, abuses, or endangers them, regardless of the person’s willingness to participate.
Example: Requiring someone to wear pink or outrageous attire as part of an initiation or recruitment process may seem harmless but could constitute hazing if it is intended to embarrass, humiliate, or single out the individual in a degrading way. The key factor is whether the act causes emotional or psychological harm, even if the person consents or finds it amusing at the time.
A. Prohibited Activities that Constitute Hazing
- Hazing is against the Salish Kootenai College Student Code of Conduct.
- Any solicitation to engage in hazing is prohibited.
- Aiding and abetting another person who is engaged in hazing is prohibited.
- It is not a defense to a violation of this policy that the hazing victim consented to or acquiesced in the hazing activity.
2. Examples of hazing include but are not limited to the following
- Forcing or coercing consumption or use of any substance
- Activities that a reasonable person would view to be frightening, humiliating, intimidating, or deceptive
- Physical abuse, e.g., whipping, paddling, beating, tattooing, branding, shaving and exposure to the elements, or the threat of such behaviors.
- Threatening or causing physical restraint
- Throwing substances or objects at individuals
- Assigning unreasonable chores or acts of servitude
- Causing excessive exercise, sleep deprivation or excessive fatigue
- Subjecting students to abusive or demeaning conduct
- Any destruction or removal of public or private property.\
- Activities that violate federal, state, or local laws.
- Activities that violate college policies
3. In addition to the actual act of hazing, the following actions are prohibited:
- Involvement in the planning of and/or being present during the commissioning of hazing.
- Implying that a person will be shunned, removed, or unable to join, participate, or maintain affiliation or membership in any organization, athletic team, or living group for failing or refusing to partake in or submit to any form of hazing activity.
- Failure to intervene, prevent, or stop hazing if the individual has prior knowledge of a planned hazing activity.
- Knowingly making a false accusation of hazing.
- Failure to report information about suspected violations of this policy if required to do so as described in Section (F) of this policy.
- Failure to cooperate in an investigation or Student Conduct Resolution Process, as outlined in the Abuse of the Student Code of Conduct System section of the Student Code of Conduct.
4. This policy is not intended to prohibit or sanction the following conduct:
- Customary public athletic events, contests, or competitions that are sponsored by the College; or
- Any activity or conduct that furthers the goals of a legitimate educational curriculum or a legitimate extracurricular program.
B. Duty to Report
A person who witnesses hazing or has reasonable cause to believe hazing has occurred or will occur and makes a report in good faith may not be sanctioned for the violation of hazing unless the person is engaged in the planning, directing, participating, or the act of hazing reported.
C. Consequences
Hazing may result in serious individual and/or group consequences including, but not limited to: disciplinary action up to and including expulsion for individuals and permanent loss of recognition for groups. Any individual who plans or intentionally assists in hazing activity has engaged in hazing, regardless of whether that individual is present when the hazing activity occurs.
- All students must take reasonable measures within the scope of their individual authority to prevent violations of this policy.
- Violations of this policy or interference in an investigation under this policy by students or student organizations are subject to sanctions under the Student Code of Conduct.
D. Reporting to Law Enforcement
The College will report to law enforcement any complaint of hazing involving criminal conduct that creates a substantial risk to the health or safety of any person in the college community.