HAZING POLICY
The
University of
2003-2004
________________________________________
The
University of Maryland Baltimore County recognizes the
role which student organizations play in creating and supporting a positive
co-curricular atmosphere on campus.
These organizations are a credit to UMBC when their activities foster
academic and personal growth, generate loyalty to and pride in the University,
and help prepare students to make productive contributions to society.
UMBC
also recognizes that traditional approaches to recruitment and initiation most
often allow new members to gain a sense of belonging, an understanding of
campus life, and an appreciation of the advantages of cooperative effort. Unfortunately, the enthusiasm with which
these activities are conducted may present occasions for abuse which are
detrimental to the individual, the organization, and the University.
The
University unconditionally opposes doing any act or causing any situation which
recklessly or intentionally subjects a student to the risk of psychological or
physical mistreatment or harm, including embarrassment, harassment, or
ridicule, for the purposes of gaining or maintaining membership in any student
organization.
Therefore,
this policy is formulated to:
1. insure University, organizational, and individual compliance with State and local law governing hazing, and with the UMBC Code of Student Conduct;
2. define hazing;
3. define culpability
for hazing violations;
4. establish procedures to protect the rights of students when gaining or maintaining membership and/or association with a student organization.
POLICY
1. Hazing in any form
is prohibited.
2. For the purposes of this policy, hazing is
defined as:
a. recklessly or intentionally doing any act or causing any situation which, for the purpose of gaining or maintaining membership and/or association with a student organization:
(1) involves, causes, or results in the physical
mistreatment or harm of any person;
(2) involves, causes, or
results in the psychological mistreatment or harm of any person;
(3) has the potential
for causing harm to the health of any person;
(4) interferes with
academic pursuits of any person;
(5) involves, causes, or
results in the abuse and/or theft of the personal property and/or effects of
any person; or
b. doing any act or causing any situation which recklessly or intentionally subjects a student to the risk of serious bodily injury for the purpose of initiation into a student organization (Annotated Code of Maryland, Article 27, Section 268H);
c. prohibited actions and activities including, but not limited to, the following:
(1)
any activity that might reasonably bring
physical harm to the individual;
(2)
paddling, beating or otherwise permitting
members to hit new, prospective, or continuing members;
(3)
requiring new, prospective, or continuing
members to wear degrading or uncomfortable garments;
(4)
depriving new, prospective, or continuing
members of the opportunity for sufficient sleep (8 consecutive hours per day
minimum) and decent and edible meals;
(5)
activities that interfere in any way with a new,
prospective, or continuing member’s academic efforts; e.g., causing of
exhaustion, loss of sleep, or loss of reasonable study time;
(6)
activities that interfere with a new, prospective,
or continuing member’s employment or family obligation;
(7)
requiring or encouraging new, prospective, or
continuing members to consume amounts of alcohol or other drugs;
(8)
forcing, coercing, or permitting new,
prospective, or continuing members to eat or drink foreign or unusual
substances such as raw meat, raw eggs, salt water, onions, etc.;
(9)
having substances such as eggs, mud, paint,
honey, etc. thrown at, poured on, or otherwise applied to bodies of new,
prospective, or continuing members;
(10) morally
degrading or humiliating games or any other activity that make a new,
prospective, or continuing member the object of amusement, ridicule, or
intimidation;
(11) kidnaps,
road trips (a mandatory/forced off-campus trip as part of a new, prospective,
or continuing member activity) including such activities performed by new,
prospective, or continuing members;
(12) subjecting a new, prospective, or continuing member to
cruel and unusual psychological conditions for any reason.
3. The implied or expressed consent of a student to hazing is not a defense under applicable State law or this policy.
4. Culpability for any violations of this policy
may be attributed to the perpetrators, the student organization, and/or its
members, and elected or appointed officers.
A student organization may be found culpable upon
satisfactory proof that the organization did not discourage or did not take
reasonable steps to prevent hazing by its members or affiliates.
