What is Hazing?
University of Akron Hazing definition:
In addition to the Ohio Revised Code, the University has the following definition of hazing in the Code of Student Conduct:
Hazing means doing, participating in, allowing, causing, coercing or forcing an individual to do, any of the acts listed in this paragraph, regardless of the individual’s willingness to participate, for the purpose of admitting, affiliating, or initiating, an individual into or with a student organization or any other recognizable groups, teams, or associations of students, or for the purpose of continuing, enhancing, or reinstating an individual’s affiliation, membership, or status in a student organization or any other recognizable groups, teams, or associations of students:
- Consume any food, liquid, alcohol, drug of abuse, or other substance;
- Endure any act of a physical nature including, but not limited to, whipping, beating, branding, paddling, kicking, pushing, shoving, physical exercise, physical exertion, or exposure to the elements;
- Endure any act which may adversely affect the mental health or dignity of the individual including, but not limited to, sleep deprivation, exclusion from social contact, or conduct that could result in embarrassment, harassment, ridicule, or degradation;
- Any activity which has the potential to be frightening, degrading, or unduly deceptive, including deception designed to convince the individual of impending pain, injury, or non-admission, non-affiliation, non-initiation, or non-membership, including, but not limited to, promoting servitude, requiring individuals to run personal errands, intentionally creating labor or clean-up work, berating or verbally harassing individuals, referring to individuals by demeaning or embarrassing nicknames, assigning individuals degrading, crude, or humiliating stunts, skits, or acts, throwing items at or on individuals, forcing individuals to carry items, forcing individuals to yell when entering or departing a physical structure or in the presence of designated individuals, forcing individuals to use designated entrances or exits, forcing an individual to be confined to a small space, transportation and/or abandonment of an individual, or requiring individuals to wear embarrassing, humiliating, or scant attire or to be nude;
- Any activity that causes or creates a substantial risk of causing mental or physical harm to any individual;
- Endure or participate in any act of a sexual nature;
- Any activity which endangers or has the potential to endanger the academic performance of the individual, such as not allowing adequate time for or interfering with academic commitments;
- Any destruction or removal of public or private property; or
- Any violation of federal, state, or local law; university policy, rule or regulation; or the Ohio Department of Higher Education anti-hazing policy.
Hazing does not include reasonable and customary athletic, law enforcement or military training, contests, competitions, or events that are explicitly relevant to the mission of the student organization or any other recognizable groups, teams, or associations of students.
Hazing defined by the Ohio Revised Code
Defined in section 2903.31 of the Ohio Revised Code
“Hazing is defined by the Ohio Revised code as any act or coercing another, including the victim, to do any act of initiation into any student or other organization or any act to continue or reinstate membership in or affiliated with any student or other organization that causes or creates a substantial risk of causing mental or physical harm to any person, including coercing another to consume alcohol or a drug of abuse."
The law also clarifies that:
- no person shall recklessly participate in the hazing of another
- no administrator, employee, faculty member, teacher, consultant, alumnus or volunteer of any organization, shall recklessly permit the hazing of any person associate with the organization
- when consumption of alcohol or drug abuse results in serious physical harm to a person the hazing becomes a felony of the third degree
Note : The law and the University of Akron require University faculty and staff to report knowledge of hazing to University of Akron Police Department.
The law also clarifies that:
The law also clarifies that:
- “Hazing is defined by the Ohio Revised code as any act or coercing another, including the victim, to do any act of initiation into any student or other organization or any act to continue or reinstate membership in or affiliated with any student or other organization that causes or creates a substantial risk of causing mental or physical harm to any person, including coercing another to consume alcohol or a drug of abuse."
The law also clarifies that:
University of Akron Hazing Prevention Policy
Read the complete hazing prevention policy here.
“In the state of Ohio, Collin’s Law (Senate Bill 126) effective October 2021, makes acts of hazing a second-degree misdemeanor and acts of hazing that include coerced consumption of alcohol or drugs or abuse that result in serious physical harm a felony of the third degree. Collin’s Law also requires reporting to law enforcement and prevention education offered from the university to students, employees, and advisors”
Ohio is among 44 states with legislation prohibiting hazing. At the University of Akron, we take Collin's Law with the utmost seriousness. Hazing in any form is not tolerated within Fraternity and Sorority Life at UA, including across all councils and their affiliated organizations. We firmly believe that hazing has no place in fostering true brotherhood and sisterhood.
All students interested in joining a fraternity or sorority at The University of Akron should complete hazing prevention training. UA students have been enrolled the hazing prevention course through Brightspace. One course for new students and another for returning students. ALL students, faculty, and staff receive mandatory training on hazing prevention.
To ensure the training is as easy to navigate as possible, the training has been included as courses in Brightspace. (Brightspace is the platform used for all online classes at the University.)
Students will not be permitted to join a fraternal organization until their hazing prevention training is complete. This training is a one-time requirement and will only need to be completed once throughout their collegiate years.
