Responsible Office: Center for Student Engagement Approved By: VP/Provost Approved Date: 12/17/2018 Effective Date: 1/1/2019 Category: Student Description/Purpose: Introductory Statement Saint Francis University is committed to fostering a safe, productive learning environment. The Saint Francis University Hazing Policy prohibits all acts of hazing within the University community. This policy applies to each act conducted on or off campus if such acts are deemed to constitute hazing under this Policy or Pennsylvania law. Procedures: Consequence: Details: Definition of Hazing University recognized student organizations and other student opportunities including athletics, Greek Life, organized student activities, etc., may not engage in any form of hazing activities. Hazing is defined as any action or situation that recklessly or intentionally endangers the mental or physical health or safety of a student or that willfully destroys or removes public or private property or otherwise violates any institutional policy or local, state, or federal laws or statutes, for the purpose of initiation or admission into or affiliation with, or as a condition for continued membership or participation in any recognized student organization or opportunity. Hazing includes, but is not limited to, any brutality of a physical nature, such as whipping, beating, branding, forced calisthenics, exposure to the elements, forced consumption of any food, liquor, drug or other substance, or any other forced physical activity that could adversely affect the physical health and safety of the individual, and shall include any activity that would subject the individual to extreme mental stress such as sleep deprivation, forced exclusion from social contact, forced favors or chores, restrictions of, access to, or disrupting of normal and routine personal activities and freedoms or services (e.g., sleep, study, work, worship, meals, personal hygiene, etc.), forced conduct that could result in extreme embarrassment, or any other forced activity that could adversely affect the mental health or dignity of the individual, including dress/attire not within the norm of what is considered to be in good taste, public nudity, consumption of pornographic media, or any sexual of lewd acts, or exposure to any cruel or unusual psychological conditions, or any willful destruction or removal of public or private properly, or violates any institutional policy or local, state, or federal laws or statutes. Any activity as described in this definition upon which the initiation or admission into or affiliation with or continued membership in a recognized student organization or participation in any student opportunity is directly or indirectly conditioned shall be presumed to be "forced" activity, the willingness of an individual to participate in such activity notwithstanding. Any recognized student organization or those responsible for a student opportunity that commits hazing is subject to disciplinary action. Statement on Sanctions: In addition to any possible criminal and civil penalties, students, teams, groups, or organizations found responsible for violating this policy will be sanctioned according to the Saint Francis University Code of Student Conduct. Possible sanctions range from probation to expulsion for individual students and probation to permanent revocation of University recognition and operation for teams, groups, and/or organizations. These sanctions shall be in addition to any other sanction imposed for violation of any other University policy to which the violator(s) may be subject as well as any criminal or civil charges that may incur. University employees associated with the involved parties, such as coaches, advisors, faculty, etc., are responsible for maintaining a proactive approach to hazing and will be reported to Human Resources if they either have prior knowledge of planned acts of hazing and fail to take action to prevent it, or if they fail to report hazing after learning of such acts have been committed. Alumni and volunteers will be reported to any applicable national organization and may be excluded from future activities on campus. Under Pennsylvania State Law, the University is obligated to publish reports of confirmed violations of hazing and communicate these to any nationally affiliated organization operating on campus. Amnesty/Safe-Harbor The University holds the safety and well-being of every member of its community as its highest priority and greatest responsibility. Therefore, the University may consider extending amnesty or safe-harbor from the Code of Student Conduct violations to a student who makes a best and first effort to seek emergency medical attention for any student(s) endangered by possible acts of hazing. Amnesty under this policy may not prevent civil, criminal, or parent-organization penalties. Related Policies: Equal Opportunity, Harassment, Non-Discrimination
|