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Policy 6304 – Hazing Policy

Revision Date: 9/5/2019

Last Review: 9/5/2019

Original Effective Date: 9/12/2018

Responsible Office: Executive Vice President and Vice President for Student Advancement

References: University of Louisiana System, Policy S-II.XXIII.-1, Acts 635, 637, and 640 of the 2018 Regular Session and Act 382 of the 2019 Regular Session of the Louisiana Legislature and the 2019 Board of Regents Uniform Policy on Hazing

Policy:

Louisiana Tech University Statement on Hazing

Louisiana Tech University (“the University”) is committed to maintaining a supportive, educational environment that fosters respect for the dignity and rights of all its community members.  This commitment reflects the University’s adherence to its mission, to its various policies supporting its mission, and to relevant state and federal laws.  As such, acts of hazing are considered irresponsible, intolerable and inconsistent with the University’s mission. Student organizations and/or individual members found to have engaged in hazing shall be in violation of the University’s Policy (“Policy”) and may be in violation of state law (R.S. 14:40.8).

This policy must be amended as needed to reflect any subsequent changes to laws and regulations. Additionally, supplementary procedures may be developed as deemed appropriate to further support the implementation of this Policy.

Policy and Procedures Memorandum

In compliance with Acts 635, 637 and 640 of the 2018 Regular Session and Act 382 of the 2019 Regular Session of the Louisiana Legislature and the 2019 Board of Regents Uniform Policy on Hazing, the University reaffirms its policy that any form of hazing of any student enrolled at the University is prohibited. Violation of this policy can result in both disciplinary action imposed by the organization and/or University as well as criminal charges.

Definitions:

    1. Hazing is defined as any intentional, knowing, or reckless act, occurring on or off the campus of an educational institution, by one person alone or acting with others, directed against an individual that endangers the mental or physical health or safety of a student for the purpose of pledging, being initiated into, affiliating with, holding office in, or maintaining membership in any organization whose members are or include students at an educational institution, including but is not limited to:
      1. The person knew or should have known that such an act endangers the physical health or safety of the other person or causes severe emotional distress.
      2. The act was associated with pledging, being initiated into, affiliating with, participating in, holding office in or maintaining membership in any organization.

      Hazing includes but is not limited to any of the following acts associated with pledging, being initiated into, affiliating with, participating in, holding office in, or maintaining membership in any organization:

      • Physical brutality, such as whipping, beating, paddling, striking, branding, electric shocking, placing of a harmful substance on the body, or similar activity.
      • Physical activity, such as sleep deprivation, exposure to the elements, confinement in a small space, or calisthenics, that subjects the other person to an unreasonable risk of harm or that adversely affects the physical health or safety of the individual or causes severe emotional distress.
      • Activity involving consumption of food, liquid, or any other substance, including but not limited to an alcoholic beverage or drug, that subjects the individual to an unreasonable risk of harm that adversely affects the physical health or safety of the individual or causes severe emotional distress.
      • Activity that induces, causes, or requires an individual to perform a duty or task that involves the commission of a crime or an act of hazing.

      It is important to note, physical activity that is normal, customary, and necessary for a person’s training and participation in an athletic, physical education, military training, or similar program sanctioned by the University is not considered “hazing.”

      • Any state or local law enforcement agency.
      • A 911 Public Safety Answering Point as defined in Title 33 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950.
      • Emergency medical personnel.
    2. Organization is a fraternity, sorority, association, corporation, order, society, corps, cooperative, club, service group, social group, band, spirit group, athletic team, or similar group whose members are primarily students at, or former students of, a postsecondary education institution, including the national or parent organization of which any of the underlying entities provided for in this definition is a sanctioned or recognized member at the time of the hazing.
    3. Pledging is any action or activity related to becoming a member of an organization, including recruitment and rushing.
    4. Appropriate authority
      • Any state or local law enforcement agency.
      • A 911 Public Safety Answering Point as defined in Title 33 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950.
      • Emergency medical personnel.
    5. Reckless behavior is an activity or behavior in which a reasonable person knew or reasonably should have known that the activity or behavior may result in injury to another, including but not limited to excessive consumption of alcohol, binge drinking, drag racing, consumption of any controlled dangerous substance, acts of hazing, or other similar activity.
    6. Serious bodily injury is bodily injury that involves unconsciousness, extreme physical pain, or protracted and obvious disfigurement, or protracted loss or impairment of the function of a bodily member, organ, or mental faculty, death, or a substantial risk of death.

