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Home > College Offices > Dean of Students > Student Handbook > College Policies > Hazing Policy
Hazing Policy
Hazing is a serious offense. The College encourages students to report such offenses promptly. Hazing is prohibited by both state law and the Mount Holyoke College Honor Code and will not be tolerated in this community of trust. All reported cases of suspected hazing will be seriously investigated with a fair process.
On November 26, 1985, legislation prohibiting hazing took effect in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Although hazing is most commonly associated with induction into college fraternities and sororities, the practice can also occur in a number of other circumstances.
The legislation states:
The term "hazing"... shall mean any conduct or method of initiation into any student organization, whether on public or private property, which willfully or recklessly endangers the physical or mental health of any student or other person.
Such conduct shall include whipping, beating, branding, forced calisthenics, exposure to weather, forced consumption of any food, liquor, beverage, or other substance, or any brutal treatment or forced physical activity which is likely to adversely affect the physical health or safety of any such student or other person, or which subjects such student or other person to extreme mental stress, including extended deprivation of sleep or rest, or extended isolation.
Go to the following website for the complete text of the Massachusetts Hazing Law and review 269: 17, 18, 19:
Some ways to tell if an activity is hazing:
- A selected group is singled out for ritual
- It results in behavior or pictures that you would not share with your parents, coach, professors or athletic director
- The activity is humiliating, demeaning, intimidating, and exhausting, and/or results in physical or emotional discomfort, involves harassment or ridicule, or which endangers the health or safety of any person whether on or off campus.
Remember: what may seem like harmless “fun” to you may be deeply humiliating to another person.
Distribution of Policy:
All students receive a copy of this policy when receiving keys to their residence hall room and sign a statement that they will abide by this policy. (Non-residential students will be mailed a copy of the policy.) All student team captains and organization chairpersons receive copies of the policy from Athletics and Student Programs at the start of the year/their season, and are required to have each member of their group sign a statement that they agree to abide by this policy. Each group member then receives a copy of the policy statement they have signed. See Athletics Handbook and Student Programs Rules and Tools for more information on team and organization anti-hazing statement signatures .
Frequently Asked Questions:
Where can I make a report and/or receive support if I’ve experienced hazing?
Can I make an anonymous report?
If I am the witness of a hazing incident, what responsibility do I have to report it?
What is the range of outcomes for reported hazing incidents involving Mount Holyoke community members?
Where can I make a report and/or receive support if I’ve experienced hazing?
Can I make an anonymous report?
- Yes you can make an anonymous report to any of the resources listed above.
If I am the witness of a hazing incident, what responsibility do I have to report it?
- Yes, you have an ethical and legal responsibility under the Honor Code and MA law to report any incident of hazing that you witness to an appropriate law enforcement official and a College administrator as soon as reasonably practical. See list above of offices to report hazing
What is the range of outcomes for reported hazing incidents involving Mount Holyoke community members?
- Hazing is a serious offense. If it is determined to be a criminal offense, legal outcomes include fines of not more than three thousand dollars or imprisonment in a house of correction for not more than one year, or both fine and imprisonment.
Even if there is no criminal case
- The range of outcomes at the College depends on facts of the matter, as determined by the College’s investigation of the report.
- The complainant may choose to pursue action against those involved with the hazing (i.e. none, informal grievance, formal grievance, Council on Student Affairs, Student Disciplinary Process through the Dean of Students Office, legal remedies).
- The Dean of Students or other college officials may also take action to enforce College policy or comply with applicable law. The College may take appropriate protective and administrative action even in situations where the Complainant is absent.
- Outcomes may include, but are not limited to: a letter of reprimand, mandatory educational project, social probation, suspension, required withdrawal or expulsion. Team players may be suspended or expelled from the team. Club members may be suspended or expelled from their club. In addition, teams or clubs participating in hazing may lose the right to organize, play, compete for any period of time, including permanently.
- Grievance procedures
- Council on Student Affairs procedures
- Standards of Social Conduct
Myths and Facts about Hazing
Myth #1: Hazing is a problem for fraternities and sororities primarily.
Fact: Hazing is a societal problem. Hazing incidents have been frequently documented in the military, athletic teams, marching bands, religious cults, professional schools and other types of clubs and/or, organizations. Reports of hazing activities in high schools are on the rise.
Myth #2: Hazing is no more than foolish pranks that sometimes go awry.
Fact: Hazing is an act of power and control over others --- it is victimization. Hazing is premeditated and NOT accidental. Hazing is abusive, degrading and sometimes life-threatening.
Myth #3: As long as there's no malicious intent, a little hazing should be O.K.
Fact: Even if there's no malicious "intent", safety may still be a factor in traditional hazing activities that are considered to be "all in good fun." For example, serious accidents have occurred during scavenger hunts and kidnapping trips. Ask what purpose such activities serve in promoting the growth and development of group team members?
Myth #4: Hazing is an effective way to teach respect and develop discipline.
Fact: First of all, respect must be EARNED--not taught. Victims of hazing rarely report having respect for those who have hazed them. Just like other forms of victimization, hazing breeds mistrust, apathy and alienation.
Myth #5: If someone agrees to participate in an activity, it can't be considered hazing.
Fact: In states that have laws against hazing, consent of the victim can't be used as a defense in a civil suit. This is because even if someone agrees to participate in a potentially hazardous action it may not be true consent when considering the peer pressure and desire to belong to the group.
Myth #6: It's difficult to determine whether or not a certain activity is hazing--it's such a gray area sometimes.
Fact: It's not difficult to decide if an activity is hazing if you use common sense and ask yourself the following questions:
IS IT HAZING?
Make the following inquiries of each activity to determine whether or not it is hazing:
1) Is alcohol involved?
2) Will active/current members of the group refuse to participate with the new members and do exactly what they're being asked to do?
3) Does the activity risk emotional or physical abuse?
4) Is there risk of injury or a question of safety?
5) Do you have any reservation describing the activity to your parents, to a professor or University official?
6) Would you object to the activity being photographed for the school newspaper or filmed by the local TV news crew?
If the answer to any of these questions is "yes," the activity is probably hazing.
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