Hazing
Hazing was once seen as an activity that affected a very specific group of students,
members of fraternities and sororities on college campuses. Recent information indicates
that hazing is a larger problem that goes beyond Greek letter organizations and could
impact students as early as the beginning of high school. It is important to increase
awareness and become educated about hazing and how to address it.
What is Hazing?
Louisiana Law defines Hazing as any intentional, knowing, or reckless act by a person acting alone or acting with
others that is directed against another when both of the following apply:
-
The person knew or should have known that such an act endangers the physical health
or safety of the other person or causes severe emotional distress. -
The act was associated with pledging, being initiated into, affiliating with, participating
in, holding office in or maintaining membership in any organization.
Hazing includes but is not limited to any of the following acts associated with pledging,
being initiated into, affiliating with, participating in, holding office in, or maintaining
membership in any organization:
-
Physical brutality, such as whipping, beating, paddling, striking, branding, electric
shocking, placing of a harmful substance on the body, or similar activity. -
Physical activity, such as sleep deprivation, exposure to the elements, confinement
in a small space, or calisthenics, that subjects the other person to an unreasonable
risk of harm or that adversely affects the physical health or safety of the individual
or causes severe emotional distress. -
Activity involving consumption of food, liquid, or any other substance, including
but not limited to, an alcoholic beverage or drug, that subjects the individual to
an unreasonable risk of harm that adversely affects the physical health or safety
of the individual or causes severe emotional distress. -
Activity that induces, causes, or requires an individual to perform a duty or task
that involves the commission of a crime or an act of hazing.
Louisiana Laws on Hazing
RS 17:1801 Amended: Hazing Prohibited
Hazing in any form, or the use of any method of initiation into organizations in any
education institution supported wholly or in part by public funds, which is likely
to cause bodily danger or physical punishment to any student or other person attending
any such institution is prohibited.
Whoever violates the provisions of this Section shall be expelled, suspended, or dismissed
from the education institution and not permitted to return for at least one semester,
quarter, or comparable academic period. In addition, the person violating such provisions
may also be subject to the provisions of R.S. 14:40.8.
RS 14:40.8 Criminal Hazing
It shall be unlawful for any person to commit an act of hazing. Any person who commits
an act of hazing shall be either fined up to one thousand dollars, imprisoned for
up to six months, or both.
If the hazing results in the serious bodily injury or death of the victim, or the
hazing involves forced or coerced alcohol consumption that results in the victim having
a blood alcohol concentration of at least .30 percent by weight based on grams of
alcohol per one hundred cubic centimeters of blood, any person who commits an act
of hazing shall be fined up to ten thousand dollars and imprisoned, with or without
hard labor, for up to five years.
If any person serving as a representative or officer of an organization, including
any representative, director, trustee, or officer of any national or parent organization
is a sanctioned or recognized member at the time of the hazing, knew and failed to
report to law enforcement that one or more of the organization’s members were hazing
another person, the organization may be subject to the following:
-
Payment of a fine of up to ten thousand dollars.
-
Forfeiture of any public funds received by the organization.
-
Forfeiture of all rights and privileges of being an organization that is organized
and operating at the education institution for a specific period of time as determined
by the court.
If the hazing results in the serious bodily injury or death of the victim, or results
in the victim having a blood alcohol concentration of at least .30 percent by weight
based on grams of alcohol per one hundred cubic centimeters of blood, the period of
time shall be for not less than four years.
R.S. 14:502 Failure to Seek Assistance
Any person at the scene of an emergency who knows that another person has suffered
serious bodily injury shall, to the extent that the person can do so without danger
or peril to self or others, give reasonable assistance to the injured person. Reasonable
assistance includes immediately seeking or reporting the need for medical assistance
from an appropriate authority.
Any person who engages in reckless behavior that results in the serious bodily injury
of any person shall, to the extent that the person can do so without danger or peril
to self or others, give reasonable assistance to the person. Reasonable assistance
includes immediately seeking or reporting the need for medical assistance from an
appropriate authority.
Any person who violates the provisions of this Section shall be fined not more than
one thousand dollars, imprisoned with or without hard labor for not more than one
year, or both. If the serious bodily injury results in the death of the person, any
person who violates the provisions of this Section shall be fined not more than two
thousand dollars, imprisoned with or without hard labor for not more than five years,
or both.
Is Our Organization Hazing?
Below are some considerations for determining if an activity constitutes hazing:
- Is the activity an educational experience?
- Does this activity promote and conform to the ideals and values of the organization
or group? - Will this activity increase the individual’s respect for the organization or group?
- Is it an activity that the organization or group members participate in together?
- Would you be willing to allow parents or University officials to witness this activity?
- Does the activity have value in and of itself?
Why Should I Care About Hazing?
What individuals and groups may consider to be a perfectly harmless way of making
students learn their lesson in education, may, in the view of others, be an act that
can be criminal. The danger in hazing is that it gets out of hand. What begins as
an innocent prank can lead to disaster.
Student organizations and groups at Southeastern Louisiana University are expected
to be responsible community members and should seek alternative options that focus
on the positive aspects of being involved on campus. These include, but are not limited
to the following:
-
Campus Involvement – encourage group members to get involved with other campus organizations
or groups -
Community Service or Philanthropic Events that involve the whole group or membership
(not just new members) -
Wellness Activities (Intramurals, Group Classes at Pennington Student Activity Center)
-
Team building exercises such as retreats, sporting events, or obstacle courses
-
Mentoring
-
Leadership training that focuses on ethical leadership and positive group bonding
-
Attending campus or community events together.
Ultimately, hazing is a community issue with ripple effects beyond the immediate groups
or settings where it occurs. Hazing is a type of abuse that can interfere with the
ability of children, young adults, and adults to thrive as learners and as leaders,
whether they’re in school, in a job, or a part of any type of group or organization.
Each member of any organization or group has a responsibility to make a difference
by being informed about hazing and committing to hazing prevention.
Reporting and Campus Resources
If you are being hazed or know someone in your student group or organization who is
hazing or being hazed there are a number of reporting options and campus resources
985-549-2222
985-549-3894
Office of Student Advocacy and Accountability
985-549-2213
985-549-2120
985-549-3792
985-549-2118
985-549-2395
985-549-2242
Resources
Stop Hazing
- Offer Hazing Climate Assessments for universities, Campus Hazing Surveys, Hazing Prevention
(hazing consultations), Conduct hazing research which can be found on their website - www.stophazing.org
