SCOPE
The Anti-Hazing Policy establishes rights and obligations that are applicable to all members of the College Community, including the College’s students, faculty, staff, volunteers, and affiliates. The policy prohibits certain acts and conduct that may be attributed to various groups, which includes student organizations regardless of whether the organization is established or recognized by the College including, but not limited to, recognized student organizations; internally or externally established clubs, societies, fraternities, and sororities; intramural and intercollegiate athletic teams; performance groups; student government; and curricular, co-curricular, and non-curricular academic organizations.
The policy also applies to all other invitees and visitors to College-owned or -controlled premises, including alumni, personal guests, vendors, and any other individuals.
POLICY STATEMENT
As an institution of higher education that promotes the rights and safety of all members of the campus community, Ithaca College prohibits hazing as defined herein. Faculty members and staff with supervisory responsibilities over student organizations, bands, clubs, societies, etc., are expected to maintain an employment and educational environment that is free of hazing. All College employees must comply with the requirements below.
DEFINITIONS:
The definitions herein will be deemed automatically amended as new legislation requires.
- College Community: This term refers to any and all students, faculty, staff, volunteers, and affiliates while they are attending, engaged with, or otherwise participating in any activity, area, or operation of the College.
- Hazing: 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 (e.g., a club, athletic team, fraternity, or sorority); and
- causes or creates a risk, above the reasonable risk encountered in the course of participation in the College educational program or the organization, 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.’’
- Student Organization:for purposes of this policy, means an organization (such as a club, society, association, athletic team, club sports team, fraternity, sorority, band, or student government) in which two or more of the members are students enrolled at the College, whether or not the organization is established or recognized by the institution.
REQUIREMENTS
REPORTING
- Campus Security Authorities are required to report hazing directly to the Office of Public Safety. For more information about personnel that are considered Campus Security Authorities and their responsibilities, see: https://www.ithaca.edu/public-safety-and-emergency-management/clery-act-compliance
- All supervisors and managers who receive a complaint or information about suspected conduct that would constitute hazing, observe what may be hazing, or for any reason suspect that hazing is occurring, are required to report such suspected conduct to the Office of Public Safety.
- Members of recognized student organizations and athletic teams are required to report incidents of hazing occurring within any organization of which they are a member directly to the Office of Public Safety.
- All community members are encouraged to report suspected incidents of hazing to the Office of Public Safety.
INVESTIGATION
Hazing is a serious violation of College policy and may also constitute a criminal offense under applicable State, Federal or Tribal laws. The Office of Public Safety will document and investigate all reported incidents of hazing, whether occurring on or off campus. Depending on the circumstances, Public Safety may conduct a criminal investigation, gather information for non-criminal college administrative proceedings, or refer the matter to the appropriate external law enforcement agency with jurisdiction.
Criminal Investigations
In New York State, hazing is a criminal offense under New York Penal Law §120.16 (classified as an A misdemeanor) and §120.17 (as a violation). Criminal investigations will occur in accordance with applicable laws.
If incidents of hazing occur on Ithaca College-owned or leased property, the Office of Public Safety serves as the lead law enforcement agency and will conduct a criminal investigation. The information collected during the criminal investigation process may be used for non-criminal complaints for College administrative decision-making.
If incidents of hazing occur off-campus, the Office of Public Safety will notify the appropriate law enforcement agency with jurisdiction.
Administrative Investigation Procedures
The Office of Public Safety will serve as the lead investigative unit for College administrative (non-criminal) investigations.
When a report of hazing is received, the Office of Public Safety will notify an appropriate collaborating office to serve as a point of contact for students who have questions or concerns regarding the investigation process and access to resources for support. The collaborating office will be determined at the time of the report on a case-by-case basis, but may include the following College administrative offices:
| For incidents involving recognized student organizations: | Office of Student Engagement |
| For incidents involving athletic teams or club sports: | Intercollegiate Athletics and Campus Recreation |
| For incidents involve unrecognized student groups: | Dean of Students |
| For incidents involving on-campus residential groups: | Office of Residential Life |
| For incidents involving academic groups | Dean’s Office for the applicable School |
Public Safety will evaluate the report to determine whether the allegations would constitute a violation of the Anti-Hazing Policy, other applicable policy or State or Federal law.
If a hazing report includes allegations of sex discrimination, including any forms of sex-based harassment, the Office of Public Safety will coordinate with the Title IX Office to ensure an appropriate response in compliance with applicable law and institutional Title IX policies.
Upon completion of an investigation, if Public Safety is not able to find probable cause to believe a particular allegation occurred, Public Safety will inform the supervising office of the outcome of the investigation and that allegation was not substantiated and thus would not be referred for disciplinary action.