5. Within the time period specified by the
appropriate member of the Student Life, Residential Life, or Athletics offices,
all elected or appointed student organization officers shall register with the
appropriate University office and sign a statement indicating that they will
comply with the terms of the UMBC Hazing Policy. Compliance is required from the time they
take office.
6. All elected or appointed student organization officers shall educate their respective organization members on the applicable Maryland law and University policies concerning hazing. Records should be maintained of such activities as well as of distribution lists and attendance. Members who cannot verify or establish their knowledge of the policies will not be permitted to participate in any organizational activities.
7. Prior to the beginning of any pledge or
probationary period or activities, elected or appointed student organization
officers are responsible for submitting statements signed by each pledge,
probationary, or potential member indicating that they have been informed of
and understand this policy and their rights related to activities regulated by
this policy.
POLICY
ENFORCEMENT
All
individuals, organizations, and departments are expected to comply with this
policy and support its intent. Copies of
the policy and related forms will be provided to each student organization and
will be included in the Student Organization Handbook. Additional copies may be requested from the
Student Life Office.
The
Student Life Office monitors the implementation of this policy. Complaints or
reports of activities believed to be hazing should be reported to the
University Police Department ((410) 455-3133).
Alleged policy violations should also be directed to the Office of
Student Judicial Programs (Room 222, Math/Psychology, (410) 455-2453) who will
then work with the appropriate University officials to investigate the
report. Any questions concerning the
interpretation or application of this policy should be referred to the Office
of Student Judicial Programs for resolution.
Violations
of this policy are subject to referral to appropriate law enforcement and/or
campus agencies, as well as to regional and national affiliated offices, for
action or prosecution.
Interim Suspension of Organizational Activities
An
organization may be suspended or restricted from University Property for an
interim period pending disciplinary proceedings. This action may be initiated by the Vice
President for Student Affairs, or a designee.
The interim suspension or restriction is effective without prior notice,
when there is evidence that the continued presence of the organization on the
University campus, or in specific facilities, poses a substantial threat to
persons, or to the stability and continuance of normal University functions.
An
organization may request a review of the interim action. This request must be in writing to the Vice
President for Student Affairs, or designee.
A response will made within five (5) days from
the date of receipt of the request. The
review shall examine the following issues only:
a) the
reliability of the information concerning the organization’s conduct, including
the matter of identity; and
b) whether the alleged
conduct and surrounding circumstances reasonably indicate that the continued
presence of the organization on the University campus, or in a specific campus
facility, poses a substantial threat to persons or the stability and
continuance of normal University functions.
Interim
suspension or restriction from University Property shall be followed, within
ten (10) days, by a Disciplinary Conference or Judicial Board Hearing as
described in the Code of Student Conduct.
Violations
of this policy shall be treated as violations of the UMBC Code of Student
Conduct. Any member of the University
community who observes or is aware of any violation of the policy shall
promptly refer the matter to the Office of Student Judicial Programs,
University Police or Student Life Office.
Student
organizations, groups, clubs, societies, or other segments of the University
community are responsible for compliance with the rules and regulations
outlined in the Code of Student Conduct. Violation of this policy or the Code
of Student Conduct will result in appropriate sanctioning including, but not
limited to, permanent or temporary suspension of recognition, social probation,
denial of use of University facilities, or other similar sanctions available
under the Code of Student Conduct. Such
determination of fault shall be done through the procedures outlined in the
Code. A University Organization that is suspended or expelled loses the status
and privileges provided to recognized organizations. Students continuing to act in the name of the
suspended or expelled University Organization may be in violation of a sanction
imposed under this Code and be subjected to Code of Student Conduct charges as
individuals.
Violation
of the Maryland Law prohibiting Hazing (Annotated Code of Maryland, Article 27,
Section 268H) is a misdemeanor subject to a fine of not more than $500, or
imprisonment for not more than 6 months, or both.
POLICY
REVIEW
This
policy shall be reviewed as necessary by the Student Life Office, in
conjunction with the Student Affairs Office and the University Police
Department. Other departments,
organizations, and related national offices may be surveyed to assess the
policy's clarity and effect. The
Director of the Student Life Office will recommend revisions to the Vice
President for Student Affairs.