Hazing Prevention

Revised: June 23, 2025

FEDERAL LAW

The Stop Campus Hazing Act (the “Act”), enacted on December 23, 2024, amends section 485(f) of the Higher Education Act (the Clery Act), to prioritize the prevention of and transparency about hazing incidents at colleges and universities.

The Act defines the term hazing to mean:

[A]ny 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 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 but not limited to:

(a) whipping, beating, striking, electronic shocking, placing of a harmful substance on someone’s body, or similar activity;

(b) causing, coercing, or otherwise inducing sleep deprivation, exposure to the elements, confinement in a small space, extreme calisthenics, or other similar activity;

(c) causing, coercing, or otherwise inducing another person to consume food, liquid, alcohol, drugs, or other substances;

(d) causing, coercing, or otherwise inducing another person to perform sexual acts;

(e) any activity that places another person in reasonable fear of bodily harm through the use of threatening words or conduct;

(f) any activity against another person that includes a criminal violation of local, State, Tribal, or Federal law; and

(g) 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.

OHIO LAW

Ohio has laws against hazing. The Ohio Anti-Hazing Act (Collin’s Law) makes acts of hazing a second-degree misdemeanor and acts of hazing that include coerced consumption of alcohol or drugs or abuse that result in serious physical harm a felony of the third degree. Moreover, Collin’s Law expands the definition of hazing, increases penalties for hazing and failure to report hazing, expands requirements for reporting, and mandates training for students, employees, and volunteers at colleges and universities.

The Ohio Revised Code, Section 2903.31 defines hazing as “doing any act or coercing another, including the victim, to do any act of initiation into any student or other organization or any act to continue or reinstate membership in or affiliation with any student or other organization that causes or creates a substantial risk of causing mental or physical harm to any person, including coercing another to consume alcohol or a drug or abuse, as defined in section 3719.011 of the Revised Code.”

UNIVERSITY CONTACTS TO REPORT HAZING

Any of the following agencies can receive a report regarding hazing:

• Dean of Students & Hazing Prevention Coordinator, Kelly Colangelo, J.C. Williams Center, 740-284-7230
• Office of Student Life, J.C. Williams Center, 740-283-6441
• Department of Public Safety, 1519 Assisi Heights, 740-283-6333
• Office of Human Resources, Starvaggi Hall, 740-283-6398 (Note: Hazing violations by University employees should be reported to this office.)
• If you wish to make an anonymous report, you may do so by completing a secure Anonymous Online Form.

NOTE: If a member of the University community is aware of immediate physical danger to a student or others, he or she must contact the Department of Public Safety at 740-283-6911 or dial 911.

INSTITUTIONAL REPORTING

The University will maintain an Anti-Hazing webpage on the University’s website, which will include a report of all violations reported to the University that result in a charge of violation of this policy. The University will update the report bi-annually on January 1 and August 1 of each year and will post the updated report on the University website for the current academic year as well as for the previous five (5) academic years. This report will include a brief description of the alleged misconduct, the outcome/finding concerning the alleged misconduct, and any corrective action or discipline taken.