Reports that are not dismissed will be thoroughly investigated by Public Safety to determine the identities of the involved individuals, the nature of the incident, relevant circumstances surrounding the incident, and the organizational responsibilities of the individuals involved.
WITNESS PARTICIPATION
Members of student organizations may be required to attend investigatory meetings or hearings related to reports of hazing. Members’ failure to attend required meetings or hearings may be considered a violation of this policy by the individual or the organization.
COLLABORATION WITH OTHER OFFICES
As needed, Public Safety may involve representatives from other campus departments, including but not limited to the Office of Human Resources, the Office of Student Engagement, Intercollegiate Athletics, and others as deemed appropriate and necessary. These offices may provide support and serve as points of contact for conduct-related concerns.
INTERIM ACTIONS:
The Associate Director of Student Conduct and Community Standards (or designee), in collaboration with appropriate campus offices/officials, may take interim actions against a student organization or individual members, while an investigation is pending, when necessary to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the College or any member of the College community. Interim action decisions will be based on the nature of the allegations and are not a final determination of responsibility. Interim Action decisions will remain in effect until the final conclusion of the investigation/hearing process. Any of the following actions may be taken in response to hazing allegation:
- Interim Revocation of Organizational Privileges- organizations may be prohibited from accessing College funds and facilities, posting materials on campus, and/or engaging in group activities including traveling off campus for group events/activities.
- Interim Revocation of Individual’s privilege to participate – individual members may have their privilege to participate in organizational activities revoked during the investigation and hearing process.
- Interim removal of an individual’s organizational status—individuals may be removed from specific roles within their organization (such as leadership, executive committees, etc.) without impacting their general membership or participation in the organization, during the investigation and hearing process.
ADJUDICATION:
- Students. Students accused of violations of this policy are subject to hearing and appeal procedures outlined in the Student Conduct Code.
- Employees and affiliates. Employees (including members of faculty and/or staff) and affiliates accused of violations may be subject to hearing procedures conducted by the Office of Human Resources.
- Other community members. All other community members, visitors, invitees, and trespassers will be subject to determinations of responsibility made in the College’s sole discretion, as administered by the Office of Public Safety.
- Student Organizations, Athletic Teams, and other Recognized and Unrecognized Student Groups. Recognized and Unrecognized Student Organizations with one or more members accused of violations are subject to hearing procedures, conducted by the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards, including the opportunity to appeal.
SANCTION/DISCLIPLINARY ACTION
One or more of the following penalties may apply when a violation is found to have occurred. Penalties will be determined based on the responsible party’s type(s) of affiliation with the College, the nature and severity of the violation, and other relevant factors.
- All individuals found in violation of this policy will be subject to appropriate disciplinary action, up to and including removal from campus, termination of employment for employees, and suspension or expulsion for students.
- Students found in violation of this policy may temporarily or permanently lose their eligibility to participate or to serve in leadership positions in the affected student organization or in one or more other student organizations.
- Employees and affiliates found in violation of this policy may temporarily or permanently lose their eligibility to advise a recognized student organization or attend a student organization’s events or activities.
- Recognized Student Organizations may lose all or part their College funding and access to College resources (facilities, equipment, programming, etc.); be required to select new leadership; or recognition of the organization may be suspended or permanently revoked.
- Unrecognized Student Organizations may be barred from operating on College-owned or -operated premises, from communicating or promoting activities using College platforms, and may have their non-student or non-employee members individually barred from campus.
AMNESTY WHEN REPORTING HAZING VIOLATIONS
To encourage reporting of hazing, an individual acting in good faith to report hazing will not be subject to Ithaca College’s Code of Conduct action for violations of alcohol and/or drug use policies occurring at or near the time of the commission of the reported conduct.
HAZING PREVENTION PROGRAM
Ithaca College will maintain a campus-wide, research-informed education and outreach program to prevent hazing in all college activities and ensure that students, faculty, and staff are informed of related policies.
Primary prevention education is required for all incoming undergraduate and graduate students during orientation, with hazing policy disclosures provided to faculty and staff via Ithaca College web-portals. Student leaders—including athletes, student organization leaders (e-board members), and participants in academic organizations—receive supplemental training focused on identifying, intervening in, and reporting hazing.
The College’s hazing prevention efforts include primary prevention strategies intended to prevent hazing before it occurs, such as:
- Reviewing current policies related to hazing, how to report such incidents, procedures used to investigate incidents of hazing, and information on applicable local, State, and Tribal laws on hazing
- Promotion of positive group cohesion strategies, helping groups foster unity and tradition without the use of harmful or coercive behaviors.
- Skill-building for bystander intervention, empowering students to recognize risky or harmful behaviors and take safe, effective action;
- Ethical leadership education, encouraging responsible, inclusive decision-making and values-based leadership.
Last Updated: June 18, 2025