Procedures:

Prevention and Education Programs

  • Each new student shall be provided educational information on the dangers of and prohibition on hazing during the new student orientation process in the form of a handbook.
  • In addition, beginning in the fall quarter of 2019, each new student shall be provided educational information on the dangers of and prohibition on hazing during the new student orientation process either in person or electronically.
  • For any new student who is a minor, the educational information described in this section shall also be provided to that student’s parent or legal guardian.
  • Each organization (as defined above in this Policy and in R.S. 17:1801.1) shall adopt this hazing policy as a condition of operating at the University. Each organization shall provide annually at least one hour of hazing prevention education that includes education relative to such policies to all members, prospective members, and anyone who is employed by or volunteers with the organization. The education may be provided in person, electronically, or both. Each organization shall submit a report annually to the University relative to the students, employees, and volunteers receiving such education evidenced by an attestation of such individuals receiving the education.
  • The hazing prevention education required under the provisions above shall include the information about criminal penalties for the crime of criminal hazing. Information shall also be provided to organizations on their obligations under the law, including the duty to investigate and report; and on the possible loss of funding and other penalties applicable to organizations under the Hazing Laws.

Reporting Requirement

It shall be the duty of all current and potential student organization members and pledges to report immediately, in writing, any violation of this policy to the appropriate University administrator.  Any violation of this policy shall be investigated and appropriate disciplinary action taken.  Reports may be submitted online or at the following offices:

University Police
South Hall
318.257.4018

The Office of Student Activities
Tolliver Hall
318.257.3479

The Office of Student Advancement
Keeny Hall, 3rd Floor
318.257.2445

The University administrator that receives a report alleging the commission of an act or acts of hazing by one or more members of an organization that is organized and operating at the educational institutional shall report, as soon as practicable under the circumstances, the alleged act or acts to the University Police and/or the law enforcement agency having jurisdiction in the place where the alleged act or acts of hazing occurred.  The information reported to law enforcement as required by this paragraph shall include all details received by the University relative to the alleged incident with no information being redacted, including the name of all individuals alleged to have committed the act or acts of hazing.  Failure to comply with this paragraph may subject the University to a fine of up to ten thousand dollars. 

Additionally, the University  shall document in writing all actions taken with regard to the report including but not limited to the date the report was received, reports made to law enforcement as provide herein and in R.S. 14:40.8, and any other information relative to the University’s investigation, processing, and resolution of the incident. 

In complying with this section, the University shall complete the standardized University Hazing Incident and Reporting Form found here. 

Duty to Seek Assistance

In accordance with Act 637 of 2018, codified at R.S. 14:502, any person at the scene of an emergency who knows that another person has suffered bodily injury caused by an act of hazing shall, to the extent that the person can do so without danger or peril to self or others, give reasonable assistance to the injured person. Each institution’s policy and educational information shall include the criminal penalties for failure to seek assistance in violation of R.S. 14:502.

Sanctions

Organizations and Affiliates

  • If an organization has taken disciplinary action against one of its members for hazing or has reason to believe that any member of the organization has participated in an incident of hazing, the organization shall report the incident to the University.
  • If an organization or any of its members has been disciplined by a parent organization for hazing, the organization shall report the hazing for which the organization was disciplined to the University.
  • If any person serving as a representative or officer of an organization, including any representative, director, trustee, or officer of any national or parent organization of which any of the underlying entities as recognized in this Policy is sanctioned or recognized member at the time of the hazing, knew and failed to report, as soon as practicable under the circumstances, to law enforcement that one or more of the organization’s members were hazing another person, the organization may be subject to penalties under R.S. 14:40.8.  Information reported to law enforcement shall include all details received by the organization relative to the alleged incident, with no information being redacted, including the name of all individuals alleged to have committed the act or acts of hazing. 
  • In making reports to the University as required in this section, organizations shall use the standardized Organizational Hazing Reporting Form found here.
  • In the event of a reported or confirmed hazing event, organizations are subject to sanction by the University which may include revocation of University recognition.

Students

  • Any student who violates the provisions of Acts 635, 637and 640 of the 2018 Regular Session and Act 382 of the 2019 Regular Session of the Louisiana Legislature and this Policy shall be expelled, suspended, or dismissed from the University and not permitted to return for at least one quarter and may be subject to criminal charges.
  • Consent is not a defense. It is not a defense to prosecution of an offense that the person against whom the hazing was directed consented to or acquiesced in the hazing activity.
  • Any student who fails to seek assistance as defined by the law and this policy shall be subject to penalties outlined in R.S. 14:40.8.

