Hobart and William Smith Colleges

Hazing in any form by any member of the HWS community is prohibited. No Greek organization, athletic team, or other campus club or organization shall engage in hazing or hazing-type activities or behavior, whether required as a condition for membership, expected as part of a group tradition, or carried out as a spontaneous action.

On December 23, 2024, the Higher Education Act of 1965 section 485(f), and now known as the “Jeanne Clery Campus Safety Act,” was amended to include the “Stop Campus Hazing Act.”

Pursuant to the “Stop Campus Hazing Act,” Student Organization is defined as:

An organization at an institution of higher education (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 enrolled at the institution of higher education, whether or not the organization is established or recognized by the institution.’’.

Pursuant to the “Stop Campus hazing Act,” 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—

‘‘(I) is committed in the course of an initiation into, an affiliation with, or the maintenance of membership in, a student organization; and

‘‘(II) 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 including—

‘‘(aa) whipping, beating, striking, electronic shocking, placing of a harmful substance on someone’s body, or similar activity;

‘‘(bb) causing, coercing, or otherwise inducing sleep deprivation, exposure to the elements, confinement in a small space, extreme calisthenics, or other similar activity;

‘‘(cc) causing, coercing, or otherwise inducing another person to consume food, liquid, alcohol, drugs, or other substances;

‘‘(dd) causing, coercing, or otherwise inducing another person to perform sexual acts;

‘‘(ee) any activity that places another person in reasonable fear of bodily harm through the use of threatening words or conduct;

‘‘(ff) any activity against another person that includes a criminal violation of local, State, Tribal, or Federal law; and

‘‘(gg) 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.’’.

New York State Law:

In addition to the “Stop Campus Hazing Act,” New York State law prohibits hazing. New York State Hazing Laws can be located in Article 120.00 of the New York State Penal Law as follows:

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.

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.

Hobart and William Smith:

Hobart and William Smith have historically and continues to prohibit hazing or hazing-type behavior by all members of our campus community and all student organizations. In addition to the prohibitions and requirements outlined in the “Stop Campus Hazing Act” and New York State law, the HWS Handbook of Community Standards prohibits hazing and provides additional examples of what constitutes hazing activity. It is important to note that this list is not exhaustive and includes but is not limited to the following examples:

• Any physical abuse expected of or inflicted upon another, including paddling, kicking, or punching in any form.
• Any strenuous physical activity expected of or inflicted upon another, including calisthenics or physical training outside of Athletic coach supervised practices/games [Note: this does not apply to athlete-led voluntary training sessions that are appropriate in nature]
• Creation of excessive fatigue, sleep deprivation, or interference with scholastic activities, including late night work sessions, meetings, or sleepovers.
• Physical and psychological shocks, including lineups, berating, verbal abuse, threats, and name calling.
• Sexual violations or other required, encouraged, or expected sexual activity, whether actual or simulated.
• Prolonged exposure to severe or inclement weather.
• Periods of silence or social isolation.
• Kidnapping, abandonment, or any other involuntary excursions.
• Wearing uniforms or apparel that is conspicuous and not normally in good taste.
• Engaging in degrading or humiliating games, activities, or stunts; including requiring, encouraging, or expecting individuals to carry, possess, or maintain objects or items.
• Requiring or compelling the consumption of liquid (including alcohol), food, drinks, or other substances.
• Servitude or placing another in a position of servitude, including requiring, encouraging, or expecting a new member to do the tasks of, or to do tasks for, an experienced member, or to address members with honorary or formal titles.
• Requiring a new member to do tasks that are not asked of current or alumni members but would be considered part of a person’s daily routine such as being the only members required to clean a room or facility.
• Taking, withholding, or interfering with an individual’s personal property.
• Falsely leading an individual or individuals to believe that they will be inducted or initiated by participating in particular activities.
• Depriving an individual of any privileges of membership or affiliation to which one is entitled.
• Removing, stealing, taking, or damaging public or private property; and
• Requiring, encouraging, or expecting individuals to participate in activities that are illegal or unlawful or are not consistent with the group’s mission or values or the policies of Hobart and William Smith.

Reporting Hazing or Suspected Hazing Incidents:

Individuals are encouraged to make a direct report of hazing or suspected hazing activity to any member of the Office of Campus Safety. The Office of Campus Safety is located in the facilities building adjacent to the Medbery Visitor Parking lot and can be reached by calling 315-781-3000 (non-emergency), or 315-781-3333 (emergency). Reports may be made in person or by phone.

Reporting to other campus security authorities:

In addition to the Office of Campus Safety, hazing or suspected hazing incidents may be reported to the following offices in person or by phone:

• Any professional Staff member of the Student Engagement Center, Scandling Student Center 2^nd floor, (315-781-3880).
• The Office of Human Resources, Gulick Hall 1^st floor, (315-781-3312).
• The Equal Opportunity and Title IX Coordinator, Hubbs Health Center, (315-781-3922).
• The Associate Vice President for Campus Life and Dean of Student Wellness and Support, Smith Hall 1^st floor, (315-781-3900).
• The following directors of Hobart and William Smith Athletics:
  • The Associate Vice President and Director of Athletics and Recreation, Bristol Gym Building, (315-781-3548).
  • The Deputy Director of Athletics, Winn Seeley Gym Building, (315-781-3605).
  • The Associate Director of Athletics, Winn Seeley Gym Building, (315-781-3572)

Online reporting

Reports of hazing or suspected hazing incidents may be made on-line using the “Hazing Reporting Form” which can be located on the Campus Life Webpage at www.hws.edu/offices/campus-life and under the “Submit A Report” tab, or directly at https://cm.maxient.com/reporting.php?HWSColleges

Anonymous reports

Any individual may make an anonymous report concerning hazing or suspected hazing through the “Anonymous Crime or Incident Reporting Form” which can be accessed on the Campus Life Webpage at www.hws.edu/offices/campus-life and under the “Submit A Report” tab, or directly at https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?HWSColleges&layout_id=7

Other Considerations:

All reports of hazing will be assessed for the issuance of a timely warning notification per the current HWS timely warning protocol.

