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Anti-Hazing Policy

Purpose

Saint Vincent College believes in maintaining an environment that recognizes the worth and value of every individual. Every Student should be able to participate in athletics, activities, and student clubs and organizations without compromising their health, safety, or welfare. Therefore, hazing is unacceptable and a violation of College policy. In addition, it is against federal (Stop Campus Hazing Act) and state law (Timothy J. Piazza Anti-Hazing Law). This document outlines the College’s policy against hazing, reporting mechanisms, investigation of reports, enforcement of violations, and prevention/awareness programs.

Scope

This policy applies to all students, members of athletic teams, members of student organizations, and coaches and advisors to athletic teams and student organizations.

Policy History

  1. Effective Date: Immediately
  2. Approved: September 2, 2025
  3. Policy History:
    • Moves anti-hazing provisions into a separate stand-alone policy.
  4. Maintenance of Policy: Office of Student Affairs

Definitions

  1. Annual Security and Fire Safety Report – a report containing statistics of Clery Crimes and certain fire safety statistics for the three most recent calendar years, as well as College policy statements and procedures addressing campus security and fire safety.
  2. Athletic Team – any varsity or junior varsity athletic team, club sports team, or intramural sports team at Saint Vincent College.
  3. Hazing - any intentional, knowing, or reckless act committed by a person (whether individually or in concert with other persons) against another person or persons regardless of the willingness of such other person or persons to participate, that:
    1. is committed in the course of initiation/admission into or maintenance of membership on an Athletic Team or a Student Club or Organization; and
    2. violates local, federal, or state criminal law or causes or creates a reasonable risk, above the reasonable risk encountered during participation in Athletic Team activities or Student Club Organization activities, of physical or psychological injury.

Examples of Hazing consistent with federal and state law are provided below. These examples are not intended to be an all-inclusive, exhaustive list and are provided for illustrative purposes.

  1. Student - individuals who have been notified of their admission to Saint Vincent College and/or who are matriculated, enrolled or registered in any Saint Vincent College academic program or activity.
  2. Student Organization - any organization (such as a club, society, association, band, or student government) in which two or more of the members are students enrolled at Saint Vincent College, whether the organization is established or recognized by Saint Vincent College.

Policy

1. General Prohibition and Example

Hazing is prohibited. Examples of hazing include, but are not limited to:
  • whipping, beating, striking, branding, electronic shocking, placing of a harmful substance on someone’s body, or similar activities;
  • causing, coercing, or otherwise inducing sleep deprivation, exposure to the elements, confinement in a small space, extreme calisthenics, or other similar activity;
  • causing, coercing, or otherwise inducing another person to consume food, liquid, alcohol, drugs, or other substances;
  • causing, coercing, or otherwise inducing another person to perform sexual acts or to endure brutality of a sexual nature;
  • any activity that places another person in reasonable fear of bodily harm through the use of threatening words or conduct or an activity that creates a reasonable likelihood of bodily injury;
  • any activity that adversely affects the mental health or dignity of an individual;
  • exclusion from social contact or conduct that could result in extreme embarrassment; and
  • any activity that induces, causes, or requires another person to perform a duty or task that involves a criminal violation of local, state, tribal, or federal law.
Hazing is considered a violation of the Student Code of Conduct (“Code”) and will be administered in accordance with the Code provisions. Consent is not a defense to hazing. That the conduct was sanctioned or approved by the Athletic Team or Student Organization is also not a defense.
For Students, being in the presence of a violation of hazing without reporting it could be considered a violation of applicable sections of the Code. For employees, presence without reporting may violate the Standards of Conduct and other applicable policies and lead to discipline, up to and including termination.

 

2. Investigation of Hazing – Saint Vincent College encourages all members of the College community who believe that they have witnessed, experienced, or are aware of conduct that constitutes Hazing in violation of this policy to report the violation to the Director of Public Safety or the Dean of Students. Individuals may also make reports through the online Campus Safety Concern Reporting Form. Investigation into the report will be handled in accordance with the processes and procedures used by the Office of Student Conduct.

3. Amnesty – In order to encourage reporting of Hazing, the College will extend amnesty from Student conduct allegations and sanctions to parties and witnesses for minor violations of the alcohol and drugs policies (e.g. underage consumption of alcohol, public intoxication, and possession or ingestion of illegal drugs) for reporting parties, witnesses, or respondents where such disclosures are made in connection with a good faith report or investigation of hazing or retaliation. This provision does not apply to more serious allegations such as physical abuse of another or illicit drug or alcohol distribution that contributed to the commission of a policy violation.

4. Retaliation and Interference – The College also considers retaliation against parties and witnesses to be a serious violation and will investigate and hold accountable any Student found to have retaliated against another Student as a result of that Student’s reporting of, or participation in an investigation of, hazing. Interference in an investigation under this policy by Students, Athletic Teams or Student Organizations are also subject to sanctions

5. Disciplinary Sanctions: Student Organizations found to be in violation of this policy may face sanctions ranging from a warning to a loss of status as a recognized Student Organization. Individuals found to be in violation of this policy may face sanctions ranging from a warning to dismissal.

6. Prevention and Awareness Programs – The College will offer research-informed, campus-wide prevention programming designed to reach all members of the College community which addresses:

  1. this policy;
  2. how to report hazing;
  3. information about the College’s response process;
  4. any applicable state, local, or federal law; and
  5. primary prevention strategies.

7. Campus Hazing Transparency Report – As required by the Stop Campus Hazing Act and the Timothy J. Piazza Anti-Hazing Law, the College will publicly report, in summary form, findings concerning any Athletic Team or recognized Student Organization found to be in violation of the College’s Code of Conduct related to hazing. Reports of hazing and statistics of hazing violations shall also be published in the Annual Security and Fire Safety Report.

8. Criminal Enforcement – Hazing is a violation of state law and may lead to criminal or civil penalties. Depending on the severity of the action, it may be classified as a misdemeanor or felony with monetary penalties for organizations up to $15,000 for each violation.

Related Documents and Forms

If you or anyone you know has or is experiencing any form of hazing, you are to contact Saint Vincent’s Office of Public Safety at 724-805-2311 or publicsafety@stvincent.edu or use the anonymous Campus Safety Concern Reporting Form. Reports can also be made to Office of Student Affairs.

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