Policy 6304 – Hazing Policy

Revision Date: 9/5/2019

Last Review: 9/5/2019

Original Effective Date: 9/12/2018

Responsible Office: Executive Vice President and Vice President for Student Advancement

References: University of Louisiana System, Policy S-II.XXIII.-1, Acts 635, 637, and 640 of the 2018 Regular Session and Act 382 of the 2019 Regular Session of the Louisiana Legislature and the 2019 Board of Regents Uniform Policy on Hazing

Policy:

Louisiana Tech University Statement on Hazing

Louisiana Tech University (“the University”) is committed to maintaining a supportive, educational environment that fosters respect for the dignity and rights of all its community members.  This commitment reflects the University’s adherence to its mission, to its various policies supporting its mission, and to relevant state and federal laws.  As such, acts of hazing are considered irresponsible, intolerable and inconsistent with the University’s mission. Student organizations and/or individual members found to have engaged in hazing shall be in violation of the University’s Policy (“Policy”) and may be in violation of state law (R.S. 14:40.8).

This policy must be amended as needed to reflect any subsequent changes to laws and regulations. Additionally, supplementary procedures may be developed as deemed appropriate to further support the implementation of this Policy.

Policy and Procedures Memorandum

In compliance with Acts 635, 637 and 640 of the 2018 Regular Session and Act 382 of the 2019 Regular Session of the Louisiana Legislature and the 2019 Board of Regents Uniform Policy on Hazing, the University reaffirms its policy that any form of hazing of any student enrolled at the University is prohibited. Violation of this policy can result in both disciplinary action imposed by the organization and/or University as well as criminal charges.

Definitions:

    1. Hazing is defined as any intentional, knowing, or reckless act, occurring on or off the campus of an educational institution, by one person alone or acting with others, directed against an individual that endangers the mental or physical health or safety of a student for the purpose of pledging, being initiated into, affiliating with, holding office in, or maintaining membership in any organization whose members are or include students at an educational institution, including but is not limited to:
      1. The person knew or should have known that such an act endangers the physical health or safety of the other person or causes severe emotional distress.
      2. The act was associated with pledging, being initiated into, affiliating with, participating in, holding office in or maintaining membership in any organization.

      Hazing includes but is not limited to any of the following acts associated with pledging, being initiated into, affiliating with, participating in, holding office in, or maintaining membership in any organization:

      • Physical brutality, such as whipping, beating, paddling, striking, branding, electric shocking, placing of a harmful substance on the body, or similar activity.
      • Physical activity, such as sleep deprivation, exposure to the elements, confinement in a small space, or calisthenics, that subjects the other person to an unreasonable risk of harm or that adversely affects the physical health or safety of the individual or causes severe emotional distress.
      • Activity involving consumption of food, liquid, or any other substance, including but not limited to an alcoholic beverage or drug, that subjects the individual to an unreasonable risk of harm that adversely affects the physical health or safety of the individual or causes severe emotional distress.
      • Activity that induces, causes, or requires an individual to perform a duty or task that involves the commission of a crime or an act of hazing.

      It is important to note, physical activity that is normal, customary, and necessary for a person’s training and participation in an athletic, physical education, military training, or similar program sanctioned by the University is not considered “hazing.”

      • Any state or local law enforcement agency.
      • A 911 Public Safety Answering Point as defined in Title 33 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950.
      • Emergency medical personnel.
    2. Organization is a fraternity, sorority, association, corporation, order, society, corps, cooperative, club, service group, social group, band, spirit group, athletic team, or similar group whose members are primarily students at, or former students of, a postsecondary education institution, including the national or parent organization of which any of the underlying entities provided for in this definition is a sanctioned or recognized member at the time of the hazing.
    3. Pledging is any action or activity related to becoming a member of an organization, including recruitment and rushing.
    4. Appropriate authority
      • Any state or local law enforcement agency.
      • A 911 Public Safety Answering Point as defined in Title 33 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950.
      • Emergency medical personnel.
    5. Reckless behavior is an activity or behavior in which a reasonable person knew or reasonably should have known that the activity or behavior may result in injury to another, including but not limited to excessive consumption of alcohol, binge drinking, drag racing, consumption of any controlled dangerous substance, acts of hazing, or other similar activity.
    6. Serious bodily injury is bodily injury that involves unconsciousness, extreme physical pain, or protracted and obvious disfigurement, or protracted loss or impairment of the function of a bodily member, organ, or mental faculty, death, or a substantial risk of death.

