Hazing Policy Table of Contents

• Definitions
• Types of Hazing
• Reporting
• Investigations and the Disciplinary Process
• Prevention and Awareness Programs
• Resources
• Hazing Crime and Violation Statistics

Gallaudet University recognizes that student organizations, clubs, athletics including club and  intramural sports, fraternities, and sororities, student governance bodies, and performance arts groups are an integral part of the student experience.  They are important contributors to a vibrant and positive campus life.  This relationship carries with it certain rights of the University to protect and preserve an appropriate environment in which all students, student athletes, and student organizations may operate. Hazing is a fundamental violation of human dignity that is incompatible with  Gallaudet University’s mission and values,  and is strictly prohibited.  Hazing can cause physical or psychological harm and may be characterized by hazing behaviors that are subtle and intimidating, harassing, and/or violent in nature. 

Hazing is prohibited by the Gallaudet University and the federal Stop Campus Hazing Act (H.R. 5646).  No chapter, organization, team, or member of the Gallaudet community, including students, faculty, staff, University officials or any other persons employed by Gallaudet University, or University alumnus may engage in or condone hazing activities.    Hazing is abusive, degrading, psychologically damaging, and may be life-threatening.  Violations of the hazing policy as defined in the Student Code of Conduct may subject any individual, student organization, athletic team, club, intramural sports team, and related groups or associations, to disciplinary action.  Passive involvement in hazing activities (i.e. being passively present during a hazing activity, helping plan the activity, providing supplies, etc.) may also be considered a violation of the code of conduct (see definitions of complicity and collusion).  Individuals and groups are expected to act in accordance with the Student Code of Conduct and to treat others with respect.    

The following hazing policy applies to all student organizations (including but not limited to, clubs, fraternities, sororities, or student government bodies); varsity or athletic teams, club sports teams, and intramural teams; performing arts; and students of Gallaudet University. 

Definitions

Hazing

For the purpose of this policy and the Student Conduct disciplinary process, “hazing” is defined as any action or situation, with or without consent and whether on or off University premises, that intentionally, knowingly, recklessly, or unintentionally: 

• Endangers the physical or mental health or safety of a student,

• Creates an unreasonable risk of injury or serious emotional distress,

• Causes discomfort, embarrassment, harassment, or ridicule,

• Willfully destroys or removes public or private property,

• Violates any federal, state, or local law or University policy, or

• Causes or encourages another person to commit an act that would violate the law or University policy.

Hazing typically occurs in connection with an individual’s initiation into, affiliation with, or continued membership in a group, club, organization, team, association, or similar entity. 

A list of common examples provides guidance as to what may constitute a hazing violation under the Student Code of Conduct can be found under “Types of Hazing” below.   

For the purpose of reporting incidents of hazing in our Annual Security Report (ASR), the Stop Campus Hazing Act defines “hazing” as 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, a 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. The following are non-exhaustive examples of conduct that causes or creates such a risk: 
  • 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 applicable local, [insert applicable state name] 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.

Context and Consent

Context matters when determining whether an act constitutes hazing.  While some behaviors constitute hazing regardless of context (e.g. paddling, branding, use of alcohol and/or other drugs), other behaviors may depend on the circumstances.  An example would be calisthenics for athletes which is an expected part of conditioning and maintaining fitness during the course of a season and would not be considered hazing; however, requiring new members or non-athletic student organizations to perform calisthenics such as push-ups or mile runs would constitute hazing. 

The expressed or implied consent of any individual or group of individuals will not be a defense to any action brought pursuant to this policy.  An individual who does not object to or appears to be a willing participant in an activity does not signify that the activity or conduct is not hazing. 

Student Organization

For the purposes of this policy and the student conduct disciplinary process, “student organization” is defined as a group of students who have joined together for a common purpose and officially registered with Gallaudet through the Student Engagement and Leadership office as a student organization or club. 

The Stop Campus Hazing Act defines a “student organization” for purposes of reporting statistics 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.” 

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.  

Types of Hazing

Hazing encompasses a wide range of behaviors which are often grouped into three categories: subtle and intimidating, harassing, and violent in nature*.  Individuals, organizations, teams, clubs, and other participants. will be held responsible for violations of the hazing policy if they cause, coerce, induce or are complicit with prohibited hazing behaviors.   

