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Initially approved
January 19, 1987
Revised September
13, 1999
POLICY
STATEMENT #83
HAZING
The University prohibits any form of hazing of its students,
at any time, or at any location on or off campus, including
fraternity houses, private residences, or public property.
The University will respond swiftly to investigate reports
of hazing received from any source, and will promptly
determine whether to proceed with campus disciplinary
action, to forward a report to appropriate law enforcement
officials for prosecution as a criminal matter, or both.
University students who voluntarily consent to hazing,
as well as those who inflict it, are subject to such action.
Hazing is
defined as causing or permitting a person, incident
to initiation into or membership in a society, club,
athletic team, or similar organized group, to participate
in any activity that subjects or is likely to subject
that person or others to risks of physical injury, mental
distress, or personal indignities of a highly offensive
nature, whether or not such person has consented to
participation in the activity. Specific activities that
constitute hazing include, but are not limited to, the
following: 1.
Forced consumption of alcohol or forced ingestion of any
other substance;
2. Forced calisthenics, push-ups, sit-ups, runs, or other
physical contests;
3. Paddling or other physical assault or brutality;
4. Transportation and abandonment;
5. Line-ups with verbal or physical harassment;
6. Morally degrading or humiliating games or activities;
7. Forced sleep deprivation;
8. Wearing or carrying of any obscene or physically burdensome
article;
9. Assignment of pranks to be performed;
10. Yelling or cursing at new members.A
faculty member, staff member, or student who observes
the physical or psychological abuse or intentional public
embarrassment of any person or persons who may be UNC
Charlotte students should immediately report the matter
to the Office
of the Dean of Students, King Building, ext. 2375,
or to the Office of Campus Police. Those offices are charged
to take appropriate action to respond to such a report.
Students
who know, or suspect, that hazing has taken place are
strongly encouraged to report it to the Dean
of Students Office. Employees of the University
are required to report such information.
Where hazing
is alleged or suspected, the Dean of Students, in conjunction
with Campus Police, shall conduct a thorough investigation
of the facts surrounding the incident. When the investigation
produces evidence that hazing activity may be a violation
of criminal law or a violation of campus disciplinary
standards, the following steps are to be taken.
1.
Campus Police will report the facts uncovered in the investigation
to law enforcement officials of the appropriate jurisdiction
for prosecution as a criminal matter.
2. Campus
disciplinary procedures will be initiated, regardless
of whether criminal prosecution occurs. The Dean of
Students may immediately refer the matter to the campus
disciplinary process, or may defer referral until the
outcome of the criminal proceedings has been reported.
Sanctions which may be imposed through the campus
disciplinary procedures include indefinite suspension
from the University. Regardless of the sanction imposed
by campus disciplinary proceedings, if conviction of
a criminal offense of hazing occurs, the student will
be expelled from the University, as is required by state
law.
3. If the
hazing appears to have occurred in connection with any
club or organization, the Dean of Students Office will
notify the regional and national offices of the organization
in which the alleged hazing occurred and may request
them to conduct an independent investigation of the
incident. The Dean of Students may share any information
gained through the University investigation with these
offices, except that which is legally protected by the
Family
Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974. The
Dean of Students will also notify the local advisor
of the organization of the allegations and the progress
of the investigation.
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