Governance Documents

Hazing Policy

Approved June 20, 2025

I. Introduction

The purposes of this policy are to maintain a welcoming and inclusive campus environment that includes protection of the health, safety, and welfare of the campus community; and to comply with applicable laws, including Oregon state law prohibiting hazing at colleges and universities and the federal Stop Campus Hazing Act. The policy applies to all student organizations and their individual members.

II. Application

This policy prohibits hazing within student organizations. Student organization means an organization at the College (such as a club, society, association, club sports team, band, or student government) in which two or more of the members are students enrolled at the College, whether or not the organization is established or recognized by the College.

Both student organizations and their individual members may be held accountable for violation of this policy. Members of student organizations include students, volunteers, coaches, faculty advisers, and staff advisers of a student organization.

This policy also prohibits retaliation for exercising rights under this policy.

III. Defining Prohibited Behaviors

Hazing

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, the maintenance of membership in, or the attainment of any office or status 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, or adversely affects physical health or safety, including but not limited to:
   • whipping, beating, striking, electronic shocking, branding, 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 or an act of hazing.

Conduct that does not meet the above definition of Hazing may still constitute a violation of other College policies and/or the Honor Principle.

Retaliation

Intimidation, threats, coercion, or discrimination against any individual by the College, a student, an employee, or any other person authorized by the College to provide aid, benefit, or service under the College’s education program or activity, for the purpose of interfering with any right or privilege secured by this policy, or because the individual has made a report or complaint, testified, assisted, or participated or refused to participate in any manner in an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or grievance procedures under this policy.

IV. Annual Training and Notification

IV.a.  Each academic year, Reed will offer hazing prevention training for students, faculty, and staff. The training will include information about the harmful effects of hazing, the relevant laws and institutional policies that prohibit hazing, how to report incidents of hazing, and how such incidents will be investigated. The training will also include primary prevention strategies intended to stop hazing before it occurs.

IV.b.  The College shall publish and periodically update a Campus Hazing Transparency Report on its public website as required by federal law. Additionally, by December 31 of each calendar year, the College shall submit a report to the Oregon Legislative Assembly, in the manner prescribed by ORS 192.245, that sets forth:

V. Reporting & Resources

The College encourages prompt reporting of prohibited conduct. To make a report about conduct that may be prohibited by this policy, including retaliation, an individual should contact the Assistant Dean for Student Rights & Responsibilities, the Student Life Office, or Community Safety. Reports may be made in person, by telephone, by mail, by email, or by completing the online reporting form.

The College is committed to reviewing all reports of hazing or related retaliation. Anonymous reports are accepted; however, the College’s ability to obtain additional information may be compromised and the ability to investigate anonymous reports may be limited.

This policy does not replace other remedies that may be available for acts that constitute violations of this policy. Individuals have the option at all times to file a criminal complaint with law enforcement or to seek a civil remedy, in addition to or in place of using the College’s procedures.

VI. Response to Reports

The Assistant Dean for Student Rights & Responsibilities will evaluate reports of alleged hazing or related retaliation and determine the appropriate process to address the report. The College will follow student, community, employee and/or faculty investigation and accountability processes as appropriate depending on the allegations and those who are alleged to have engaged in conduct prohibited by this policy.

When those alleged to have engaged in hazing or related retaliation include Reed employees, the report will be shared with the Director of Human Resources. The report will further be shared with the Dean of the Faculty when the allegations involve faculty members, and with the Director of Athletics, Fitness, and Outdoor Programming when the allegations involve a club sport coach or physical education instructor. Upon receiving a report, the Assistant Dean for Student Rights & Responsibilities will also consult with the Dean of Students and the Director of Community Safety.

Report investigations and/or accountability processes may be pursued with respect to both organizations and/or individual community members.

If an incident may be a violation of the college’s Honor Principle, Discriminatory Harassment and Misconduct Policy, or Alcohol and Other Drug Policy, it may be referred for further action as described by those policies.

In instances where an allegation of this policy overlaps with an allegation of the College’s Sex-Based Harassment & Discrimination Policy, the hazing allegation will be addressed via the College’s Sex-Based Harassment & Discrimination Procedures.

During the investigation of a report, interim non-disciplinary steps may be taken to protect individuals and prevent further hazing. Additionally, the appropriate office of the college may take actions designed to remedy or to prevent hazing that are non-disciplinary in nature.

Should an alleged hazing incident(s) result in a referral to one or more of the established Reed accountability processes, such processes will take place according to the relevant policies and procedures. If appropriate, the college may refer an incident of hazing to law enforcement, in addition to a college accountability process.

VII. Amnesty

Amnesty is intended to support the practice of reporting incidents of potential hazing or related retaliation and to protect student safety. Individuals experiencing or witnessing violations of this policy while themselves violating another College policy (for example, policy concerning alcohol and other drug use) are encouraged to report the violations of this policy that they experienced or witnessed.

Normally, the College will not impose disciplinary sanctions for the other policy violation(s), provided those violations did not put the health and safety of any other person at risk.

VIII. Policy Maintenance

The College will review the Hazing Policy at minimum on an annual basis. Non-substantive changes or changes required by law will be made by the Assistant Dean for Student Rights & Responsibilities. Other changes will be presented to the community for review and comment and will be implemented in accordance with College governance policies.