To identify and establish the definitions of “hazing” CWI uses and to describe the steps that the college will take to educate the community regarding the dangers of hazing, prevent hazing from occurring whenever possible, respond to acts of hazing when it becomes aware of them, and provide information about hazing to the campus community.
This policy applies to all students, employees, and volunteers.
The college defines hazing as both the definition provided in the Stop Campus Hazing Act as well as the definition provided in Idaho Code. Both are provided below. In situations where providing the full Federal and State definitions is impractical, such when included on brochures or other printed materials, or when it is appropriate to provide a brief definition for the sake of clarity, as when communicating the College’s stance on hazing to students, the following truncated definition will be used:
“Any intentional, knowing, or reckless act during initiation, affiliation or memberships in a student organization that creates a risk of physical or psychological injury.”
Hazing (Federal Definition): 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 (I) is committed in the course of an initiation into, an affiliation with, or the maintenance of membership in, a student organization, [e.g., a club, student government, athletic team, fraternity, or sorority]; and (II) 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.
Examples of conduct that “causes or creates risk:
Hazing (State Definition): (1) No student or member of a fraternity, sorority or other living or social student group or organization organized or operating on or near a school or college or university campus, shall intentionally haze or conspire to haze any member, potential member or person pledged to be a member of the group or organization, as a condition or precondition of attaining membership in the group or organization or of attaining any office or status therein.
(2) As used in this section, "haze" means to subject a person to bodily danger or physical harm or a likelihood of bodily danger or physical harm, or to require, encourage, authorize or permit that the person be subjected to any of the following:
(a) Total or substantial nudity on the part of the person.
(b) Compelled ingestion of any substance by the person.
(c) Wearing or carrying of any obscene or physically burdensome article by the person.
(d) Physical assaults upon or offensive physical contact with the person.
(e) Participation by the person in boxing matches, excessive number of calisthenics, or other physical contests.
(f) Transportation and abandonment of the person.
(g) Confinement of the person to unreasonably small, unventilated, unsanitary or unlighted areas.
(h) Sleep deprivation; or
(i) Assignment of pranks to be performed by the person.
(3) The term "hazing," as defined in this section, does not include customary athletic events or similar contests or competitions, and is limited to those actions taken and situations created in connection with initiation into or affiliation with any group or organization. The term "hazing" does not include corporal punishment administered by officials or employees of public schools when in accordance with policies adopted by local boards of education.
(4) A student or member of a fraternity, sorority or other student organization, who personally violates any provision of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.
For any situation where hazing is alleged, a student organization shall be defined as:
Student Organization: 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.
Hazing by any individual or student organization is prohibited. If any member of the campus community is made aware of hazing or information that may suggest that hazing is occurring or has occurred, they are strongly encouraged to report this information as soon as possible. The college will take prompt action to investigate any allegations of hazing, will take immediate steps to end any hazing which is found to have occurred, and resolve any allegations of hazing using the processes described in the Student Handbook. Furthermore, the College will take affirmative steps to prevent hazing, including through prevention and educational activities, and proper risk mitigation strategies, where appropriate. The College will establish and maintain on its public website, information regarding hazing, as well as information on the disposition of any alleged act of hazing reported within the past five years.