麻豆传媒

Prohibition & Enforcement

Hazing is prohibited at 麻豆传媒. This prohibition is outlined in the 麻豆传媒 Student Handbook under both the 鈥淎nti-Hazing Policy鈥� and the 麻豆传媒 Student Code of Conduct (Part III, Prohibited student conduct No. 7). 

Allegations of hazing are investigated and adjudicated through 麻豆传媒's student conduct process as outlined in the 麻豆传媒 Student Handbook. Both individuals and groups are subject to this process and may be penalized if found responsible for hazing. 

Reporting & Amnesty Policies

All employees and volunteers at 麻豆传媒, including student employees, are required to report hazing if, as a result of observations or information received in the course of their employment or volunteer service, the employee/volunteer has reasonable cause to believe that hazing has occurred. 鈥淩easonable Cause鈥� occurs when a person witnesses hazing or potential-hazing or when the person receives a credible written or oral report alleging that hazing has occurred, or that a potential hazing activity has been planned.

Current students have a responsibility to report hazing if they believe it is occurring. 麻豆传媒 asks all students to report hazing as soon as it is safe and reasonable to do so. Students may feel worried about experiencing negative consequences if they file such a report. To address this, 麻豆传媒 maintains a 鈥済ood samaritan鈥� reporting policy in accordance with Washington State law. Under this policy, a person who witnesses hazing or has reasonable cause to believe that hazing has occurred or will occur and makes a report in good faith may not be sanctioned or punished for the violation of hazing. This policy does not apply when the reporting person is or was directly engaged in the planning, directing, or act of hazing that was reported. 

Hazing reports of any kind can be made online through . If the situation is an emergency, call 911 immediately. 

Definition: RCW 28B.10.900

"As used in RCW and , "hazing" includes any act committed as part of a person's recruitment, initiation, pledging, admission into, or affiliation with a student organization, athletic team, or living group, or any pastime or amusement engaged in with respect to such an organization, athletic team, or living group that causes, or is likely to cause, bodily danger or physical harm, or serious psychological or emotional harm, to any student or other person attending a public or private institution of higher education or other postsecondary educational institution in this state, including causing, directing, coercing, or forcing a person to consume any food, liquid, alcohol, drug, or other substance which subjects the person to risk of such harm, regardless of the person's willingness to participate. "Hazing" does not include customary athletic events or other similar contests or competitions."

Prohibition & Penalty: RCW 28B.10.901

Prohibition: Hazing is prohibited by Oregon Revised Statute 163.197, which states:

 鈥�(1) A student organization or a member of a student organization commits the offense of hazing if, as a condition or precondition of attaining membership in the organization or of attaining any office or status in the organization, the organization or member intentionally hazes any member, potential member or person pledged to be a member of the organization. (2)(a) A student organization that violates subsection (1) of this section commits a Class A violation. (b) A member of a student organization who personally violates subsection (1) of this section commits a Class B violation. (3) Consent of the person who is hazed is not a defense in a prosecution under this section.鈥�

Definitions: Oregon law defines hazing as follows:

鈥�(4) As used in this section: (a) 鈥滺aze" means: (A) To subject an individual to whipping, beating, striking, branding or electronic shocking, to place a harmful substance on an individual鈥檚 body or to subject an individual to other similar forms of physical brutality; (B) To subject an individual to sleep deprivation, exposure to the elements, confinement in a small space or other similar activity that subjects the individual to an unreasonable risk of harm or adversely affects the physical health or safety of the individual; (C) To compel an individual to consume food, liquid, alcohol, controlled substances or other substances that subject the individual to an unreasonable risk of harm or adversely affect the physical health or safety of the individual; or (D) To induce, cause or require an individual to perform a duty or task that involves the commission of a crime or an act of hazing." ORS 163.197(4)(a). 

Oregon law defines 鈥渕ember鈥� for the purposes of this statute as including 鈥渧olunteers, coaches, and faculty advisers of a student organization.鈥� ORS 163.197(4)(b). 

Oregon law defines 鈥渟tudent organization鈥� as a 鈥渇raternity, sorority, athletic team or other organization that is organized or operating on a college, university or elementary or secondary school campus for the purpose of providing members an opportunity to participate in student activities of the college3, university or elementary or secondary school.鈥� ORS 163.197(4)(c). 

The 鈥淪top Campus Hazing Act鈥� is a United States federal law that amends Section 485(f)(6)(A) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1092(f)(6)(A). The law defines hazing and requires institutions of higher education to provide more transparency regarding verified hazing incidents and regular training and education to students and employees. 

