ANYONE CAN REPORT HAZING.
• University Police Department: SB100, 845-257-2222
• Anonymous Tip Line: 845-257-2230
• Student Activities and Union Services: SU211, 845-257-3025
• The Dean of Students: HAB702, 845-257-3261
• SUNY New Paltz Silent Witness Form
Click here for additional resources and to learn about National Hazing Prevention Week.
SUNY NEW PALTZ HAZING POLICY
Hazing violates not only college regulations but state law as well. Individuals and/or organizations found guilty of hazing may face loss of college recognition, disciplinary charges, and or criminal charges.
New York Penal Law § 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.
Hazing in the first degree is a class A misdemeanor.
New York Penal Law § 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 creates a substantial risk of physical injury to such other person or a third person.
Hazing in the second degree is a violation.
SUNY Board of Trustees "Rules for the Maintenance of Public Order," Title 8, Part 535.3 (1), (Part II, Campus Regulations):
No person singly or in concert with others shall: take any action, create or participate in the creation of any situation which recklessly or intentionally endangers mental or physical health or which involves the forced consumption of liquor or drugs for the purpose of initiation into or affiliation with any organization.
Penalty: Not less than Disciplinary Warning: not more than Expulsion.
SUNY New Paltz Campus Regulations and Judicial Procedures Document, Part III, Section B. 11.00:
No person(s) shall subject any member(s) of the College community to degrading or humiliating activities and situations, or could place persons in situations that threaten their health, safety, and well being for purposes of gaining entry into any organization or group, or through other affiliation processes.
Penalty: Disciplinary Probation, Suspension Held in Abeyance, Suspension or Expulsion with Academic Transcript Notation.
NO ORGANIZATION OR INDIVIDUAL SHALL ENGAGE IN ANY FORM OF HAZING AS PREVIOUSLY DEFINED.
SUNY New Paltz reserves the right to revoke recognition of any chapter or other organization which is found to have violated these or other Federal, State, State University or College rules and regulations. Review of alleged violations may be done by the Inter-Greek Council, the Dean of Students, and the Vice President for Student Affairs, Director of Student Activities and Union Services, and the President. Revocation of charter does not preclude the imposition of campus judicial charges and/or legal action against individual members of the fraternity, sorority, club or organization. If alleged violations of these policies or laws are found to be serious or aggravated in nature by the Dean of Students, immediate suspension will occur in accordance with Sec. IV Part C, entitled Immediate Administrative Action of the Campus Regulations and Judicial Procedures Document.
WHAT ACTIVITIES ARE CONSIDERED HAZING?
SUNY New Paltz defines hazing as any action or situation which recklessly or intentionally endangers the mental or physical health or safety of a student, conditions student to behave in such a manner that would not mirror civil, appropriate, and/or responsible student conduct for the purpose of initiation or admission into or affiliation with an organization.
Such term shall include, but not limited to, any brutality of a physical nature, such as whipping, beating, branding, forced calisthenics, marching, walking on line, wearing uniforms, chanting/greetings, exposure to the elements, forced consumption of any liquid, food, liquor, drug, or other forced activities such as public stunts or acts of buffoonery, which adversely affect the mental health or dignity of the individual.
For the purpose of this section, any activity as described above which the initiation or admission into or affiliation with an organization is directly or indirectly conditioned shall be presumed to be a "forced activity," the willingness of the individual to participate in such activity notwithstanding.
ADDITIONAL EXAMPLES OF PROHIBITED ACTIVITIES
Physical Activities: calisthenics, sit-ups, push-ups or carrying heavy objects such as bricks, stones, or any other items which serve or create physical hardships, discomfort, distress, or excessive fatigue.
Physical Exposure or Abuse: nudity, paddling, pushing, shoving, hitting, punching, tackling, or throwing any substance at another person or submerging or dunking individuals in water or other substances.
Forced or Required Consumption of Any Substance: food, drugs, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.
Psychological Abuse and/or Humiliation: requiring individuals to dress in revealing, embarrassing or uncomfortable clothing; exposing individuals to extremely uncomfortable or dangerous environments (too loud, dark, small, hot - over 75 degrees or cold - below 30 degrees); intense interrogation of individuals, name-calling, or screaming of individuals; requiring individuals to perform any acts which are construed to be humiliating or degrading in nature.
Forced Servitude: cleaning members rooms, running personal errands, or other services or duties not normally shared by initiated members.
Requiring Activities That Are Prohibited Under State Law or College Regulations: awakening individuals during the night for organization activities, requiring excessive periods other than regular library hours and/or interfering with normal sleep or study schedules. (Pledging activities that occur before 7 a.m. any day or past midnight Sunday through Thursday and/or past 1 a.m. Friday and Saturday.)
Kidnapping: involuntary transportation or abduction of individuals or leaving individuals at off-campus locations and requiring them to find their way home.
Caves: required sleeping and/or living as a group in any residence hall other than those to which they are assigned to as overnight guest when such numbers exceed the beds available.
