AntiHazing Policy

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Anti-Hazing Policy
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What is Hazing?

• Hazing, which shall include any form of mental,
  physical or emotional harassment, degradation,
  intimidation or harm, is strictly prohibited.
  Organizations found to be incorporating any form
  of hazing activities into their recruitment, new
  member or ongoing organizational activities, will
  face appropriate sanctions for violation of
  campus, local and state policy and/or law. The
  Center for Student Organizations and Leadership
  Development (CSOLD) and St. Cloud State
  University strongly discourage the use of alcohol
  and other substances as part of club and
  organizational activities.

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Hazing is

• Against the law
• Minnesota Hazing Law
• 127.465 Hazing policy.
• Subdivision 1. Definitions. (a) "Hazing" means
  committing an act against a student, or coercing
  a student into committing an act, that creates a
  substantial risk of harm to a person in order for
  the student to be initiated into or affiliated
  with a student organization.
• (b) "Student organization" means a group, club,
  or organization having students as its primary
  members or participants.
• Subd. 2. Model policy. The commissioner of
  children, families, and learning shall maintain
  and make available to school boards a model
  policy on student or staff hazing that addresses
  the requirements of subdivision 3.
• Subd. 3. School board policy. Each school board
  shall adopt a written policy governing student or
  staff hazing. The policy must apply to student
  behavior that occurs on or off school property
  and during and after school hours. The policy
  must include reporting procedures and
  disciplinary consequences for violating the
  policy. Disciplinary consequences must be
  sufficiently severe to deter violations and
  appropriately discipline prohibited behavior.
  Disciplinary consequences must conform with
  sections 127.27 to 127.39. Each school must
  include the policy in the student handbook on
  school policies.
• Against University Policy
• SCSU Code of Conduct
• Prohibited Conduct
• Intentionally, recklessly or negligently causing
  physical harm to any person on university
  premises or at university sponsored activities.
  This includes engaging in any form of fighting.
• Intentionally, recklessly or negligently placing
  any person under mental duress or causing any
  person to be in fear of physical danger through
  verbal abuse, harassment (including repeated
  phone calls), sexual harassment, hazing,
  intimidation, threats or other conduct which
  threatens or endangers that person's emotional,
  mental or physical well-being.

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Against the idea of Citizen Leadership

• St. Cloud State University is committed to the
  belief that abusive behavior, harassment and
  assault does not build character, does not build
  leadership skills, and does not foster group
  loyalty or unity. Hazing is an abuse of power
  and relationships, and its purpose is to demean
  others.

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Some examples include

• Alcohol use
• Paddling
• Physical/psychological shocks
• Branding
• Excessive exercise

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• Degrading/humiliating activities
• Public stunts
• Forced or required consumption of liquids,
  solids, or combinations, i.e., alcohol, massive
  quantities of water, spicy or unusual foods, or
  non-food items

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Hazing Myths

• Myth 1 Hazing is no more than foolish pranks
  that sometimes go awry.
• Fact Hazing is an act of power and control over
  others it is victimization.
• Hazing is pre-meditated and NOT accidental.
  Hazing is abusive, degrading and often
  life-threatening.

• Myth 2 As long as theres no malicious intent,
  a little hazing should be O.K.
• Fact Even if theres no malicious intent
  safety may still be a factor in traditional
  hazing activities that are considered to be all
  in good fun.
• For example, serious accidents have
  occurred during scavenger hunts and kidnapping
  trips.

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More myths

• Myth 3 Hazing is an effective way to teach
  respect and develop discipline.
• Fact First of all, respect must be EARNEDnot
  taught.
• Victims of hazing rarely report having
  respect for those who have hazed them. Just like
  other forms of victimization, hazing breeds
  mistrust, apathy and alienation.

• Myth 4 If someone agrees to participate in an
  activity, it cant be considered hazing.
• Fact Consent of the victim cant be used as a
  defense in a civil suit.
• Even if someone agrees to participate in a
  potentially hazardous action it may not be true
  consent when considering the peer pressure and
  desire to belong to the group.
• Source www.stophazing.org

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What are the possible consequences?

• For the person doing the hazing
• Criminal charges - with jail time, fines or
  both.
• Civil liability damages up to 1.2 million
  dollars have been awarded to plaintiffs.

