Hazing Policy
Summary
Stanford is committed to fostering experiences, relationships and environments that contribute to the good of our community and ensure that every student feels a firm sense of belonging. Hazing of any kind is antithetical to these goals and many hazing activities are also against the law. Stanford prohibits hazing activities.
Policy Statement
Definition of Hazing at Stanford University
Hazing is any activity that subjects someone joining or participating in a group to humiliation, degradation, abuse, or unreasonable risk of injury, regardless of that person’s willingness to participate. All students have the right to be free of such experiences.
The key elements of prohibited hazing are:
Subjecting another person to humiliation, degradation, abuse, or a risk of physical or psychological injury above the reasonable risk encountered in the course of participating in campus or group activities (e.g., physical preparation necessary for participation in an athletic team);
In the course of that person’s initiation into, affiliation with, or maintenance of membership in a student organization, club, athletic team, student government, or other group in which two or more members are students;
Regardless of that person’s willingness to participate;
Regardless of whether the student organization/group is established by, registered with, or recognized by Stanford; and
Regardless of the location of the hazing activity.
Any individual who plans or intentionally assists in hazing activity has engaged in hazing, whether or not that individual is present when the hazing activity occurs. Because of the socially coercive nature of hazing, implied or expressed consent is not a defense under this policy.
Examples of hazing include, but are not limited to:
Forcing, coercing, or inducing the use of alcohol or an illegal substance
Forcing, coercing, or inducing the consumption or use of any food, liquid, or other substance
Physical abuse, e.g., whipping, paddling, beating, tattooing, branding, shaving and exposure to the elements, or the threat of such behaviors
Forcing, coercing, or inducing nudity or the performance or simulation of sexual acts
Threatening or causing physical restraint
Throwing substances or objects at another person
Assigning unreasonable chores or acts of servitude
Causing excessive exercise, sleep deprivation or excessive fatigue
Interfering with adequate time for study
Requiring the wearing of apparel or acting in a way that is conspicuous and not within community norms
Blindfolding
Subjecting students to abusive or demeaning conduct
Forcing, coercing, or inducing another to engage in conduct that involves a criminal violation of applicable law
Forcing, coercing, or inducing another to engage in conduct that involves a violation of university policy
Conduct that constitutes hazing may also be found to violate other university policies, such as Title IX, the Fundamental Standard, or the Alcohol and Other Drugs Policy.
Hazing Prevention and Awareness
To promote a hazing-free environment, Stanford provides research-informed training programs to the campus community, including incoming students, recognized student groups, athletic teams, sororities and fraternities, and staff and faculty serving as advisors or Campus Security Authorities. These programs are designed to help community members recognize hazing, develop prevention and intervention skills, and understand Stanford’s hazing-related policies and reporting options.
Reporting Hazing
Stanford encourages the reporting of suspected hazing activities. Hazing may be reported to the Office of Community Standards using the Hazing Report Form, or the Department of Public Safety at (650) 329-2413. Hazing may also be reported to the University Compliance Helpline, which provides an option for anonymous reporting. Individuals who have been identified as Campus Security Authorities under the Clery Act are required to report suspected hazing violations to the Department of Public Safety.
To report hazing activity in progress that involves criminal or other conduct endangering health and safety, please dial 9-1-1.
Reports of hazing will be referred to the Office of Community Standards, the Department of Public Safety, other appropriate campus offices, or external agencies for review and action in accordance with applicable policy or law.
Information about hazing will be included in the Annual Security Report published by the Department of Public Safety in accordance with the Federal Stop Campus Hazing Act.
Consequences of a Violation
Hazing may result in serious individual and/or Group consequences including, but not limited to: disciplinary action up to and including expulsion for individuals and permanent loss of recognition for groups.
In the event a recognized student group is found to have violated the Hazing Policy, information about the student group and findings about its hazing activity will be included in a publicly available Campus Hazing Transparency Report in accordance with the Federal Stop Campus Hazing Act.
Applicable Laws on Hazing
Stanford's Hazing Policy is distinct from and broader than California Penal Code section 245.6, which prohibits: “any method of initiation or pre-initiation into a student organization or student body, whether or not the organization or body is officially recognized by an educational institution, which is likely to cause serious bodily injury to any former, current, or prospective student of any school, community college, college, university or other educational institution in this state.” A violation of Penal Code Section 245.6 that does not result in serious bodily injury is punishable as a misdemeanor, while a violation that results in death or injury is punishable as a felony or a misdemeanor.
Nothing in this Hazing Policy prevents Stanford from taking institutional action against hazing activity that falls outside the narrower definition of Penal Code section 245.6 or other applicable law concerning hazing, including, but not limited to the California Stop Campus Hazing Act and the Federal Stop Campus Hazing Act. Questions regarding hazing policies related to fraternities and sororities should be directed to Fraternity and Sorority Life at stanfordfsl@stanford.edu. For all other student groups, contact the Office of Student Engagement at 650-723-2445 or studentengagement@stanford.edu.