* From “The Spectrum of Hazing”, a research based resource developed by StopHazing researchers, Dr. Elizabeth Llan and Dr. Dave Kerschner. For more information check https://stophazing.org/resources/spectrum/ 

It is not possible to make an all-inclusive list of hazing behaviors as many are context-specific; the following list of common examples provides guidance as to what may constitute a hazing violation under the Student Code of Conduct. 

Subtle and Intimidating Hazing

Subtle and intimidating behaviors are the types of behaviors that are often taken for granted or accepted as harmless or meaningless, and emphasize a power differential between new members and other members of the group, team, club or related organization.  Examples include: 

• Assigning demerits
• Implementing undue financial expenditures 
• Assigning acts of servitude or menial tasks
• Name calling/using demeaning names
• Socially isolating new members
• Expecting certain items to always be in one’s possession or carrying certain and unusual items
• Quizzing/drilling on meaningless information
• Deceiving and/or threatening new members that they will not be initiated or able to join the group/team/organization for failing or refusing to partake in or submit to any form of a hazing activity
• Activities which deter or hinder fulfillment of academic, athletic or occupational obligations, and conducting activities during academic hours (i.e. 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Mondays through Friday)
• Withholding information or personal property from others that is essential to daily functioning (e.g. wallets, keys, IDs, phones, computers or any other personal property) 

Harassing Hazing

Harassing behaviors are the type of behaviors that cause physical, mental or emotional discomfort and include: 

• Verbal abuse and threats – the yelling, taunting, cursing, insulting, bullying or cyberbullying or any activity that places another person in reasonable fear of bodily harm through the use of threatening words or conduct
• Sleep deprivation – causing, coercing or otherwise inducting an activity that results in sleep deprivation (less than 7 consecutive hours of uninterrupted sleep on any given day).  No activities or events should be conducted after 11 p.m. beginning Sunday evening through Friday morning and after 3:00 am on weekends; conducting activities which do not allow adequate time for study or involve late work sessions or assignments that interfere with academic, occupational, or athletic obligations; and/or denying a new member/member access to their bed at any time.
• Skit nights with degrading or humiliating acts 
• Sexual simulations
• Assigning members to interfere with or disrupt other organizations, clubs, teams or related groups and their members
• Requiring costuming, the wearing of apparel or hairstyles that are conspicuous and/or normally in bad taste, or alterations of appearance. This includes unusual clothing styles or repetitious wearing of uniforms
• Requiring line-ups, which are defined as lines or gatherings created for the purpose of traveling/going from one place to another or a line where new members are subject to interrogation or harassment.* 

*Occasional ceremonial line-ups for the purpose of announcement of members or events may be conducted with advance approval from departments with oversight of the organization/team/club. 

Violent and Other Serious Hazing

Activities or behaviors that have the potential to cause physical, emotional and/or psychological harm.  Examples include: 

• Any type of physical brutality, such as paddle swats, whipping, forced tattooing or branding, beating, pushing, shoving, striking, tackling, electronic shocking, placing of a harmful substance on someone’s body, or similar activity
• Causing, coercing, forcing, requiring, or encouraging new members/members to drink alcohol or use any other drugs; providing or using alcohol or other drugs as part of organizational activities.
• Causing, coercing, forcing, or requiring the consumption of any substance (food, liquid or other vile substance); pouring, dropping, throwing, or rubbing any substance (eggs, garbage, water, paint, syrup, etc.) on any part of the body of any individual; conducting food consumption events or contests
• Blindfolding
• Nudity, partial nudity, or indecent exposure
• Causing, coercing, or otherwise inducting another member to perform sexual acts
• Any activity against another member that includes violation(s) of University policies, the  D.C. Code and/or Federal law, including activities that require, induces or causes that another member to perform tasks or duties  that violates University policies, D.C Code, and/or Federal law
• Unnecessary exposure to the elements, including severe or inclement weather, without appropriate clothing or protection;
• Confinement in a small space
• Calisthenics or similar activity, such as push-ups, sit-ups and runs or any activity that adversely affects the mental or physical health or safety of a student
• Abduction or kidnapping; scavenger hunts that require or result in theft, forced or coerced road trips, abandonment of new members, requiring them to find their way back (drop-offs) 

(Some elements of this policy were adapted from the Stop Campus Hazing Act, stophazing.org, SUNY Student Conduct Institute, University of California – Riverside, Georgetown University and/or Cornell University hazing policies). 