Procedures:

Prevention and Education Programs

  • Each new student shall be provided educational information on the dangers of and prohibition on hazing during the new student orientation process in the form of a handbook.
  • In addition, beginning in the fall quarter of 2019, each new student shall be provided educational information on the dangers of and prohibition on hazing during the new student orientation process either in person or electronically.
  • For any new student who is a minor, the educational information described in this section shall also be provided to that student’s parent or legal guardian.
  • Each organization (as defined above in this Policy and in R.S. 17:1801.1) shall adopt this hazing policy as a condition of operating at the University. Each organization shall provide annually at least one hour of hazing prevention education that includes education relative to such policies to all members, prospective members, and anyone who is employed by or volunteers with the organization. The education may be provided in person, electronically, or both. Each organization shall submit a report annually to the University relative to the students, employees, and volunteers receiving such education evidenced by an attestation of such individuals receiving the education.
  • The hazing prevention education required under the provisions above shall include the information about criminal penalties for the crime of criminal hazing. Information shall also be provided to organizations on their obligations under the law, including the duty to investigate and report; and on the possible loss of funding and other penalties applicable to organizations under the Hazing Laws.

Reporting Requirement

It shall be the duty of all current and potential student organization members and pledges to report immediately, in writing, any violation of this policy to the appropriate University administrator.  Any violation of this policy shall be investigated and appropriate disciplinary action taken.  Reports may be submitted online or at the following offices:

University Police
South Hall
318.257.4018

The Office of Student Activities
Tolliver Hall
318.257.3479

The Office of Student Advancement
Keeny Hall, 3rd Floor
318.257.2445

The University administrator that receives a report alleging the commission of an act or acts of hazing by one or more members of an organization that is organized and operating at the educational institutional shall report, as soon as practicable under the circumstances, the alleged act or acts to the University Police and/or the law enforcement agency having jurisdiction in the place where the alleged act or acts of hazing occurred.  The information reported to law enforcement as required by this paragraph shall include all details received by the University relative to the alleged incident with no information being redacted, including the name of all individuals alleged to have committed the act or acts of hazing.  Failure to comply with this paragraph may subject the University to a fine of up to ten thousand dollars. 

Additionally, the University  shall document in writing all actions taken with regard to the report including but not limited to the date the report was received, reports made to law enforcement as provide herein and in R.S. 14:40.8, and any other information relative to the University’s investigation, processing, and resolution of the incident. 

In complying with this section, the University shall complete the standardized University Hazing Incident and Reporting Form found here. 

Duty to Seek Assistance

In accordance with Act 637 of 2018, codified at R.S. 14:502, any person at the scene of an emergency who knows that another person has suffered bodily injury caused by an act of hazing shall, to the extent that the person can do so without danger or peril to self or others, give reasonable assistance to the injured person. Each institution’s policy and educational information shall include the criminal penalties for failure to seek assistance in violation of R.S. 14:502.

Sanctions

Organizations and Affiliates

  • If an organization has taken disciplinary action against one of its members for hazing or has reason to believe that any member of the organization has participated in an incident of hazing, the organization shall report the incident to the University.
  • If an organization or any of its members has been disciplined by a parent organization for hazing, the organization shall report the hazing for which the organization was disciplined to the University.
  • If any person serving as a representative or officer of an organization, including any representative, director, trustee, or officer of any national or parent organization of which any of the underlying entities as recognized in this Policy is sanctioned or recognized member at the time of the hazing, knew and failed to report, as soon as practicable under the circumstances, to law enforcement that one or more of the organization’s members were hazing another person, the organization may be subject to penalties under R.S. 14:40.8.  Information reported to law enforcement shall include all details received by the organization relative to the alleged incident, with no information being redacted, including the name of all individuals alleged to have committed the act or acts of hazing. 
  • In making reports to the University as required in this section, organizations shall use the standardized Organizational Hazing Reporting Form found here.
  • In the event of a reported or confirmed hazing event, organizations are subject to sanction by the University which may include revocation of University recognition.

Students

  • Any student who violates the provisions of Acts 635, 637and 640 of the 2018 Regular Session and Act 382 of the 2019 Regular Session of the Louisiana Legislature and this Policy shall be expelled, suspended, or dismissed from the University and not permitted to return for at least one quarter and may be subject to criminal charges.
  • Consent is not a defense. It is not a defense to prosecution of an offense that the person against whom the hazing was directed consented to or acquiesced in the hazing activity.
  • Any student who fails to seek assistance as defined by the law and this policy shall be subject to penalties outlined in R.S. 14:40.8.