Anti-Hazing

The term ‘hazing’ means 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 including—  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 local, 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. 

The term “hazing” is defined broadly. The CSU Student Code of Conduct, found at Title 5, California Code of Regulations, Section 41301 (b)(8) and California Penal Code section 245.6 defines “hazing” as “any method of initiation or pre-initiation into a student organization or student body, whether or not the organization or body is officially recognized by an educational institution, which is likely to cause physical harm, personal degradation or disgrace resulting in physical or mental harm, to any former, current, or prospective student of any school, community college, college, university or other educational institution” as well as “any act likely to cause physical harm, personal degradation or disgrace resulting in physical or mental harm, to any former, current, or prospective student of any school, community college, college, university or other educational institution. “Hazing” does not include customary and ordinary athletic events or school sanctioned events.” 

Any method or act of initiation or preinitiation into (or the maintenance of status within) a student organization or student body, whether or not the organization or body is officially recognized by the CSU, which is likely to cause serious bodily injury or mental harm to any former, current, or prospective student of the CSU is prohibited and constitutes a violation of this policy.  Hazing includes not just conduct or actions likely to cause physical harm or pose a risk to the health and safety of an individual(s) but also conduct likely to cause personal degradation that could result in physical or mental harm. Hazing includes any action taken or situation created, whether on or off a campus, to produce mental or physical discomfort, embarrassment, harassment, or ridicule.