Hazing Policy

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Adelphi University opposes hazing in any form by any person or group associated with this University.

Reason for Policy

This policy is deemed to be part of the by-laws of all organizations operating on the Adelphi University campus. Each organization has the responsibility to review, annually, such by-laws with individuals affiliated with such organizations. This policy is applicable to all students, student groups, and organizations, regardless of recognition status with the institution.

Who is Governed by this Policy

Students and employees; visitors, licensees, and invitees while present on the Adelphi University Campus (as defined below).

Policy

Hazing Regulations

In recognition of the Stop Campus Hazing Act (PL-118-173), and to prohibit dangerous activity conducted for the purpose of initiation into an affiliation with any organization, the Board of Trustees reaffirms as University policy its opposition to hazing by adoption of the following Rules and the Regulations thereunder:

  1. Hazing (as defined herein) is strictly prohibited. Students, employees, and groups or organizations of such persons, including student organizations (as defined herein) shall not engage in hazing (to be referred to as the Anti-Hazing Rule). In addition, visitors, licensees, invitees or a group or organization of such persons present on the Campus of Adelphi University at Garden City, New York, and on any other University property used for educational purposes (collectively called “Campus”) are similarly prohibited from engaging in hazing (as defined herein).
  2. It shall be a condition of any University approval or the continuation of approval for the operation of any group or organization, including student organization (as defined herein), that the Anti-Hazing Rule shall be deemed included in the governing document(s) of all groups or organizations now, or hereafter, associated with the University. A statement acknowledging the inclusion of the Anti-Hazing Rule in its governing documents shall be filed with the Center for Student and Community Engagement by all groups or organizations associated with the University.
    1. With respect to presently approved organizations operating on the Campus, such a statement shall be filed within 30 days of the first publication of this Anti-Hazing Rule in the Campus Notices and the Delphian, and thereafter within the first 30 days of the commencement of each academic year.
    2. A failure to comply with the filing of such statement shall result in the denial of University approval of such group or organization, and/or recission of the right to operate on the Campus, as the case may be.
    3. Student groups (e.g. non-recognized student organizations) are still subject to the Anti-Hazing rule.
  3. The Anti-Hazing Rule shall be added to and included in the Student Organization Manual, Student-Athlete handbook, The Guide to Student Life, and Greek Manual of Adelphi University.
    1. A statement shall be prepared as a campus notice within 30 days of the first publication of this Anti-Hazing Rule, and thereafter within the first 30 days of the commencement of each academic year.
  4. In addition to any penalty prescribed by the New York Penal Law, the penalty for violation of this Anti-Hazing Rule shall be as follows:
    1. For individual students, faculty, or staff members, violation may result in suspension, expulsion, or other disciplinary action.
    2. For any group or organization, the violation may result in the rescission of any previously issued permission to operate on the Campus or the refusal of permission to operate on the Campus, as the case may be.
    3. For visitors, licensees, or invitees, violations will result in ejection from the Campus.

Definitions

  • Hazing: is defined as 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 (as defined herein); and
    • Causes or creates a risk, above the reasonable risk encountered in the course of participation in the higher education or the organization, or physical or psychological injury including, but not limited to:
      • whipping, beating, striking, electronic shocking, placing 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 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, 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, or Federal law.
    • Note that the New York Penal Law criminalizes the following:
      • Penal Law Section 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, including, but not limited to, making physical contact with or requiring physical activity of such other person, which creates a substantial risk of physical injury to such other person or a third person and thereby causes such injury.
      • Penal Law Section 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, including, but not limited to, making physical contact with or requiring physical activity of such other person, which causes a substantial risk of physical injury to such other person or a third person.
      • Local and Tribal Anti-Hazing Laws: There are no specific local or tribal laws addressing hazing.
  • Student: means any currently enrolled person (or person enrolled at the time of an alleged violation) for whom the University maintains education records, as defined by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (“FERPA”) and related regulations. A person who is currently not enrolled, but who is still pursuing a degree and has not withdrawn from the University (e.g., between fall and spring semester, over the summer, while studying abroad) is considered a student for the purpose of this Code. A person who was a student at the time of an incident is considered a student for the purpose of this Code.
  • Student organization: an organization at Adelphi (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 at Adelphi, whether or not the organization is established or recognized by Adelphi.
    • Established or recognized student organization (as defined in the Code of Conduct (“Student Organization”)) [M]eans a number of persons are associated with each other and have complied with University requirements for recognition.
    • Non-established or recognized student organization (as defined in the Code of Conduct (“Student Group”)) [M]eans a number of persons who are associated with each other, but who have not complied with University requirements for recognition as an organization.

Procedures

Reporting Hazing

The University strongly encourages all community members to report suspected hazing in a timely manner. Individuals who are identified as Campus Security Authorities, per the Clery Act, are required to report incidents of hazing.

Reports of hazing may be made in person or electronically as noted below (e.g., via telephone, email, or online reporting form). A person may make a report of hazing either anonymously or as an identified person.

  • Public Safety – To report an incident of hazing to Public Safety, please go to the 1st Floor Levermore Hall, or contact the Command Center by telephone at 516-877-3511. (available 24 hours/day) Public Safety will share all reports of hazing with Student Conduct and Community Standards staff via the currently established procedures for information sharing.
  • Student Conduct and Community Standards – To report an incident of hazing to Student Conduct and Community Standards, please go to 208 Levermore Hall, or contact the office by telephone at 516-877-3612 (available Mon-Fri 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.) or via email to studentconduct@adelphi.edu. Student Conduct and Community Standards will share all reports of hazing with Public Safety via the currently established procedures for information sharing.
  • Online Incident Reporting Form – University community members may submit a report (identified or anonymously) via the University’s online reporting form. When completing this form, please select “Hazing” from the dropdown menu in the field of “Main Issue.” Required fields are identified on the form, all other information is optional. Please note that the more information provided about the reported incident, the better the University can respond to the incident.

