Hazing

Adopted by the Board of Trustees: Sept. 22, 1980

Wheras the rules and regulations of the University have, for numerous years, prohibited various activities commonly referred to as 'hazing'; and

Wheras the State of New York has enacted a law which required the University to file with the Regents and the Commissioner of Education its rules and regulations relating to the subject of 'hazing';

Now it be Hereby Resolved that the following Rules and Regulations Regarding Hazing are hereby adopted by the Board of Trustees and that the same be filed with the Regents and the Commissioner of Education and be disseminated among the University community.

St. John's University, New York, recognizes that membership in a fraternity/sorority or other campus organization (hereinafter collectively referred to as an 'organization') can be a meaningful experience in conjunction with other aspects of the educational process. Unfortunately, however, membership or prospective membership in an organization is sometimes accompanied by a wrongful activity commonly known as 'hazing'.

Hazing is both a violation of the Penal Law and other laws of the State of New York as well as the general regulations of the University. Accordingly, the University hereby reaffirms its policy that it will not condone hazing of any kind. To this end, any student, faculty member, staff member, visitor, licensee or invitee who engage in hazing may be ejected from the campus and, where appropriate, shall be subject to suspension, expulsion or other disciplinary action. Similarly, the University may take any or all of the following actions against any organization which authorizes hazing or whose members (whether individually or in concert) engage in hazing: rescind permission for the organization to operate on campus property; rescind recognition of the organization; prohibit the organization from using the University's name.

Hazing has been defined as generally including, among other things:

• Any action or situation which recklessly or intentionally endangers mental or physical health or involves the forced consumption of alcohol or drugs for the purpose of initiation into or affiliation with any organization.
• Any other act or series of acts which cause or are likely to cause bodily or physical harm or danger.
• Mistreatment by playing stunts or practicing abusive, humiliating or ridiculous tricks that subject an individual to personal indignity, humiliation or ridicule.
• Harassment by exacting unnecessary, disagreeable or difficult work or harassment by banter, ridicule or criticism. Some examples of such prohibited activities are:
  
  a. Abnormal or unusual dress; e.g., extraordinary headwear, costumes, underwear, body painting, etc.
  
  b. Performing unusual or abnormal acts; e.g., dancing on tables, standing at attention, standing on windowsills, etc.
  
  c. Excessive or unusual physical exercise.
  
  d. Verbal harassment or abuse; e.g., yelling, making demeaning remarks, etc.

Violations of any of the foregoing prohibitions shall be dealt with by the University as follows:

1. In the case of any individual or group that is not a member of the University community: The authorization for such individual or group to remain on University property will immediately be revoked, and if the individual or group thereafter refuses to leave University property, necessary and appropriate action will be taken to eject such a person or group therefrom. In addition, the University may, in its sole discretion, take all necessary and appropriate action to prevent any such individual or group that engages in hazing from reentering University property.
   
   
2. In the case of a student: The student shall be requested to cease and desist from such prohibited conduct; and if he/she fails to do so, necessary and appropriate action will be taken to eject such student from University property. In addition, disciplinary proceedings shall be commenced, pursuant to the Procedures for Student Discipline in Nonacademic Affairs, against any student who engages in hazing. In accordance with those procedures, the penalties of suspension, expulsion or other disciplinary action may be imposed.
   
   
3. In the case of a faculty member: The faculty member shall be requested to cease and desist from such prohibited conduct; and if he/she fails to do so, necessary and appropriate action will be taken to eject such faculty member from University property. In addition, charges shall be brought, in accordance with the Procedures set forth in of the Statutes of the University, against any faculty member who engages in hazing. In accordance with those Procedures, the penalties of suspension, removal from the faculty or other disciplinary action may be imposed against the faculty member.
   
   
4. In the case of non-faculty staff member or administrator: The staff member or administrator shall be requested to cease and desist from such prohibited conduct; and if he/she fails to do so, necessary and appropriate action shall be taken to eject such staff member or administrator from University property. In addition:
   
   a. In the case of a non-academic professional staff member or administrator who engages in hazing, disciplinary action shall be taken by the President or his designee, in accordance with procedures to be established by the President.
   
   b. In the case of any other staff member who engages in hazing, disciplinary action shall be taken by appropriate representatives of the University, subject to the grievance procedures set forth in the Handbook for Staff Personnel.
   
   As a result of such disciplinary action, any staff member or administrator may be suspended, discharged or otherwise disciplined.
   
   
5. In the case of an organization: The organization shall be requested to cease and desist from such prohibited conduct; and if the organization fails to do so, necessary and appropriate action will be taken to eject such organization from University property. In addition, charges shall be instituted, pursuant to the Procedures for Student Discipline in Nonacademic Affairs, against any organization which authorizes or engages in hazing. In accordance with those procedures the penalties of temporary or permanent recision of permission for the organization to operate on campus property; temporary or permanent recision of the University's recognition of such organization; and prohibition of the use of the University's name by such organization, may be imposed.
   
   
6. The foregoing Rules and Regulations shall apply equally to individuals and organizations at the School of Law except that the hearing procedures to be followed with regard to students and organizations at the School of Law shall be those set forth in the Grievances Procedure adopted by the Faculty Council of the School of Law. In accordance with those Grievance Procedures, the penalties of suspension, expulsion or other disciplinary action may be imposed upon any student at the School of Law who engages in hazing. In connection with any organization of the School of Law, in addition to the penalties set forth in those Grievances Procedures, the penalties of temporary or permanent recision of permission for the organization to operate on campus property; temporary or permanent recision of the University's recognition of such organization; and prohibition of the use of the University's name by such organization, may be imposed.
   
   
7. Wherever, in the opinion of the President or his designee, the conduct of any individual or organization poses an imminent threat to the physical or emotional safety of himself/herself or to others or to property, the President or his designee may immediately suspend such individual or organization from the campus pending any appropriate hearing and final determination therein.
   
   
8. In addition to the foregoing, the University reaffirms its right to utilize and seek the aid of public authorities and such judicial, civil and criminal process and proceedings as may, in the discretion of the University, be necessary and appropriate. Any penalty imposed by the University shall be in addition to any penalty pursuant to the penal law or any other law to which a violator or organization may be subject.
   
   
9. The foregoing Rules and Regulations shall be deemed to be part of the bylaws of all organizations operating on the University's campuses. Every organization shall annually review its bylaws with all individuals affiliated with such organization.