Rutgers Hazing Policy

 

PHILOSOPHY

The Greek community believes that true brotherhood and sisterhood is nurtured in an atmosphere of social and moral responsibility, respect for duly constituted authority, and commitment to the objectives of higher education. Furthermore, students engaging in hazing activities may subject themselves to criminal penalties. Therefore, a fraternity or sorority program which includes hazing is contrary and detrimental to the purpose of the University, the education and personal development of its students, and thus, has no place within the University and Greek community.

 

Implementation

1. The student officers, primarily the president and new member educator, are responsible for informing members (pledges, new members, associate members, affiliates, guests) of this policy. The policy will be read by the president at the first meeting of the organization each semester and by the new member educator at the first new member/associate member meeting of the semester.
2. All chapters must file the Hazing Compliance Form by the date designated on the Greek Calendar.
3. Any allegations that a chapter has engaged in hazing activities will result in an investigation of the matter by the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs. All new member/associate member activities will be suspended pending the outcome of the investigation.
4. In all cases of alleged violations of this policy, alumni and national/international headquarters of the organization will be notified.
5. Individuals involved in alleged acts of hazing and/or individual officers who knew of or should have known of these activities may also face charges pursuant to the University Code of Student Conduct.

 

Hazing is defined as any action or situation which includes any mental or physical requirement, request or obligation placed upon any person (pledge, new member, associate member, member, affiliate, guest) which could cause discomfort, pain, fright, disgrace, injury or which is personally degrading or which violates any federal, state, local statute or University policy. Any activity described in this definition upon which the initiation, or admission into, or affiliation with, or continued membership in an organization is directly or indirectly conditional, shall be presumed to be “forced” activity.
1. No person shall recklessly participate in the hazing of another.
2. No student or advisor shall knowingly permit the hazing of another.
3. No student or advisor shall fail to report hazing.
4. The negligence or consent of the student/participant or any assumption or risk by the student/participant is not a defense to any action brought pursuant to this policy.

 

Enforcement

Enforcement of the definition shall include, but not be limited to, the following:
1. The New Member Information Form must be filed with OFSA by the date designated on the Greek Calendar.
2. The president or new member educator must be in attendance at all new member functions.
3. The president and/or the new member educator must approve all activities planned for new members.
4. All new member activities, which are non-academic in nature, must end by the date published in the Greek Calendar.
5. Actions and activities which are explicitly prohibited include, but are not limited to the following:

+ Forcing, requiring or endorsing new members/associate members to drink alcohol or any other substance and/or providing such alcohol or other substance;
+ The unauthorized or illegal use of alcohol in any form or quantity during any new member activity;
+ Calisthenics (sit-ups, push-ups and runs);
+ Branding and tattooing;
+ Pushing, shoving, punching, whipping, beating, tackling or any other physical abuse;
+ Unauthorized line-ups of any nature;
+ Throwing anything (garbage, water, paint, etc.) at an individual;
+ Any form of paddling, physical abuse, psychological abuse, deception or shocks;
+ Requiring individuals to walk or march in formation of any kind;
+ Publicly wearing apparel which is conspicuous and not normally in good taste (uniforms, head apparel, boots/shoes, etc.);
+ Not permitting individuals to speak for extended periods of time and/or forced exclusion from social contact;
+ Preventing any person from practicing personal hygiene;
+ Any activity which interferes with an individuals scholastic pursuits (class attendance, preparation, study time, etc.)
+ Forced consumption of food or other substances;
+ Theft, defacement or destruction of private or public property
+ Conducting unauthorized scavenger hunts, treasure hunts, quests, road trips, paddle hunts, big brother/little brother hunts, big sister/little sister hunts;
+ Engaging in public stunts and buffoonery, public displays or greetings;
+ Servitude of any nature (food runs, personal errands, academic work, etc.);
+ Permitting less than six consecutive hours of sleep each night;
+ Conducting a new member related activity between the hours of 12:00 midnight and 7:00am. or awakening individuals during these hours;
+ Nudity or exposure to the elements at any time;
+ Yelling, screaming or calling individuals demeaning names;
+ Engaging in unauthorized activities which involve compelling an individual or group of individuals to remain at a certain location or transporting anyone anywhere, within or outside the city of New Brunswick (road trips, kidnaps, sneaks, drops, etc.);
+ Assigning or endorsing “pranks” (stealing composites, trophies, mascots, etc.)
+ Conducting activities which do not allow adequate time for study during pre-initiation or initiation periods;
+ Conducting activities designed to deceive or convince new members that he/she will not be initiated or will be hurt;
+ Carrying of any items (paddles, bricks, rocks, pocket change, dog collars, signature books, etc.)
+ Forcing, requiring or endorsing new members/associate members to violate any University, OFSA, national/international policy or any local, state or federal law.

 

New Jersey Hazing Law

§ 2C:40-3. Hazing; aggravated hazing
a. A person is guilty of hazing, a disorderly persons offense, if, in connection with initiation of applicants to or members of a student or fraternal organization, he knowingly or recklessly organizes, promotes, facilitates or engages in any conduct, other than competitive athletic events, which places or may place another person in danger of bodily injury.
b. A person is guilty of aggravated hazing, a crime of the fourth degree, if he commits an act prohibited in subsection a. which results in serious bodily injury to another person.

§ 18A:3-25. Pledge’s Bill of Rights
The Attorney General shall develop a “Pledge’s Bill of Rights” which outlines acceptable and unacceptable behavior and activities in regard to the pledge or rushing activities of college and university fraternities and sororities and other similar campus organizations. In developing the bill of rights, the Attorney General shall review the existing pledge and anti-hazing policies and procedures of public and independent institutions of higher education within the State and shall, as appropriate, incorporate those policies into the bill of rights. The Attorney General shall make the “Pledge’s Bill of Rights” available to each institution of higher education within the State.

§ 18A:3-26. Information on hazing included
The bill of rights developed by the Attorney General pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.388 (C.18A:3-25) shall include information on the criminal penalties for hazing and aggravated hazing established pursuant to P.L.1980, c.169 (C.2C:40-3 et seq.).

Pledge’s Bill Of Rights

 

Statutory Authority
This Pledge’s Bill of Rights has been developed by the Attorney General pursuant to N.J.S.A. 18A: 3-24 et seq.
Pledge

For the purpose of this Pledge’s Bill of Rights, a pledge is defined as any student of the college/university attempting to become a member of a fraternity or sorority or other similar campus organization.

Definition of Hazing

 

For the purpose of this Pledge’s Bill of Rights, “hazing” shall mean:

As indicated, pursuant to the New Jersey Statute:
– 2C: 40-3 a. A person is guilty of hazing, a disorderly persons offense, if, in connection with initiation of applicants or members of student or fraternal organizations, he knowingly or recklessly organizes, promotes, facilitates, or engages in any conduct, other than competitive athletic events, which places or may place another person in danger of bodily injury.
– b. A person is guilty of aggravated hazing- a crime of the fourth degree if he commits an act prohibited in subsection a., which results in serious bodily injury to another person.
– 2C: 40-4 Notwithstanding any other provision of Title 2C of the New Jersey Statutes to the contrary, consent shall not be available as a defense to a prosecution under this act.
– 2C: 40-5 Conduct constituting an offense under this Act may, at the discretion of the prosecution attorney, be prosecuted under any other applicable provision of Title 2C of the New Jersey Statutes: and

Other behaviors or activities in addition to those prohibited under N.J.S.A. 2C: 40 et seq.

 

For more information visit:
http://getinvolved.rutgers.edu/fraternities-and-sororities/hazing-prevention-at-rutgers-university/hazing-information