Antihazing Regulations

The University is an association of equals who, in working together, comprise a scholarly community. Hazing is inconsistent with the goals and purposes of the University and is explicitly forbidden.

I. Hazing: Definition

A. For purposes of these regulations, and consistent with the Anti-Hazing Law of Pennsylvania, hazing means any action or situation (1) which recklessly or intentionally endangers the mental or physical health or safety of a student or (2) which willfully destroys or removes public or private property for the purpose of initiation or admission into or affiliation with, or as a condition for continued membership in, an organization operating under the sanction of, or recognized as an organization by, the University including, without limitation, fraternities and sororities (an "Organization"). For purposes of these regulations, any activity as described herein upon which the initiation or admission into or affiliation with or continued membership in an organization is directly or indirectly conditioned shall be presumed to be "forced" activity, the willingness of an individual to participate in such activity notwithstanding.

 

B.* “Hazing” refers to any activity expected of someone joining a group (or to maintain full status in a group) that humiliates, degrades or risks emotional and/or physical harm, regardless of the person's willingness to participate.  In years past, hazing practices were typically considered harmless pranks or comical antics associated with young men in college fraternities. 

Today we know that hazing extends far beyond college fraternities and is experienced by boys/men and girls/women in school groups, university organizations, athletic teams, the military, and other social and professional organizations. Hazing is a complex social problem that is shaped by power dynamics operating in a group and/or organization and within a particular cultural context. 

Hazing activities are generally considered to be:  physically abusive, hazardous, and/or sexually violating.  The specific behaviors or activities within these categories vary widely among participants, groups and settings.  While alcohol use is common in many types of hazing, other examples of typical hazing practices include: personal servitude; sleep deprivation and restrictions on personal hygiene; yelling, swearing and insulting new members/rookies; being forced to wear embarrassing or humiliating attire in public; consumption of vile substances or smearing of such on one's skin; brandings; physical beatings; binge drinking and drinking games; sexual simulation and sexual assault.”

Some examples of common hazing practices are listed below. However, NOT ALL HAZING activities are listed here.

• Deception
• Assigning demerits
• Silence periods with implied threats for violation
• Deprivation of privileges granted to other members
• Requiring new members to perform duties not assigned to other members
• Socially isolating new members
• Line-ups and Drills/Tests on meaningless information
• Name calling
• Requiring new members to refer to other members with titles (e.g. “Mr.,” “Miss”) while they are identified with demeaning terms
• Expecting certain items to always be in one's possession
• Verbal abuse
• Threats or implied threats
• Asking new members to wear embarrassing or humiliating attire
• Stunt or skit nights with degrading, crude, or humiliating acts
• Expecting new members to perform personal service to other members such as carrying books, errands, cooking, cleaning etc
• Sleep deprivation
• Sexual simulations
• Expecting new members to be deprived of maintaining a normal schedule of bodily cleanliness.
• Be expected to harass others Forced or coerced alcohol or other drug consumption
• Beating, paddling, or other forms of assault
• Branding
• Forced or coerced ingestion of vile substances or concoctions
• Burning
• Water intoxication
• Expecting abuse or mistreatment of animals
• Public nudity
• Expecting illegal activity
• Bondage
• Abductions/kidnaps
• Exposure to cold weather or extreme heat without appropriate protection
• Confiscation of identification/PennCards, room keys, and cell phones. 
• Carrying irrelevant objects (bricks, lunch boxes, etc.)
• Restrictions limiting students’ ability to contact parents and University personnel
• Required silence
   
  * (Language in Section B adapted from Stophazing.org).

C. There are time and place limitations on all fraternity and sorority pledging activities. For purposes of this section, pledging is activity that is unique to a pledge and performed as a requirement of membership in a fraternity or sorority.

1. There shall be no pledging activities between midnight and 8:00 a.m. Sunday through Thursday. This rule will be strictly enforced.
2. Pledging activities shall not occupy more than ten hours per week, excluding study hours and community service.
3. The length of pledging shall be limited to the time period set forth in National Interfraternity Council, National Panhellenic Conference, or National Pan-Hellenic Council Guidelines or as prescribed by the national headquarters of each University of Pennsylvania affiliated chapter.
4. Any pledging practices including raids, treasure hunts and scavenger hunts taking place outside of the chapter house are prohibited. The residence halls, in particular, are off limits to the pledge activities of Organizations.
5. With one exception, pledges may not be sent on trips. Pledges may voluntarily visit other chapters of a fraternity with the express approval of the Chapter Advisor. The Director of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs shall be notified of the prior approval in writing. Approval should be granted only when the trip has been sanctioned by a national officer of the fraternity, when adequate funds, transportation and supervision are provided, and when the purpose of the trip is of a constructive nature.

II. Penalties

Penalties for engaging in hazing activities include University sanctions against individuals and organizations, and criminal sanctions under state law.

A. Individuals

All students, whether or not they are affiliated with an organization, are governed by the Guidelines on Open Expression and Charter of the University Student Judicial System.
Infractions of the above Antihazing Regulations are subject to sanctions as set forth in the Charter of the University Student Judicial System. These sanctions include the following: warning, reprimand, fine, restitution, disciplinary probation for a specified period, withdrawal of privileges, indefinite probation (i.e., probation whenever and as long as the respondent is a full- or part-time student at the University), term suspension (ordinarily not to exceed two years), indefinite suspension with no automatic right of readmission, or expulsion.

B. Organizations

1. Fraternities and Sororities. All fraternities and sororities are governed by the University policy entitled "Recognition and Governance of Undergraduate Social Fraternities and Sororities" (the "Recognition Policy"). For infractions of the Antihazing Regulations above, the fraternity or sorority is subject to sanctions as set forth in the Recognition Policy. These sanctions include administrative warning, chapter probation, suspension of University recognition, and withdrawal of University recognition. The national fraternity of any chapter convicted of a pledging infraction will be notified of this fact.
2. Other Organizations. For infractions of the above Antihazing Regulations, organizations which are not fraternities or sororities are subject to sanctions including loss of University facility use privileges and loss of Student Activities Council recognition and funding.

C. Criminal and Civil Liability
In addition to the sanctions described above, a student or organization may be subject to civil liability or to criminal liability under Pennsylvania's Antihazing Law or otherwise in accordance with state law.