Report Hazing

What is Hazing?

Campus Policy and State Law

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Hazing is defined as any intentional, knowing, or reckless act committed by a person (whether individually or in concert with other persons) against another person or persons regardless of the willingness of such other person or persons to participate, whether physical, mental, emotional, or psychological, that

1. is committed in the course of an initiation into, an affiliation with, or the maintenance of membership in, a student organization; and
2. causes or creates a risk, above the reasonable risk encountered in the course of participation in the institution of higher education or the organization (such as the physical preparation necessary for participation in an athletic team), of physical or psychological injury.

B. Hazing includes, but is not limited to:

1. whipping, beating, striking, branding, electronic shocking, placing of a harmful substance on someone’s body, or similar activity;
2. causing, coercing, or otherwise inducing sleep deprivation, exposure to the elements, confinement in a small space, extreme calisthenics, or other similar activity;
3. causing, coercing, or otherwise inducing another person to consume food, liquid, alcohol, drugs, or other substances;
4. causing, coercing, or otherwise inducing another person to perform sexual acts;
5. any activity that places another person in reasonable fear of bodily harm through the use of threatening words or conduct;
6. any activity against another person that includes a criminal violation of local, State, Tribal, or Federal law; and
7. 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.

C. Student organization is defined (for the purposes of this policy) as an organization at GVSU (such as a club, society, association, varsity or junior varsity athletic team, club sports team, fraternity, sorority, band, order, corporation, service group, student government, or similar group) in which two or more of the members are students enrolled at GVSU, whether or not the organization is established or recognized.

III. Scope

This policy applies to all members of the GVSU community, including students, student organizations (recognized and unrecognized), visitors, volunteers, faculty, and staff. This policy also applies to events occurring on or off campus and/or online if the conduct objectively interferes with the individual’s ability to access GVSU’s programs or activities.

IV. Reporting and Transparency Requirements (in accordance with Clery Act guidelines)

A. Annual Security Report (ASR) Compliance: GVSU will include all reported hazing statistics in its Annual Security Report.

B. Public Hazing Violation Disclosure: GVSU will maintain a publicly accessible, online Campus Hazing Transparency Report which discloses findings of recognized student organization hazing violations.

C. Retention of Hazing Records: Reports will remain publicly accessible for no fewer than five calendar years from the date of publication.

V. Prevention and Education

In compliance with the Clery Act, GVSU will provide research-informed hazing education and prevention programming designed to reach students, staff, faculty, and advisors involved with student organizations intended to stop hazing before hazing occurs, which may include skill building for bystander intervention, information about ethical leadership, and the promotion of strategies for building group cohesion without hazing.

VI. Anyone may report hazing anonymously or directly to GVSU through the below channels. All employees of GVSU are considered mandatory reporters. Reported incidents will be investigated through the applicable GVSU department process.

A. Department of Public Safety: Call (616) 331-3255 to report incidents of hazing involving criminal conduct or visitors. Call 911 for emergencies

B. Office of Student Conduct and Conflict Resolution: Call (616) 331-3585 to report incidents of hazing involving students or student organizations.

C. Office of Civil Rights and Title IX: Call (616) 331-9530 to report incidents of hazing on the basis of a protected characteristic.

D. Human Resources: Call (616) 331-2215 to report incidents of hazing involving GVSU employees or volunteers.

Hazing isn't simple. It's not always black and white. 

Hazingprevention.org(HPO) states that BYSTANDER BEHAVIOR is a critical issue. It is HPO's mission to empower people to prevent hazing. Bystander behavior is what people demonstrate when they watch hazing occur without intervening. If people felt empowered enough to intervene, others would be spared the emotional and/or physical harm of hazing. To learn more,  read Hazing in View from the University of Maine.

The following conduct committed in the course of an initiation into, an affiliation with, or the maintenance of membership in, a student organization can be examples of hazing if that conduct causes or creates a risk of physical or psychological injury. The below list does not include every possible example of hazing. When in doubt, report the conduct.

Intimidation 

Deception

Assignment of demerits

Silence periods with implied threats for violation

Social isolation of new members

Use of demeaning names

Expecting certain items to always be in one's possession

Harassment

Verbal abuse

Threats or implied threats

Asking new members to wear embarrassing attire

Skit nights with degrading or humiliating acts

Sleep deprivation 

Sexual simulations

Violence

Forced alcohol or drug consumption

Beating, paddling, or other forms of physical assault

Branding

Forced ingestion of vile substances

Water intoxication

Abduction/kidnapping

Sexual Assault

StopHazing Research Lab. (2020, December). Hazing: The Issue, StopHazing Consulting. https://www.stophazing.org/issue

Here are some alternative ideas to hazing that help build community rather than harm individuals:

Hazing Alternatives

Grand Valley's Policy

Hazing defined by Grand Valley is an act that endangers the mental or physical health or safety of a student, or that destroys or removes public or private property, for the purpose of initiation, admission into, affiliation with, or as a condition for continued membership in a group or organization. Participation or cooperation by the person(s) being hazed does not excuse the violation. Failing to intervene to prevent (and/or) failing to discourage (and/or) failing to report those acts may also violate this policy. For more information, visit:

Grand Valley Policy Against Hazing

Michigan Law

Hazing is not only against University policy, it is a crime. Here you can find the legal implications for participating in hazing here in Michigan:

Michigan Penal Code

Report Hazing

Report Hazing

Prevention Programming

Campus Health Violence Prevention Info

Violence Prevention Program Request Form

Experiencing Hazing?

GVSU Counseling Center

Office of Student Conduct and Conflict Resolution