HAZING POLICY
Introduction
Hazing is a very serious concern. Many hazing incidents could be avoided if members were better educated about what constitutes hazing, alternatives to hazing and the university hazing policy. Though it is the responsibility of each member of an organization to uphold the Hazing Policy it is the officer’s responsibility to educate each member, set a no-tolerance policy, lead by example, and report any hazing that has occurred. Groups can lose their recognition and individuals can be judicially sanctioned for allowing/ignoring or taking part in any form of hazing.JMU is an institution of higher learning devoted to excellence in teaching, research and service to the people of the commonwealth and the nation. The university is committed to developing students through academic and co-curricular activities. Hazing is an unproductive and hazardous custom that is incongruous with this responsibility and has no place in college life, either on or off campus. No individual student or recognized student organization may engage in or plan any activity that may be defined as hazing. In addition, no individual nor recognized organization may by physical or mental stress or by subtle or covert technique, impair, make captive, or destroy an individuals’ freedom of thought and choice.
HAZING POLICY J17-100
In keeping with JMU’s expectations for a positive academic environment, the university unconditionally opposes any situation created intentionally to produce mental or physical discomfort, embarrassment, harassment or ridicule. Hazing, under Virginia law, is defined as activities for the initiation or induction into an organization which include calisthenics or other strenuous physical activity; exposure to inclement weather; consumption of food, liquid, beverage, drug or other substance; confinement in any room or compartment; spraying, painting or pelting with any substance; burying in any substance; burning, branding or tattooing or another activity which may result in physical injury or endanger the health or life of the individual being hazed.J17-101 Section 18.2-56 of the Code of Virginia, as amended, which declares hazing illegal, establishes conditions for civil and criminal liability and outlines the duties of the university when a student has been found guilty of hazing. It is hereby incorporated as part of this policy and will serve as a guide for action by the university when hazing results in bodily injury.
HAZING INFORMATION
The following activities have at one time or another been construed as hazing. Such actions are often required or implied as conditions necessary for an individual to be included in a group. The list is not inclusive of all possible hazing violations at the university. Organizations that are found to be in violation of this policy are subject to discipline by the university and may lose their status as recognized student organizations of the university. Individual members who are found to be in violation of the Code of Student Conduct may be disciplined in accordance with established university procedures.Hazing includes but is not limited to the following activities:
- - Requiring calisthenics such as sit-ups, push-ups, runs or any form of physically abusive exercise
- - Forcing or requiring consumption of alcoholic beverages or any drug
- - Requiring the ingestion of any undesirable or unwanted substance (i.e. spoiled food, insects, raw eggs, etc.)
- - Partial or total nudity at any time
- - Paddle swats
- - Pushing, shoving or attacking associate/pledge members
- - Assigning "pranks" such as stealing, painting objects, panty raids and harassing another organization
- - Calling associates by degrading names such as "scum"
- - Activities which allow associates/pledges/new members less than six continuous hours of sleep
- - Required road trips and kidnapping of associates or members
- - Running up stairs while reading material
- - Yelling, screaming or use of obscenities at pledges/associates/new members
- - Activities which encourage failure of associates/pledges/new members to comply with the directions of faculty, staff or other university officials
- - Burning, branding or tattooing any part of the body, whether voluntarily or involuntarily
- - Activities which call for blindfolding, confinement, jumping from heights and other potentially dangerous activities
- - Intentional actions that obstruct, disrupt or physically interfere with the use of university premises, buildings, streets or other facility of the university
- - Activities which encourage failure to comply with the laws of local, state or federal government
