About
What Is Hazing?
Hazing is any intentional, knowing, or reckless act committed by a person against another person, regardless of that person's willingness to participate, in connection with initiation, affiliation, or continued membership in a student organization, that creates a risk of or causes physical or psychological injury beyond the reasonable risks of normal participation in the District or organization.
A person's willingness to participate does not make hazing safe or acceptable. An activity may still be hazing even when it is described as a tradition, team-building activity, rite of passage, or voluntary activity.
Examples of Hazing
Hazing may include, but is not limited to:
- Hitting, striking, whipping, shocking, or other forms of physical abuse.
- Forced or excessive exercise, physical exertion, or calisthenics.
- Sleep deprivation, exposure to extreme weather or environmental conditions, or confinement.
- Forcing or pressuring someone to consume alcohol, drugs, food, or other harmful substances.
- Forcing or pressuring someone to participate in sexual conduct or sexually degrading activities.
- Threatening, intimidating, humiliating, or degrading another person.
- Creating fear of bodily harm or placing someone in a dangerous situation.
- Requiring someone to perform illegal acts or activities that violate District or College rules.
- Creating dangerous situations as a condition of joining, participating in, or remaining in a group.
- Pressuring someone to participate in an activity they would not otherwise choose to do.
Who Does This Apply To?
Hazing concerns may involve any student organization or group in which students participate. This can include student clubs, societies, associations, athletic teams, club sports teams, fraternities or sororities, performing groups, student government, and other organized student activities.
For purposes of the District's hazing procedure, a student organization is an organization in which two or more members are students enrolled at SMCCCD, regardless of whether the organization is formally established or recognized by the District.
Hazing may occur on or off campus. District prohibitions also apply to employees who engage in, encourage, or facilitate hazing.
Report a Concern
You do not need to determine whether conduct meets the formal definition of hazing before making a report.