Hazing

An individual student or group of students that intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly causes or creates an unreasonable risk of harm to another student as a requirement for initiation into, affiliation with, or continued membership of a recognized or unrecognized student organization, regardless of whether a student willingly participates. 

This may apply, but is not limited to Greek organizations, clubs, Student Government Associations, and athletic teams. 

Under New York State Penal Law, a person may be charged with hazing if, during another person's initiation into or affiliation with any organization, they intentionally or recklessly engage in conduct that creates a substantial risk of and/or causes physical injury to another person. A criminal charge of hazing may result in a violation or misdemeanor.

For purposes of the hazing policy, the following definition applies: 

• 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.

1. Any activity that places another person in reasonable fear of bodily harm through the use of threatening words or conduct;
2. Whipping, beating, striking, electronic shocking, placing of a harmful substance on someone's body, or any activity which has a foreseeable potential for personal injury, imparts pain or causes mutilation or alteration to the body;
3. Causing, coercing, or otherwise depriving individuals of sleep, edible meals, personal hygiene, or exposure to the elements, confinement in a small space, lockdowns, overcrowding rooms, tests of endurance, extreme calisthenics, leaving a person in a location without means of identification, communication, or ability to return or something similar activity.
4. Any activity for human degradation, public embarrassment or by its nature, has the potential to cause severe anxiety, distress or panic;
5. Causing, coercing, or otherwise inducing another person to consume food, liquid, alcohol, drugs, or other substances;
6. Causing, coercing, or otherwise inducing another person to perform sexual acts;
7. Any activity that disrupts or interferes with an individual's pursuit of academic endeavors;
8. Any activity against another person that includes a criminal violation of local, State, or Federal law; and
9. Any activity that induces, causes, or requires another person to perform a duty or task that involves a criminal violation of local, New York State, or Federal law.

In the case of students participating in a student organization unrecognized by the campus that contains two or more members that are students enrolled at the campus, such individual students may be subject to a charge or charges of hazing on an individual basis.

The University recognizes that students may be reluctant to report hazing activity due to a fear of potential consequences for their own conduct. Therefore, a student who acts in good faith to report activity that may fall within the definition of hazing and who cooperates fully as a witness in the investigation and student conduct process may not be subject to student conduct sanctions related to their own participation in hazing behavior, as determined by the University in its sole discretion.

In the event amnesty is granted for self-reported behaviors, if evidence is presented that the student has continued to engage in hazing behaviors, or has knowledge of hazing activity that was not reported, they may be held accountable for past behavior. Students who choose to report and request amnesty for their own conduct under this policy should know that amnesty does not apply to any criminal or civil action that may be taken by a law enforcement or other agency, including University Police.

SUNY Oswego encourages the reporting of incidents of hazing and takes every report seriously. We investigate all reports diligently and thoroughly in accordance with the Student Code of Conduct. Individuals found responsible for committing, soliciting, encouraging, directing, aiding, or recklessly permitting hazing to occur will be subject to disciplinary sanctions that could range from educational outcomes to suspension or expulsion.

Reporting Methods

Don’t be a bystander when it comes to hazing. You can file an Incident Report with the Office of Student Conduct or report hazing to any of the following:

• Office of Dean of Students at [email protected]
• Student Engagement and Leadership at [email protected]
• University Police at 315-312-5555

Private and Confidential Reporting

SUNY Oswego will respect the privacy of reporters but cannot guarantee confidentiality for hazing reports. The information you provide to a non-confidential resource will be relayed only as necessary to investigate and/or seek a resolution and/or to comply with other appropriate University policies and procedures, and any federal, state, and/or local laws, rules, and regulations. The University will limit the disclosure as much as possible, even if the institution determines that the request for confidentiality cannot be honored.

Offices and officials who are confidential resources will not report to law enforcement or university officials without a complainant/reporting party's permission, except for extreme circumstances, such as a health and/or safety emergency. SUNY Oswego offices that are considered confidential are as follows: 

• Mary Walker Health
• Counseling Services Center

The Office of Student Conduct offers many opportunities throughout the year for members of the community to learn how to recognize, report, and stand up against hazing. 

Resident Assistants, club officers, Greek-letter organizations, and student athletes receive annual training on ethical leadership, bystander intervention, and developing group culture and belonging without hazing. Training is available for all students, faculty, and staff. If you or a group you belong to is looking for additional training, please explore any of the options below or contact us at [email protected].

Classroom Presentations - Classroom presentations educate students about the risks, signs, and consequences of hazing. Presentations are designed to promote a safe and respectful campus culture.

Group Training - These sessions are ideal for student organizations, athletic teams, student leaders, or any campus groups.

Complete a Training - Learn how to recognize, prevent, and report hazing. Click here to access the self-paced online training module.

Hazing activities can range from mild to life-threatening. Examples from this list cover a spectrum of severity and are not all-encompassing. 

• Requiring any form of physically demanding activity (e.g. calisthenics, sit-ups, push up, or runs).
• Forcing, requiring, or endorsing consumption of alcoholic beverages or other drugs.
• Requiring the consumption of undesirable substances (e.g. spoiled food, unusual food combinations, and noxious fluids).
• Verbal harassment including yelling or screaming at potential members.
• Requiring or compelling individuals to wear or carry unusual, uncomfortable, degrading, or physically burdensome articles or apparel.
• Requiring any type of personal servitude such as running errands, cleaning apartments or houses, doing laundry, etc.
• Scavenger hunts, treasure hunts, road trips, or any other such activities when not done for information gathering purposes consistent with educational purposes of the organization. "Kidnaps" and "drop-offs" are not permitted.
• Morally degrading and humiliating activities (e.g. requiring new members to scrub floors or toilets with toothbrushes or requiring new members to be indecently exposed).
• Assigning or endorsing pranks such as borrowing or stealing items, painting other's property or objects, chapter raids, or harassing other groups.
• Psychological harassment in any form.
• Endangerment, any activity where there is a potential for danger (e.g. tying of arms and legs, blindfolding, exchange of body fluids, exposing new members to uncomfortable or dangerous environments, etc.).
• Individual interrogations not consistent with legitimate testing for information of the history or purpose of the organization.
• Requiring new members to wear apparel that is conspicuous and/or not normally considered in good taste.
• Requiring new members to walk or march in formation or in line.
• Requiring new members to be tattooed or branded.
• Requiring new members to answer their phones or doors with specific greetings, chants, riddles, songs, or rhymes.
• Deception and/or threats told to convince the new member they won't be able to join the organization or group.
• Conducting activities that do not allow adequate time for study.
• Work parties without the participation of the full organizational membership.
• Requiring new members to be silent for prolonged periods of time.
• Any action which could be perceived as inflicting physical abuse/harm to an individual (e.g. paddling, application of foreign substances, burning, blowing smoke in eyes, induced vomiting, denial of food or water, etc.).
• Threats to life or threats of harm to life for attempting to report hazing or to those members who choose to disassociate from the organization.