Hazing Policy
California State University, Fullerton expects that all members
of all recognized student organizations will observe and fully
comply with university policy and State of California Penal Code
Section 245.6 requirements on hazing. In addition, all students are
expected to adhere to regulations set forth by university policies,
their respective national organizations, InterFraternity Council,
Panhellenic Council, Multicultural Greek Council and Pan Hellenic
Council concerning practices commonly referred to as hazing. It is
the responsibility of the officers of student organizations to be
informed of all of the above mentioned regulations and to see that
they are brought to the attention of the rest of the membership.
Violations of these regulations should be brought to the Dean of
Students Office.
During each Student Organization Officer Orientation, coordinated
by the Dean of Students Office, this policy shall be reviewed,
thereby educating all recognized student organizations.
Additionally, at the beginning of each semester, the president of
each social fraternity and sorority shall submit to the Dean of
Students Office, on a form provided by that office, a statement
signed by each elected officer of the organization attesting to the
fact that they have read and understand the information provided by
the university regarding hazing. The collecting of the officers'
signatures and the submission of this form in a timely manner is the
responsibility of the president of each organization. Failure to
submit this form by the deadline established by the Dean of Students
Office will result in suspension of university recognition and a
loss of campus privileges. The State of California Penal Code
Section 245.6 proscribes criminal penalties for individuals who
haze.
University Policy
University policy with respect to hazing prohibits any
recognized student organization from engaging collectively or
individually in any of the following practices as part of any
program or general activity:
- All forms of physical activity not a part of an organized
athletic contest and not specifically directed toward
constructive work is prohibited.
- The application of foreign substances to the body is
prohibited.
- Such activities as a new member scavenger hunts, new member
ditches, kidnaps, and the like are prohibited.
- Any activity that is mandatory for new members only, and is
not educational in nature is prohibited.
- Depriving students of sufficient sleep (6 hours per day
minimum), decent and edible meals, or access to means of
maintaining bodily cleanliness is prohibited.
- Depriving students of "sense awareness" (sight, sound, etc.)
which may cause mental and/or physical stress is prohibited.
- Forcing, coercing or permitting students to eat or drink
foreign or unusual substances such as raw meat, salt water,
onions, etc., or excessive amounts of any substance is
prohibited.
- Forcing, or allowing, students to dress in any unusual or
awkward fashion is prohibited.
State of California Penal Code 245.6.
(a) It shall be unlawful to engage in hazing, as defined in
this section.
(b) "Hazing" means any method of initiation or pre-initiation into a
student organization or student body, whether or not the
organization or body is officially recognized by an educational
institution, which is likely to cause serious bodily injury to any
former, current, or prospective student of any school, community
college, college, university, or other educational institution in
this state. The term "hazing" does not include customary athletic
events or school-sanctioned events.
(c) A violation of this section that does not result in serious
bodily injury is a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of not less
than one hundred dollars ($100), nor more than five thousand dollars
($5,000), or imprisonment in the county jail for not more than one
year, or both.
(d) Any person who personally engages in hazing that results in
death or serious bodily injury as defined in paragraph (4) of
subdivision (f) of Section 243 of the Penal Code, is guilty of
either a misdemeanor or a felony, and shall be punished by
imprisonment in county jail not exceeding one year, or by
imprisonment in the state prison.
Allegations of Hazing
Allegations of violation of state law or university policies
regarding hazing are handled by the Dean of Students Office. After
assuring that due process has been followed in determining the facts
of a given case, and that all parties involved have access to all of
these facts, and that the accused organization has an opportunity to
face its accuser, the Vice President for Student Affairs shall make
a determination regarding the apparent validity of the charge. If
the organization indeed appears to have violated state law or
university policy, the Vice President may invoke sanctions ranging
from a warning to withdrawal of recognition. Decisions made by the
Vice President may be appealed to the President of the university.
If it appears to the Vice President for Student Affairs that
there has been a violation of Penal Code Section 245.6, the Vice
President may refer the matter to University Police. Nothing in this
policy is intended to prevent or prohibit a victim of hazing from
filing a complaint with the police in addition to reporting the
event(s) to the Dean of Students Office, as described above.
Vice President for Student Affairs
2007
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