• Suspension or Dismissal from SCSU.
• Loss of organization recognition

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For the person being hazed

• Physical abuse possibly leading to death.
• Emotional abuse.
• Loss of sense of control and empowerment.
• Decline in grades.
• Relationships with friends and family suffer.
• Post-traumatic stress syndrome.
• Erosion of trust within the group members.

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Hazing Warning Signs

• Does this activity promote leadership, sport, or
  academic skills?
• Does this activity promote and conform to the
  ideals and values of  your sport, organization or
  fraternity/sorority?
• Will this activity increase feelings of
  friendship between new and returning members?
• Would you tell prospective members what they will
  go through?
• Would you be willing to allow parents to witness
  this activity?  A judge?  Your Coach/Advisor?
  The University President?
• Would you be willing to defend this activity in
  court?
• Does the activity meet both the spirit and letter
  of the standards prohibiting hazing?

If you answer NO to any of these questions, You
are probably hazing!
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If you or your organization is hazing

• Remember
• A lawsuit can ruin your group and financially
  devastate you and your family.
• A reputation for hazing can negatively impact
  members' future employment or graduate school
  applications.
• There are effective ways to achieve the group's
  pro-social goals without hazing.
• Learning ways to build group cohesiveness without
  hazing will develop skills that can be used after
  graduation.
• You will be more likely to generate committed
  alumni support without hazing.
• Without hazing, you won't have anything to hide
  or regret and will leave a positive legacy for
  future generations of members.
• Cornell University

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Alternatives to Hazing

• Campus or community service
• Ropes course activities
• Attendance at campus activities or events
• Participation in intramurals
• Leadership training
• Academic study halls
• National Organization or NCAA required
  educational programs or events

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More alternatives.

• Fundraisers
• Badge/Pin/Letter/Jersey days
• Healthy physical activities or NCAA recognized
  practice
• Balanced food consumption or diet
• Wearing of semi-casual or business attire
• Group retreat or overnight of reasonable length
• Other inclusive group activities with a
  constructive purpose.

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Resources for developing and scheduling activities

• Campus Recreation
• email campusrec_at_stcloudstate.edu
• web www.stcloudstate.edu/campusrec
• Center for Student Organizations and Leadership
  Development (CSOLD)
• email csold_at_stcloudstate.edu
• web www.stcloudstate.edu/csold
• Volunteer Connection
• email volunteer_at_stcloudstate.edu
• web www.stcloudstate.edu/volunteer
• Women's Center
• email womenscenter_at_stcloudstate.edu
• web www.stcloudstate.edu/womenscenter

All you have to do is ask!
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If you are being hazed

• Remember
• Anger, confusion, betrayal, fear, resentment,
• embarrassment, humiliation, hopelessness,
  helplessness, anxiety and depression are all
  normal reactions to being hazed. Some individuals
  have become suicidal.
• Physical consequences can include exhaustion,
  headaches, hangovers, illnesses, injuries, and
  scars.
• It's common to believe that things won't get
  worse, though they often do.
• You may want the hazing to stop, but don't want
  to get the group in trouble.
• You may want to leave, but fear the consequences
  or feel like you've invested too much already to
  walk away.
• Self-blame can occur and is fueled by hazers who
  tell new members that they will let others down
  if they leave or tell anyone what is going on.
• Cornell University

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What can you do

• Stay connected with friends outside of the group.
  Groups that haze often try to isolate their new
  members from others
• Talk with others about what you are going
  through. You do not have to keep it a secret.
  Demanding secrecy is a common practice designed
  to protect people who are abusing others.
• Seek guidance from your parents/guardian or other
  family member.
• Refuse to participate. Others before you have
  done so.
• Join together with other new members to refuse to
  be hazed. There is power in numbers because
  groups depend on getting new members to join.
  Hazers don't want new members to realize how much
  power they have, so they work hard to keep them
  subjugated.
• Leave the group. This is hard to do, but is
  always an option. Walking away from hazing takes
  strength. Don't believe it if anyone who tries to
  tell you that it is sign of weakness or that you
  weren't tough enough to hack it. Quitting when
  you are being hazed takes character.
• Talk to a Counselor to help you sort out what to
  do.
• Report the hazing, confidentially if you
  preferto any Athletic or Student Affairs Staff
  Member
• Cornell University

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• Together
• we can
• clear
• the haze