HAZING IS NOT OKAY
Hazing is not a healthy tradition or an effective way for a group to share a bonding experience. Instead, it is a form of harassment and/or humiliation that can have a lasting emotional impact on individual members of a group and can even escalate into violent behaviors. Hazing is wrong, illegal (720 ILCS 5/12C-50) and against college policy (Board Policy 4650).
PENALTIES FOR HAZING
Students found responsible for hazing can be sanctioned for their actions through the Code of Student Conduct. Student conduct sanctions include a range of penalties, including, but not limited to, college suspension or expulsion. A student group will be responsible for the actions and conduct of its members when one or more of its members, acting in the capacity of their membership, engage in hazing. Student organizations found in violation will be subject to student conduct procedures and sanctions in the same manner as individual students. Additionally, hazing can violate criminal and/or civil law. In the state of Illinois, hazing is classified as a Class A misdemeanor, except in the situation where hazing results in death or great bodily harm; it is then considered a Class 4 felony.
WHAT IS HAZING?
Hazing is any intentional, knowing or reckless act committed against a person that causes or creates a risk of physical or psychological harm related to initiation into or affiliation with a student organization, regardless of their willingness to participate.
EXAMPLES OF HAZING
A wide range of activities can be considered hazing, including, but not limited to:
- Whipping, beating, striking, electronic shocking, placing a harmful substance on someone’s body or similar activity.
- Causing, coercing, or otherwise inducing sleep deprivation, exposure to the elements, confinement in a small space, extreme calisthenics, or 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.
- Any activity that places another person in reasonable fear of bodily harm through the use of threatening words or conduct.
- Any activity against another person that includes a criminal violation of local, State, Tribal, or Federal law.
- 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.
WHAT DOES “STUDENT ORGANIZATION” MEAN?
For the purposes of this policy, the term “student organization” includes a club, society, association, intercollegiate athletic team, club sports team, music/theater ensemble or student government in which two or more of the members are students enrolled at the college whether or not the organization is established or recognized by the college.
HOW DO I REPORT HAZING?
A student who believes they have experienced hazing or believes that another student has experienced hazing should immediately report the alleged acts to the Code of Conduct Office by using the Student Conduct Incident Reporting Form. A student or group of students may also choose to file a report with the Moraine Valley Police Department by calling (708) 974-5555.
A Moraine Valley employee who suspects or receives notice that a student or group of students has or may have experienced hazing, regardless of when or where the incident occurred, shall immediately notify the Code of Conduct Office by using the Student Conduct Incident Reporting Form and/or the Moraine Valley Police Department by calling (708) 974-5555.
WHAT RESOURCES ARE AVAILABLE FOR HAZING PREVENTION AND AWARENESS?
Initial hazing prevention and awareness training is provided to new students during their first semester at Moraine Valley. Campus-wide hazing prevention and awareness training is provided on an ongoing basis (each semester for students and annually for employees). Additional resources include:
StopHazing
Hazing Prevention Network
University of Virginia’s Gordie Center
Timothy J. Piazza Center for Fraternity and Sorority Research
Clery Center
HOW CAN I LEARN MORE ABOUT HAZING INCIDENTS?
Incidents of hazing shall be included in the college’s annual security report and published in a Campus Hazing Transparency Report in accordance with the Stop Campus Hazing Act federal law. If any incidents of hazing have been reported, this report will be located on this page.
