11. Hazing –
Any activity that is intentional, or unintentional due to reckless behavior, occurring on or
off campus directed against a student that endangers or is likely to endanger the student’s mental
and/or physical health or safety
regardless of a student’s willingness to participate in such
activity in connection with or as a condition or precondition of gaining acceptance,
membership, office, or other status in a school organization.
This activity is commonly
associated with the student’s membership, initiation, affiliation, pledging and/or association with
an organization, but may include other activities. The definition includes, but is not limited to;
A. Physical brutality, whipping, beating, striking, branding, paddling, kicking, choking, scratching,
and electronic shocking and placing harmful substance on or in the body;
B. Sleep deprivation, exposure to elements, and confinement in a small space, aerobic
exercising, duck walking and weight lifting;
C. Any activity involving the excessive consumption of food or non-appropriate foods and
liquids, alcohol, liquor, drugs (this includes ingesting foreign objects or substances);
D. Any activity that intimidates, ostracizes, and/or subjects students to extreme mental stress,
shame, and/or humiliation or anything that adversely affects the student’s mental health such
as:
•
Screaming at an individual or group
• Belittling or humiliating participants
• Using derogatory, profane, or obscene language toward participants
• Requiring participants to engage in morally degrading or humiliating games (as perceived
by the College community and/or participants)
• Embarrassing activities
• Reputation-damaging activities
• Disheveling hair, tearing clothes
• Using participants’ cars, money, clothes, or other personal items
E. Treasure hunts, scavenger hunts, road trips, or other activities that require participants to
travel long distances and find their way back from isolated areas with insufficient financial
resources or that otherwise endanger a participant;
F. Any activity in which hazing is either condoned or encouraged by members, officers, and/or
alumnae of the organization;
G. Gifts of any form to any individual or organization prior to the intake process or during the
membership intake process; and
H. Engaging in any activity that is prohibited by law or by the policies of the College.
It shall not constitute a defense to the charge of hazing that the participant(s) took part voluntarily,
that the participant voluntarily assumed the risks or hardship of the activity, or that no physical or
mental injury was suffered.
Complainants who are non-victims and present, but not involved, during a hazing incident may
not be subject to a charge of a violation of the hazing provision of the Community Standards and
Code of Conduct. However, failing to report incidents of hazing contributes to a culture of hazing
and abusive conduct, and perpetuates acts which threaten the health, safety, security, and
welfare of our community. Engaging in such behaviors will result in necessary and appropriate
intervention and or other actions by the College to assist the student with understanding the
impact of hazing behaviors to self and to the Spelman community.
Finally, having knowledge of the planning of such activities or knowledge that an incident of this
type has occurred, and failing to report the behaviors to the Dean of Students or any college
officials is also a violation of College policy.
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