Hazing prevention at UA

Code of Conduct | Hazing

Hazing means doing, participating in, allowing, causing, coercing or forcing an individual to do, any of the acts listed in this paragraph, regardless of the individual’s willingness to participate, for the purpose of admitting, affiliating, or initiating, an individual into or with a student organization or any other recognizable groups, teams, or associations of students, or for the purpose of continuing, enhancing, or reinstating an individual’s affiliation, membership, or status in a student organization or any other recognizable groups, teams, or associations of students:

1. Consume any food, liquid, alcohol, drug of abuse, or other substance;
2. Endure any act of a physical nature including, but not limited to, whipping, beating, branding, paddling, kicking, pushing, shoving, physical exercise, physical exertion, or exposure to the elements;
3. Endure any act which may adversely affect the mental health or dignity of the individual including, but not limited to, sleep deprivation, exclusion from social contact, or conduct that could result in embarrassment, harassment, ridicule, or degradation;
4. Any activity which has the potential to be frightening, degrading, or unduly deceptive, including deception designed to convince the individual of impending pain, injury, or non-admission, non-affiliation, non-initiation, or non-membership, including, but not limited to, promoting servitude, requiring individuals to run personal errands, intentionally creating labor or clean-up work, berating or verbally harassing individuals, referring to individuals by demeaning or embarrassing nicknames, assigning individuals degrading, crude, or humiliating stunts, skits, or acts, throwing items at or on individuals, forcing individuals to carry items, forcing individuals to yell when entering or departing a physical structure or in the presence of designated individuals, forcing individuals to use designated entrances or exits, forcing an individual to be confined to a small space, transportation and/or abandonment of an individual, or requiring individuals to wear embarrassing, humiliating, or scant attire or to be nude;
5. Any activity that causes or creates a substantial risk of causing mental or physical harm to any individual;
6. Endure or participate in any act of a sexual nature;
7. Any activity which endangers or has the potential to endanger the academic performance of the individual, such as not allowing adequate time for or interfering with academic commitments;
8. Any destruction or removal of public or private property; or
9. Any violation of federal, state, or local law; university policy, rule or regulation; or the Ohio Department of Higher Education anti-hazing policy.

Hazing does not include reasonable and customary athletic, law enforcement or military training, contests, competitions, or events that are explicitly relevant to the mission of the student organization or any other recognizable groups, teams, or associations of students.

Expressed or implied consent of the victim to hazing is not a defense and does not prevent the behavior from being considered a violation of this rule.

It is a violation of this rule for any individual, knowing that hazing has been or is being committed, to fail to report such information to law enforcement authorities or to the department of student conduct and community standards.

Amnesty Policy

1. Medical Amnesty. Student health and safety is a substantial University interest. The University’s interest in promoting student health and safety is furthered by encouraging students to seek and obtain prompt medical assistance for themselves or another individual who is in distress from the use of alcohol, and/or other substances, or is experiencing a medical emergency. The University’s interest is also furthered by removing obstacles to obtaining prompt medical assistance for an individual in need.
   
   A student who in good faith seeks or obtains medical assistance (e.g. seeking assistance of a university staff member, calling UAPD at 330-972-2911 if on campus, or calling 9-1-1 if off campus) for themselves or for another individual for the use of alcohol, other substances, or experiencing a medical emergency shall not be charged with a violation of the Code of Student Conduct in connection with the possession or use of alcohol or drugs if all of the following apply:
   
   
   1. The information that would be the basis of the Code of Student Conduct alcohol, drug or other offense was obtained as a result of a student seeking medical assistance for themselves or another individual.
      
      
   2. The student accepts responsibility for the misconduct; obtains an alcohol and drug assessment; complies with any recommendations for treatment from a university or community alcohol or drug abuse services provider or a properly credentialed substance abuse or addiction treatment professional; and completes any educational interventions required by the Department of Student Conduct and Community Standards.
      
      
   3. The student provides documentation of completion of assessment and treatment recommendations.
      
      
   4. The student has not previously been granted medical amnesty in defense of another alcohol or drug incident.
      
      
   5. The student is in good disciplinary standing with the university.
      
      
2. Limited Amnesty. To encourage reporting and adjudication of student misconduct including, but not limited to, gender-based misconduct, the university of Akron may extend limited amnesty to complainants, respondents, and witnesses. Such amnesty may be granted at the sole discretion of the Director of Student Conduct and Community Standards or designee.
   
   
3. Amnesty does not preclude any disciplinary actions regarding other university violations including, but not limited to, endangering, threatening, or attempting to cause physical harm to another individual; gender-based misconduct; damage to property; theft; hazing; or any other Code of Student Conduct violation.
   
   
4. Student Organizations. If a representative of a recognized student organization seeks medical assistance under medical amnesty, that act will be considered as a mitigating factor in determining a sanction if the organization is found in violation of the Code of Student Conduct in connection with the occurrence.
   
   
5. In the event of a health and safety emergency, the University may notify the students’ parents/guardians about the incident.
   
   
6. Amnesty applies only to disciplinary actions under Code of Student Conduct violations and does not limit any law enforcement agency, including the University of Akron Police Department, from investigating or prosecuting criminal activity in accordance with federal, state or local law.
   
   
7. Determination of whether all the conditions of amnesty have been satisfied is at the sole discretion of the Director of Student Conduct and Community Standards or designee. When circumstances warrant, the Department of Student Conduct and Community Standards may waive compliance with subparagraphs (1)(d) and (1)(e). A student who fails to successfully satisfy all the conditions of this policy, including any required educational interventions, will be referred for adjudication as outlined in the Code of Student Conduct for the original incident.