Hazing Policy

Saint Peter’s University students are not permitted to engage with hazing or hazing-related activities. Therefore, any hazing, initiation or team, group, club or organization bonding activities that subject others to mental or physical  discomfort,  embarrassment,  harassment or ridicule  or  other  conduct  which  recklessly  endangers  or threatens the health, safety, or welfare of any person is prohibited.

Saint Peter’s University defines hazing and inappropriate team, group, club or organization initiation or bonding activities as any action, whether physical, mental, emotional or psychological, which subjects another person, voluntarily or involuntarily, to anything that has the intended or unintended effect of abusing, mistreating, degrading, humiliating, harassing or intimidating the person, or which may in any fashion compromise the inherent dignity of the person, for the purpose of association with or induction to a particular team, group, club or organization. In addition, any requirements by any member of a team, group, club or organization which compels another member or prospective member to participate in any activity which is against university policy or state/federal law will be defined as hazing.

Specific actions and activities which are prohibited include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Any type of initiation or other activity where there is an expectation of individuals joining a particular team, group, club or organization to participate in behavior designed to humiliate, degrade or abuse them regardless of the person’s willingness to participate.
• Forcing, requiring or pressuring an individual to consume alcohol or any other substance.
• Forcing, requiring or pressuring an individual to shave any part of the body, including hair on the head.
• Any requirement or pressure put on an individual to participate in any activity which is illegal, perverse, publicly indecent, contrary to genuine morals and/or beliefs, e.g., public profanity, indecent or lewd conduct or sexual gestures in public.
• Required eating of anything an individual would refuse to eat otherwise.
• Any activity or action that creates a risk to the health, safety or property of the University or any member of its community.
• Forcing or requiring calisthenics, such as push-ups, sit-ups and running, when these activities are not part of the normal and standard conditioning requirements for a particular athletic or physical training activity, taking place within the appropriate practice, training or competition venues and supervised by qualified professionals.
• Assigning or endorsing pranks such as stealing or harassment of another group or individual.
• Awakening or disturbing individuals during normal sleeping hours.
• Expecting or pressuring individuals to participate in an activity in which the full membership is not willing to participate.
• Physical abuse of any kind.
• Forcing, encouraging or pressuring someone to wear apparel which is conspicuous and not within the norm of what is considered to be in good taste in public.
• Engaging in public stunts and buffoonery.
• Nudity at any time, or forced reading or viewing of pornographic material.
• Paddling, beating or otherwise permitting a member to hit other members.
• Having substances including, but not limited to, oil, eggs, mud, paint, cream and honey thrown at, poured on or otherwise applied to the body of a member of the team, club, or organization.
• Harassment or morally degrading/humiliating games or other activity that makes a member the object of amusement, ridicule or intimidation.
• Subjecting a member to cruel and unusual psychological conditions.

This Saint Peter’s University policy is applicable to and governs the conduct of students, faculty, staff, alumni, visitors and other licensees as part of the Saint Peter’s University community. Administrators, coaches, team captains, student-athletes, student leaders, club/organization offices and all students shall be expected to accept responsibility and act with integrity and civility regarding this issue. This includes using a position of power or influence over a subordinate (ie supervisor/supervisee relationship).  This includes not only refraining from engaging in activities such as those described above, but also reporting any questionable activities to advisors, coaches or administrators.

Failure to comply with this policy may result in student conduct action that is reflective of the severity of the policy violation.