Violations of Applicable Local Laws on Hazing

At the time of this publication the District of Columbia does not have an applicable law on hazing. 

Reporting

Gallaudet encourages the reporting of incidents of hazing and takes every such report seriously.  Any person having knowledge of any activity or conduct which may constitute hazing can report their concerns directly to the Associate Dean of Student Affairs overseeing Student Accountability and Restorative Practices (SARP),  Director of Student Accountability and Restorative Practices,  the Coordinators of Student Accountability  (Ely 103, Click to reveal email), or Department of Public Safety (Carlin Hall basement, Click to reveal email).  The link to the Hazing Policy Violation Form can be found here. 

If this is an emergency or urgent situation, contact the Department of Public Safety (Click to reveal email, 202 651-5555 (v, text) or 911.  It will investigate all reports diligently and thoroughly in accordance with the hearing procedures for student organizations.  Individuals found responsible for committing, soliciting, encouraging, directing, aiding, or recklessly permitting hazing to occur will be subject to disciplinary sanction that could include suspension or expulsion. 

All members including new members of a student organizations, clubs, athletics including club and  intramural sports, fraternities, and sororities, student governance bodies, and performance arts groups are expected to immediately report any observed hazing incident or improper activity, and fully cooperate with University officials and/or law enforcement authorities in the investigation of hazing and other illegal activities. 

Private and Confidential Reporting 

Gallaudet 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. Gallaudet will limit the disclosure as much as possible, even if we determine 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. Gallaudet offices that are considered confidential are as follows: 

• Counseling and Psychological Services
• Student Health Services
• Office of Campus Ministries

Amnesty Related to Hazing Reports

Gallaudet recognizes that students are sometimes reluctant to report hazing activity, due to a fear of potential consequences for their own conduct. For this reason, the University has adopted an amnesty policy which states that a student who acts in good faith to report activity that may fall within the definition of hazing and/or a victim who cooperates fully as a witness in the investigation and disciplinary 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 should know that amnesty does not apply to any criminal or civil action that may be taken by any law enforcement agencies, including the Department of Public Safety and the DC Metropolitan Police Department. 
(adapted from SUNY – Student Conduct Institute)

Retaliation

No person or organization may intimidate, threaten, harass, coerce or discriminate against any individual for reporting an alleged violation of this policy, or for cooperating with, assisting, or otherwise participating in any University investigation, proceeding, or hearing under this policy. Complaints alleging retaliation may be filed with the Student Accountability and Restorative Practices (SARP) and/or Human Resources. Harassment and/or intimidation of the Accountability Board prior to, during, and/or after a conduct proceeding is prohibited. (
adapted from SUNY – Student Conduct Institute) 

Investigations and the Disciplinary Process

If there is a report made alleging a violation of the hazing policy, Student Accountability and Restorative Practices (SARP) will quickly review the submission and determine the next appropriate actions. If a report is criminal in nature, the Department of Public Safety and/or DC Metropolitan Police Department will be contacted. SARP will also conduct its own investigation to prevent a recurrence of the alleged hazing and to determine if there are potential  violations of the Student Code of Conduct and/or any other applicable processes depending upon the nature of the complaint. 

The Coordinator of Student Accountability will implement the appropriate University disciplinary procedures. This does not preclude additional action taken by the organization/team itself, the Athletics Department, the Theatre and Dance Department, Student Engagement and Leadership, the national/international headquarters of the organization, the District of Columbia, or the Federal courts.  Hazing charges against individuals will be investigated and adjudicated separately and in accordance with student disciplinary procedures for individual students in the Student Code of Conduct; if found responsible for violations of the hazing policy, the organization itself may be subject to organizational charges. 

The Chief Student Affairs Officer, Director of Student Accountability and Restorative Practices or their designee may suspend or restrict a student organization for an interim period pending the resolution of the allegation when there is a reasonable suspicion to believe the continued activities of the organization, athletic team, club sport, intramurals, or other groups and its members may pose an immediate threat to or interrupt the normal functions of the University community. During the interim suspension of student organizations, the organization may be required to cease all organizational activities and its access to University space may be denied. The organization may be asked to vacate any assigned University space immediately upon written notice from the Chief Student Affairs Officer, Director of Student Accountability and Restorative Practices or their designee. 

