Anti-Hazing Policy - Interim (Policy 102)

Purpose

Governors State University (the “University”) is committed to fostering an environment where the health, safety, and welfare of all individuals are respected; and all employees, trustees, students, and others engaged with the University (collectively, the “GovState Community”) share the responsibility for a safe and secure campus. In furtherance of that commitment, this Policy prohibits any form of hazing (as defined below) and requires that incidents of hazing be reported to appropriate University personnel immediately.

1. Scope
   1. This Policy applies to all individuals (i) on University property; (ii) at University-sponsored or -sanctioned events and activities; (iii) subject to the University’s Student Misconduct Policies or the University’s Employee Code of Conduct; (iv) participating in University-sponsored or -sanctioned research programs/projects; (v) conducting official University business or representing the University off campus; or (vi) engaging in any negative action having impact on individuals within the GovState Community. 
   2. The University reserves the right to impose any level of sanction or discipline, up to and including suspension, dismissal or termination, for any offense under or failure to comply with this Policy. Additionally, a violation of this Policy may subject the offending person to civil, administrative, or criminal fines or penalties imposed under State or Federal law.
2. Definition

   1. Hazing means engaging in any acts not authorized by the University that intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly: 

      1. Endangers (above the reasonable risk encountered in the regular course of participation in the University’s employment, programs, clubs, teams, and classes) the mental, emotional, or physical health or safety of an individual, or causes physical discomfort or mental discomfort; or 
      2. Encourages an individual to engage in conduct of a sexual, or humiliating nature; or 
      3. Destroys or removes public or private property; 

      for the purpose of initiation, induction or admission into, affiliation with, or continued membership in any group, club, team, class, organization, or society that is associated with, established or recognized by, or otherwise connected to the University. Hazing includes, but is not limited to, physical punishments, creating excessive fatigue, work sessions, physical or emotional shock, wearing apparel which is conspicuous, public stunts, morally degrading or humiliating games or events, encouraging or requiring the illegal and/or abusive use of alcohol and/or illegal drugs, or encouraging or requiring any act that would violate Illinois State law, including but not limited to theft of or vandalization of public or private property.

      Acts described as “hazing” in this definition are considered to be hazing whether or not the subject of such conduct willingly participates in such activities.

3. Prohibition on Hazing 
   1. No student, prospective student, employee, potential employee, applicant, nor other individual shall be subject to hazing for the purpose of initiation, induction or admission into, affiliation with, or continued membership in any group, club, team, class, organization, or society that is associated with, established or recognized by, or otherwise connected to the University. 
   2. It shall be a violation of this Policy for any member of the GovState Community: 
      1. To engage in hazing;
      2. To permit or to fail to prevent and/or to discourage known acts of hazing when such activities are known to be taking place, or where it should reasonably be known that such activities are taking place; and 
      3. To fail to report known acts of hazing when such activities are known to be taking place, or where it should reasonably be known that such activities are taking place.
4. Reporting Hazing
   1. Any member of the GovState Community who witnesses, is subjected to, or becomes aware of acts of possible hazing must immediately report the incident. 

      1. Incidents of possible hazing and other violations of this Policy by students should be reported to the University Office of the Dean of Students: 

         Office of the Dean of Students 

         1 University Parkway 

         University Park, IL 60484 

         Phone: 708.235.7595 

         Email: deanofstudents@govst.edu 

         Campus Location: C1310 

      2. Incidents of possible hazing and other violations of this Policy by employees should be reported to the Human Resources Department: 

         Human Resources Department 

         1 University Parkway 

         University Park, IL 60484 

         Phone: 708.534.4100 

         Email: hr@govst.edu 

         Campus Location:C1360 

      3. Incidents of possible hazing and other violations of this Policy may also be reported to the University Ethics Officer: 

         Kaitlyn Anne Wild 

         Director of Compliance and Ethics Officer 

         1 University Parkway 

         University Park, IL 60484

         Phone: 708.534.4846 

         Email: ethicsofficer@govst.edu 

         Campus Location: G328

   2. In case of an emergency, including but not limited to risk of serious bodily harm or death, the situation must be reported to law enforcement immediately:

      University Department of Public Safety 

      Emergency Number: 911 (if calling from campus phone) 

      Phone: 708.534.4900 (if calling direct) 

      Campus Location: C1375 

      1 University Parkway 

      University Park, IL 60484 

      University Park Police Department 

      698 Burnham Drive 

      University Park, IL 60484 

      Emergency Number: 911 (if calling from a non-campus phone) 

      Phone: 708.534.0913 (if calling direct)

5. University's Response to Reports of Hazing

   The University takes all reports of possible hazing very seriously. 

