Identifying and Preventing Hazing

University of Northwestern will not tolerate harassment in any form.

Hazing Defined

University of Northwestern

UNW defines Hazing as subjecting a fellow community member(s) to abusive or humiliating pranks (initiations, etc.) Hazing is not permitted at UNW. The University of Northwestern will make all determinations relative to hazing while adhering to guidelines and definitions under H.R.5646 – Stop Campus Hazing Act. Any student participating in either a “just for fun” prank or in a deliberate hazing activity will be held responsible for his/her behavior and is subject to disciplinary action. Regardless of motive or intent, any student participating in a prank-type activity that potentially endangers or adversely affects the physical and emotional well-being of another community member will be subject to immediate disciplinary action. Careless or irresponsible behaviors of any type which endanger or adversely affect others or that blatantly demonstrate a disregard for property will be confronted in a similar manner.

H.R. 5646 – Stop Campus Hazing Act

“The term ‘hazing’, for purposes of reporting statistics on hazing incidents…means 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, that:

is committed in the course of an initiation into, an affiliation with, or the maintenance of membership in, student organization; and

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

A student organization is defined as “an organization at an institution of higher education (such as a club, society, association, varsity or junior varsity athletic team, club sports team, fraternity, sorority, band, or student government) in which two or more of the members are students enrolled at the institution of higher education, whether or not the organization is established or recognized by the institution”.

Report Hazing

The University of Northwestern provides an online reporting system to report any concerns related to campus hazing. The online reporting system enables the individuals to submit reports anonymously.

Report an Act of Hazing