The Greek Presidents Council will be briefed about charges pending against a Greek organization, while the Student Body Government will be advised of charges pending against a non-Greek organization only if an interim suspension is imposed against an organization pending a hearing. The Greek Presidents Council or the Student Body Government will receive information regarding penalties, if any, that are imposed against an organization in order to ensure compliance with the decision. The Director or Coordinator of Student Accountability may choose not to provide this information in extremely sensitive cases. 

Any person or organization in need of clarification of this process should consult with the Associate Dean of Student Affairs overseeing Student Accountability and Restorative Practices (SARP), the Director of Student Accountability and Restorative Practices, the Director of Student Engagement and Leadership, or the SARP Coordinators of Student Accountability. 

The Hearing Procedures for Student Organizations can be found on pages 121, and the Disciplinary Sanctions for Student Organizations can be found on pages 127. 

Prevention and Awareness Programs

Prevention and Awareness Programs Hazing activities may occur as part of student organizations, clubs, athletics including club and  intramural sports, fraternities, and sororities, student governance bodies, and performance arts groups.  As such, Gallaudet has implemented a variety of research informed campus-wide prevention programs for students, faculty, and staff to prevent the occurrences of hazing and report incidents of hazing.  Examples include but are not limited to: 

• Online hazing educational courses/modules. Student Affairs offers research-based hazing prevention online courses on hazing for students, faculty, staff, student groups, teams/clubs, coaches, advisors, and administrators.   

• On-campus workshops.  Student Affairs offers campus-wide and organization/team-tailored workshops on hazing that supplement the online hazing educational modules.

• Social media information dissemination.  Student Affairs shares relevant information on hazing on its social media platforms.

• Related prevention and awareness programs include AlcoholEdu and Sexual Misconduct Prevention for Undergraduates, which highlight prohibited conduct as well as bystander intervention strategies.

The online hazing educational courses/modules and/or  on-campus workshops include research-based educational information on hazing, information related to University policy on hazing, information on ethical leadership, skill building for bystander intervention, information on how to report activities or conduct which may constitute hazing, and the promotion of strategies for building group cohesion without hazing.  

While hazing prevention and awareness programs are publicly available for anyone during the course of the academic year, participation in online hazing educational courses/modules and/or on-campus workshops is mandatory for some student organizations, teams, student leaders and coaches/advisors; prospective new members for Greek organizations will not be able to join any Greek organization until they have completed hazing training.  For more information, contact Student Accountability and Restorative Practices (SARP) or Student Engagement and Leadership (SEL). 

Resources

StopHazing.  StopHazing is a leader in data-driven strategies that support safe and inclusive school, campuses and organization climates.  Their Spectrum of Hazing provides a graphic representation of examples of hazing behaviors in various forms.  Gallaudet uses information from StopHazing in its policy development and educational and prevention programs.  stophazing.org 

Hazing Prevention Network.   The Hazing Prevention Network is a non-profit dedicated to empowering people to prevent hazing. Their goal is to educate people about the dangers of hazing, advocate for change, and engage the community in strategies to prevent hazing. https://hazingpreventionnetwork.org/

Hazing Crime and Violation Statistics

Beginning July 1, 2025, and in compliance with The Stop Campus Hazing Act (SCHA) (S.2901, H.R.5646), Gallaudet University publishes this Campus Hazing Transparency Report found here to provide information on student organizations formally found responsible for hazing through the student conduct process during the reporting period. 

The report includes: 

• The name of the student organization
• Dates of the reported hazing behavior (if known) 
• Date the behavior was reported to the University 
• Dates of the investigation and determination
• Description of the findings 
• Whether the violation involved the abuse or illegal use of alcohol or drugs 
• Date the University notified the student organization of the finding 

Unless otherwise specified, the date of the finding of responsibility corresponds to the date notice was provided to the student organization. 

Annual statistics related to hazing are published separately in the University’s Annual Fire Safety and Security Report. Hazing statistics for 2025 will be included in the 2026 Annual Security and Fire Safety Report, which will be published on or before October 1, 2026. These statistics reflect reported hazing incidents and do not represent findings of responsibility, which are reported separately in the Campus Hazing Transparency Report. 

We encourage all members of the Gallaudet community to stay informed and engaged in promoting a safer campus culture free from hazing. 

Effective date June 23, 2025