Hazing Definition: "(vi) The term 鈥榟azing鈥�, for purposes of reporting statistics on hazing incidents under paragraph (1)(F)(iv), 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鈥� (I) is committed in the course of an initiation into, an affiliation with, or the maintenance of membership in, a student organization; and (II) 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鈥�(aa) whipping, beating, striking, electronic shocking, placing of a harmful substance on someone鈥檚 body, or similar activity; (bb) causing, coercing, or otherwise inducing sleep deprivation, exposure to the elements, confinement in a small space, extreme calisthenics, or other similar activity; (cc) causing, coercing, or otherwise inducing another person to consume food, liquid, alcohol, drugs, or other substances; (dd) causing, coercing, or otherwise inducing another person to perform sexual acts; (ee) any activity that places another person in reasonable fear of bodily harm through the use of threatening words or conduct; (ff) any activity against another person that includes a criminal violation of local, State, Tribal, or Federal law; and (gg) 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.鈥� (20 U.S.C. 1092(f)(6)(A)(vi))

Student Organization Definition: 鈥淭he term 鈥榮tudent organization鈥�, for purposes of reporting under paragraph (1)(F)(iv) and paragraph (9)(A), means an organization at an institution of higher education (such as a club, society, association, varsity or junior varsity athletic team, club sports team, fraternity, sorority, band, or student government) in which two or more of the members are students enrolled at the institution of higher education, whether or not the organization is established or recognized by the institution.鈥� (20 U.S.C. 1092(f)(6)(A)(vii))

Hazing definitions vary by state, but generally hazing activities are:

1. Required of an individual in order to join or remain a part of a group; and
2. Dangerous, humiliating, degrading, illegal, or otherwise objectionable. 

Important notes:

• Hazing occurs even when someone 鈥渃onsents鈥� to engage in the objectionable activity.
• Hazing can occur in groups that are not officially sanctioned, organized, or recognized by the university. This means that hazing can occur in informal groups of friends and organizations not affiliated with 麻豆传媒. 

If you are unsure of whether an activity qualifies as hazing or not, ask yourself these questions:

1. Is this activity illegal?
2. Does this activity violate the student code of conduct?
3. Does this activity violate other 麻豆传媒 policies?
4. Could this activity endanger the participants' physical safety?
5. Could this activity endanger or harm the participants' emotional or mental health?
6. Would I be uncomfortable if my family were watching this activity? Would participants be uncomfortable if their family members were watching them participate?
7. Could this activity embarrass, humiliate, or degrade the participants?

If the answer to one or more of these questions is yes, the activity may be hazing and should be immediately. 

Examples of actions and activities which may constitute hazing include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Compelling individuals to consume alcohol or drugs.
• Compelling individuals to engage in sexual behaviors, sexual or racial harassment or
• Compelling individuals to eat or drink unusual substances or compelling the consumption of undue amounts or odd preparations of food.
• Having harmful substances thrown at, poured on or otherwise applied to the bodies of individuals.
• Morally degrading or humiliating games or activities which make an individual the object of amusement, ridicule, or intimidation.
• Transporting individuals against their will, abandoning individuals at distant locations, or conducting any 鈥渒idnap,鈥� 鈥渄itch鈥� or 鈥渞oad trip鈥� that may in any way endanger or compromise the health, safety, or comfort of any individual.
• Requiring an individual to remain in a fixed position for a long period of time.
• Compelling an individual to be branded or tattooed.
• 鈥淟ine-ups鈥� involving intense shouting of obscenities or insults.
• Compelling individuals to participate in activities (pranks, scavenger hunts, etc.) which encourage the defacement of property; engage in theft; harass other individuals, groups of individuals or organizations.
• Compelling an individual to engage in acts of personal servitude.

Hazing can take many forms and may impact people differently. It can sometimes be difficult to tell if someone is being hazed. 

Signs that someone is being hazed may include:

• Sudden change in behavior or attitude when trying to join or after joining the organization/group;
• Wanting to leave the organization/group with no real explanation;
• Sudden decrease in communication with friends and family;
• Physical or psychological exhaustion;
• Unexplained weight loss;
• Unexplained injuries or illness;
• Change in sleeping or eating habits;
• Withdrawal from normal activities;
• Expressed feeling of sadness or feeling of worthlessness;
• Increase in secrecy and unwillingness to share details.

There are several ways to report hazing or suspected hazing incidents. 

1. If the situation is an emergency, call 911 immediately. Do not wait to get help.
2. You can submit an online report using . Be as detailed as you can when filling out the form, as this will help 麻豆传媒 respond appropriately.
3. You can contact the VP of Student Life or the Dean of Students directly via phone, email, or in-person.
4. You can call 麻豆传媒 Campus Security at (509) 527-2222. This is a 24-hour line.
5. You can tell a 麻豆传媒 faculty or staff member. All 麻豆传媒 employees are required to report suspected hazing incidents.