Investigation of Hazing Incidents

The process for investigating hazing is outlined in the University’s Code of Conduct. The following is a summary of how hazing incidents are investigated. (Note that the process may be adapted depending on the specifics of the incident.)

  1. The University is notified of a possible hazing incident via the reporting options listed above.
  2. If students, student organizations (recognized student organizations), or student groups (unrecognized organizations) are involved, Student Conduct and Community Standards will assume the lead in investigating the allegation, in consultation and partnership with other appropriate University offices and entities.
  3. If employees are involved in a reported incident of hazing, Human Resources will assume the lead in investigating the allegation, in consultation and partnership with other appropriate University offices and entities.
  4. Per the Code of Conduct, both individual students and student groups and organizations (regardless of recognition status) may be held individually and/or collectively responsible for violations of hazing.
  5. All identified individuals and organizations (regardless of recognition status) will be contacted and invited to participate in the investigation. Per the Code of Conduct, “[S]tudents are expected to appear regarding student conduct matters. Failure to comply with a notice to appear may subject the student to additional student conduct action.”
  6. The investigators will attempt to identify and collect all relevant information related to the incident (e.g., text messages, video footage, screenshots, email, etc.)
  7. Upon conclusion of the investigation, a report will be generated that contains the information regarding the alleged incident and information gathered and considered by the investigators, along with the conclusions of the investigator(s). The report will be presented to the Director of Student Conduct and Community Standards and other appropriate University personnel.
  8. After reviewing the report, if the incident is referred for further student conduct action, notification and resolution of the incident will occur as outlined in the Code of Conduct.
  9. Resolution of incidents in which employees are accused of and found responsible for hazing will be resolved through the procedures outlined by Human Resources or the appropriate governing document. (e.g., collective bargaining agreement)

Hazing Data Collection and Transparency Reporting

The University is committed to transparent reporting of all hazing incidents, in accordance with the Clery Act and Stop Campus Hazing Act, including:

  • Clery Act Reporting of Hazing Incidents

The University will collect and report hazing statistics in its Annual Security and Fire Safety Report1. Such data will include all hazing incidents (as defined by the Stop Campus Hazing Act), which are reported to Campus Security Authorities and occur within the University’s Clery Geography (on-campus, on-campus student housing, public property, and non-campus locations).

For more information on the Clery Act, see the University’s Clery Act Website and the Compliance with the Clery Act Policy.

Campus Hazing Transparency Report

The University will document and report violations of the Anti-Hazing Rule by established or recognized student organizations, biannually in a Campus Hazing Transparency Report (the “Transparency Report”).

The Transparency Report will include each incident involving an established or recognized student organization for which a finding of responsibility is issued relating to a hazing violation, including:

  • The name of such student organization;
  • A general description of the violation that resulted in a finding of responsibility, including:
    • whether the violation involved the abuse or illegal use of alcohol or drugs,
    • the findings by Adelphi University, and
    • any sanctions placed on the student organization by the University, as applicable; and
  • The dates on which:
    • The incident was alleged to have occurred
    • The investigation into the incident was initiated
    • The investigation ended with a finding that a hazing violation occurred, and
    • The University provided notice to the student organization that the incident resulted in a hazing violation.
  • The Transparency Report will not include personally identifiable information.

The Transparency Report encompasses a broader geographical scope than the Clery geography (indicated above), including any hazing violations identified regardless of where they occurred and involvement of established or recognized organizations.

This report is publicly accessible starting December 2025 and is updated at least twice annually, covering six-month periods ending in December and June. If no hazing incidents requiring investigation or adjudication occur, the website will display:

  • “(Start Date / End Date of 6 month Period): No Incidents of Hazing that resulted in investigation and adjudication were reported in this 6 month period.”

1 The first Annual Security and Fire Safety Report with the hazing statistics will be published on or before October 1, 2026 (hazing statistics from January 1, 2025 to December 31, 2025)

Record Retention

Effective June 23, 2025, Adelphi University will provide each student and employee with a summary of the Hazing Policy, and beginning December 23, 2025, will share information about the Transparency Report at least once during each Fall and Spring Semester.

All records related to the reporting, investigation, and adjudication of hazing incidents, the collection and classification of Hazing incidents, including statistical data and the Transparency Reports, and Education Programs and Communication, will be maintained for a minimum of seven (7) years.

Hazing Education (Prevention and Awareness)

Adelphi will implement research-based hazing prevention and education programs, which may include workshops, training, and/or campaigns.

Additionally, the University will provide students and employees with a summary of the Hazing Policy and share information about the Campus Hazing Transparency Report at least twice annually, during each Fall and Spring semester.

The Annual Security and Fire Safety Report, released on or before October 1 annually, will provide the annual awareness and prevention programs for Hazing which will cover the following topics:

  1. Definition of Hazing and examples;
  2. Relevant Policies including reporting and the investigation process, outcomes and applicable state/federal laws; and
  3. Primary prevention strategies intended to stop hazing before it occurs (i.e. bystander intervention, ethical leadership, strategies for building group cohesion without hazing).

Forms

University’s online reporting form

Related Information

Document History

  • Last Reviewed Date: May 30, 2025
  • Last Revised Date: May 30, 2025
  • Last Approval Date: June 17, 2025
  • Policy Origination Date: September 01, 2015
  • Policy Reviewed by Policy Experts

Who Approved This Policy

Policy Owner

 

Policy Owner

Policy Experts

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