Stark state college strictly prohibits hazing in
any form as prescribed in section 2903.31 of the Revised Code and Public Law
no. 118 to 173 and will investigate and respond to all reports of hazing as
outlined in this policy.
(A) This policy applies to Stark state college students,
student organizations, student groups, and employees. This policy also applies
to volunteers acting in an official capacity that advise or coach student
organizations and/or student groups who have direct contact with students.
Stark state college has jurisdiction under this policy whether the conduct
occurs on or off campus. Violations may also be subject to civil and criminal
penalties under Ohio law.
This anti-hazing policy applies to conduct that
occurs on or off-campus, between two or more people who are affiliated with the
college, or any student or other organization associated with the
college.
(B) Public Law no. 118 to 173 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:
(1) Is committed in the course of an initiation, into an
affiliation with, or the maintenance of membership in, a student organization;
and
(2) Causes or creates a risk, above the reasonable risk
encountered in the course of participation in the institution of higher
education or the organization, of physical or psychological
injury.
(C) Hazing means doing any of the following: pressuring,
causing, forcing, soliciting, or coercing any person to do any of the following
for the purpose of initiative, admitting, or affiliating an individual into or
with a student group or student organization; continuing or enhancing an
individual's membership or status in a student group or student
organization; or perpetuating or furthering a tradition or ritual of a student
group or student organization. Specific examples include:
(1) Engaging in any conduct prohibited by local, state, or
federal law regardless of whether an arrest is made or criminal charges are
brought;
(2) Taking into their body any food, liquid (including
alcohol), drug, or other substance that subjects the person to a substantial
risk of mental or physical harm;
(3) Causing or creating a substantial risk of causing
mental or physical harm to another and/or engage in any act or omission that
contributes to the death of another;
(4) Whipping, beating, striking, electronic shocking,
placing of a harmful substance on someone's body or similar
activity;
(5) Causing, coercing, or otherwise inducing sleep
deprivation, exposure to the elements, confinement in a small space, extreme
calisthenics, or other similar activity;
(6) Causing, coercing, or otherwise inducing another person
to perform sexual acts;
(7) Any activity that places another person in reasonable
fear of bodily harm through the use of threatening words or
conduct;
(8) Any activity that induces, causes, or requires another
person to perform a duty or task that involves a criminal violation of local,
state, or federal law.
(D) The implied or expressed consent of a student to hazing
is not a defense to a student code of conduct violation. Furthermore,
retaliation against any person who reports hazing or who participates in a
hazing investigation pursuant to this policy is in violation of the student
code of conduct and is subject to disciplinary action.
