SUNY Potsdam believes that membership in student organizations is an important part of the SUNY Potsdam experience. However, being a part of an organization carries with it the responsibility to treat each member respectfully. Responsible behaviors are those that show respect for the dignity and self-esteem of each and every member. Practices that are physically, emotionally, psychologically, and/or spiritually damaging to others are not acceptable and will not be tolerated.
SUNY Potsdam defines hazing as any activity expected of someone that humiliates, degrades, abuses, or which endangers the mental, emotional, physical health, or safety of a student, or which destroys or removes public or private property, for the purpose of initiation, admission into, affiliation with, or as a condition for continued membership in an organization or team whose members are or include students at SUNY Potsdam is prohibited. Hazing may occur regardless of the person’s willingness to participate.
Note: A person commits a hazing offense if the person engages in hazing; solicits, encourages, directs, aids, or attempts to aid another engaging in hazing; or intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly permits hazing to occur.
If you believe that you or someone you know has been a victim of hazing, you may report the activity to the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards or University Police.
Note on anonymity and confidentiality: While anonymous reports will be accepted and reviewed, it may be difficult to follow up on anonymous reports. Every consideration will be provided to a reporter to keep their identity confidential during an investigation, however it may become necessary at some point during the process to identify the reporter.
Upon receiving a report of hazing, the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards will work with the appropriate office which has oversight of the student organization to conduct an investigation into the allegation.
If the report is deemed credible, the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards may issue a temporary order limiting the organization’s activities while the investigation is conducted.
The investigation will determine if there is enough credible information to charge the organization or members of the organization with a violation of the Student Code of Conduct. If there is not, any temporary order will be lifted, and the organization will be able to resume activities. If there is enough information to charge, the organization or its members will be charged through the process outlined in the Student Code of Conduct.
A finding of responsibility for a violation of the Student Code of Conduct may result in educational sanctions, restrictions for new member recruitment, restrictions on organizational activities, organizational probation and/or temporary or permanent loss of recognition by SUNY Potsdam.
Students involved in campus organizations are provided with information about hazing and bystander intervention. All student athletes attend a mandatory NCAA compliance meeting at which hazing is addressed. Leaders of Greek organizations are required to attend training on hazing, bystander intervention and alcohol and other drugs. All student organization leaders are invited to participate in a Fall Leadership Conference where topics such as ethical leadership, bystander intervention, and effective team building are offered.
Other Applicable Laws
For reporting statistics for incidents of hazing, the Stop Campus Hazing Act establishes the following definitions:
‘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—
- is committed in the course of an initiation into, an affiliation with, or the maintenance of membership in, a student organization; and
- 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—
- whipping, beating, striking, electronic shocking, placing of a harmful substance on someone’s body, or similar activity;
- causing, coercing, or otherwise inducing sleep deprivation, exposure to the elements, confinement in a small space, extreme calisthenics, or other similar activity;
- causing, coercing, or otherwise inducing another person to consume food, liquid, alcohol, drugs, or other substances;
- causing, coercing, or otherwise inducing another person to perform sexual acts;
- any activity that places another person in reasonable fear of bodily harm through the use of threatening words or conduct;
- any activity against another person that includes a criminal violation of local, State, Tribal, or Federal law; and
- 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
Effective November 1, 1988
120.16: Hazing in the first degree
A person is guilty of hazing in the first degree when, in the course of another person's initiation into or affiliation with any organization, he intentionally or recklessly engages in conduct which creates a substantial risk of physical injury to such other person or a third person and thereby causes such injury.
Hazing in the first degree is a class A misdemeanor.
120.17: Hazing in the second degree
A person is guilty of hazing in the second degree when, in the course of another person's initiation or affiliation with any organization, he intentionally or recklessly engages in conduct which creates a substantial risk of physical injury to such other person or a third person.
Hazing in the second degree is a violation.
In addition to the consequences of violating University policies and state law prohibiting hazing, both individuals and chapters can be sued in civil court for mental or physical harm that results from hazing. Individual group members (and their parents), group leaders, advisors, the organization, and national affiliates may be sued. Hazing on college campuses has resulted in numerous successful lawsuits.