   Hazing and other violations of this Policy by students will be treated as “non academic misconduct” under the University’s Student Code of Conduct (Policy 4), and reports of possible hazing by a student will be investigated and resolved in accordance with the Student Code of Conduct and Community Standards program coordinated by the Office of the Dean of Students. 

   Hazing and other violations of this Policy by employees will be investigated and resolved by the Human Resources Department. 

   For more information about the University’s response to reports, see the University’s Internal Investigations Policy.

Hazing Prevention and Awareness Programs

The Dean of Students (or their delegee(s)) shall coordinate the University’s provision of prevention and awareness programming related to hazing that includes research informed campus-wide prevention programs designed to reach students and employees and primary prevention strategies intended to stop hazing before hazing occurs. Such programming may include, but would not necessarily be limited to, skill building for bystander intervention, information about ethical leadership, and promotion of strategies for building group cohesion without hazing.

1. Hazing Incident Statistics

   The University shall: 

   1. Collect information with respect to hazing incidents at the University; and 
   2. Publish statistics of hazing incidents reported to campus security authorities or local police agencies as part of its disclosure of campus crime statistics in its Annual Security Report under the Clery Act, as required by the federal Stop Campus Hazing Act, Public Law 118 173, 138 Stat. 2597 (Dec. 23, 2024).

2. Campus Hazing Transparency Report

   The Office of the Dean of Students shall prepare and publish a “Campus Hazing Transparency Report” that summarizes findings of hazing violations as required in accordance with the Stop Campus Hazing Act, including as follows:

   1. The Campus Transparency Report shall contain information about findings of hazing violations, including: 
      1. The name of such student organization involved; 
      2. A general description of the hazing violation, including whether the hazing violation involved the abuse or illegal use of alcohol or drugs, the University’s findings, and any sanctions placed on the student organization (as applicable); and 
      3. The dates on which: 
         1. The hazing incident was alleged to have occurred; 
         2. The investigation into the hazing incident was initiated; 
         3. The investigation ended with a finding that a hazing violation occurred; and 
         4. The University provided notice to the student organization that the incident resulted in a hazing violation; and
      4. Any additional information: 
         1. Determined by the Office of the Dean of Students or other University department to be necessary; or 
         2. Reported as required by State law.
   2. The Campus Hazing Transparency Report shall not include any personally identifiable information, including any information that would reveal personally identifiable information, about any individual student in accordance with FERPA.
   3. Not later than December 23, 2025, the Campus Hazing Transparency Report shall be made publicly available on the University’s public website, including: 
      1. A statement notifying the public of the annual availability of statistics on hazing incidents as part of the Annual Security Report; and 
      2. Information about the University’s policies relating to hazing (including this Policy) and applicable local and State laws on hazing.
   4. Not less frequently than 2 times each year thereafter, the Campus Hazing Transparency Report shall be updated to include the required information about hazing violations for the period beginning on the date on which the Report was last published and ending on the date on which such update is submitted. 
   5. The information included in the Campus Hazing Transparency Report and each update thereto shall be maintained for a period of five (5) calendar years from the date of publication of the Report or update. 
   6. The University is not required to: (i) develop and publish an initiation Campus Hazing Transparency Report until it has a finding of a hazing violation; or (ii) update the Campus Hazing Transparency Report if the University does not have a finding of a hazing violation for such period.

3. Definitions

   For purposes of this Section IV (and only this Section IV), the following definitions apply.

   1. 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: 
      1. Is committed in the course of an initiation into, an affiliation with, or the maintenance of membership in, a student organization; and 
      2. Causes or creates a risk, above the reasonable risk encountered in the course of participation in the University (such as the physical preparation necessary for participation in an athletic team), of physical or psychological injury including: 
         1. Whipping, beating, striking, electronic shocking, placing of a harmful substance on someone’s body, or similar activity; 
         2. Causing, coercing, or otherwise inducing sleep deprivation, exposure to the elements, confinement in a small space, extreme calisthenics, or other similar activity; 
         3. Causing, coercing, or otherwise inducing another person to consume food, liquid, alcohol, drugs, or other substances; 
         4. Causing, coercing, or otherwise inducing another person to perform sexual acts; 
         5. Any activity that places another person in reasonable fear of bodily harm through the use of threatening words or conduct; 
         6. Any activity against another person that includes a criminal violation of local, State, or Federal law; and 
         7. Any activity that induces, causes, or requires another person to perform a duty or task that involves a criminal violation of local, State, or Federal law.
   2. Hazing violation means a finding in accordance with this Policy that a student organization (except that this shall only apply to student organizations that are established or recognized by the University) is in violation of this Policy’s prohibition against hazing.
   3. Student organization means an organization at the University (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 University.

Acknowledgement

The University acknowledges and credits documents from the following universities in the development of this Policy: Illinois State and Eastern Illinois University