When a report of hazing is made to other campus security authorities listed above, those campus security authorities will immediately notify the Office of Campus Safety of the report so a timely warning assessment can be performed, and the appropriate entry made in the daily crime log.

In addition, hazing reports submitted online and listed above are directed electronically to the office of campus safety so a timely warning assessment can be completed, and the appropriate entry made in the daily crime log.                 

Investigation of Hazing Reports:

Assignment:

Hazing reports will be reviewed by the Vice President for Campus Life or designee and the Associate Vice President for Campus Safety or designee, who will then assign the report for investigation as follows: 

• To members of the office of campus safety, or
• To a qualified external investigator, or
• To the Director of Community Values and Conflict Resolution, or
• To other members of the Campus Life Professional staff or any combination of the above entities based on the scale and complexity of the investigation.

Investigative assignments will be made while considering, but not be limited to, the following criteria:

• Size, scope and complexity of the investigation.
• Alleged conduct that is normally regulated and/or reviewed by other offices (i.e., Title IX, Title VI, etc.).
  • In these circumstances a determination will be made regarding how the investigation will be conducted, jointly or specific allegations investigated separately based on the nature of the alleged conduct.
• Ensuring that those conducting the investigation do not have a conflict of interest or bias for or against the accuser or the accused.

Investigative Process:

Once assigned the investigation will begin without unnecessary delay.

The investigator(s) will conduct a thorough, fair and impartial investigation, interviewing all relevant persons, gathering all available information and evidence.

Investigators will promptly complete and submit thorough reports summarizing their investigative activity and findings to the AVP of Campus Safety or their designee for review and approval.

Adjudication:

Once completed, the finalized investigation will be forwarded to the Vice President for Campus Life and the Director of Community Values and Conflict Resolution for assignment or adjudication as outlined in the Handbook of Community Standards.

The evidentiary standard of “preponderance of the evidence” will be used when determining whether to hold individuals, organizations or both accountable for the reported conduct.    

A variety of staff/organizations may be involved in hearing cases depending on the group involved. For example, the Director of Student Activities & Greek Life, Director of Community Values and Conflict Resolution, Committee on Standards, or Administrative Review Panel may hear cases when a club, organization or its members are involved. The State may also require that individuals violating the State’s regulations on hazing be expelled and that organizations violating the hazing regulations lose permission to operate.

Sanctions against any student found responsible for hazing include disciplinary actions ranging from a letter of reprimand to permanent separation.

The above penalties for hazing are in addition to possible criminal sanctions imposed by the courts.

Hazing Statistics:

Beginning on October 1, 2026, and as outlined in the “Stop Campus hazing Act,” statistics about hazing incidents occurring on property owned or controlled by Hobart and William Smith and involving student organizations, whether or not the organization is established or recognized by HWS, will be published in the Hobart and William Smith Annual Security and Fire Safety Report.

The annual security and fire safety report can be accessed online at https://www.hws.edu/offices/campus-safety/pdf/living_safely.pdf and a paper copy will be provided upon request. To request a paper copy please contact the Office of Campus Safety at 315-781-3000, or a copy may be obtained in person at the Campus Safety Building located adjacent to the Medbery Visitor Parking lot, 300 Pulteney St., Geneva N.Y. 14456.

Campus Hazing Transparency Report:

In compliance with the “Stop Campus hazing Act,” Hobart and William Smith will publish a Campus Hazing Transparency Report and make it publicly available no later than December 23, 2025. The act also requires HWS to update the transparency report not less frequently that two times per year.

Note: Hobart and William Smith are not required to update the campus hazing transparency report if there are no reported incidents resulting in a finding of responsibility for a hazing violation.

Reported incidents of Hazing must meet the following criteria to be included in the campus hazing transparency report:

The reported incident must involve a student organization that is established by or recognized by Hobart and William Smith, and

The reported incident must be adjudicated with a finding that the student organization violated Hobart and William Smith’s standards of conduct related to hazing on or after July 1, 2025.

Availability:

The campus hazing transparency report will be published on the Hobart and William Smith public website www.hws.edu in the following prominent locations:

• At hws.edu and by entering “hazing” into the search tab.
• The Campus Community Student Landing Page, hws.edu/student-landing.aspx
• The Campus Community Faculty and Staff Landing Pages, hws.edu/faculty-landing.aspx and www.hws.edu/staff-landing.aspx

Information Included:

The campus hazing transparency report will include the following information:

• The name of the student organization involved.
• A description of the violation that resulted in a finding of responsibility.
• If the violation involved the abuse of alcohol or drugs.
• The date of the incident.
• The date the investigation into the incident was initiated.
• The date the investigation ended with a finding that a hazing violation occurred.
• The date Hobart and William Smith notified the student organization of the finding of responsibility.
• The findings for the determination of responsibility.
• The sanctions placed on the student organization by Hobart and William Smith.
• Any added information determined by Hobart and William Smith to be Necessary.

Prohibition on Personally Identifiable Information:

Campus Hazing Transparency Reports will not include any personally identifiable information, including any information that would reveal personally identifiable information, about any individual student in accordance with section 444 of the General Education Provisions Act (commonly known as the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974).

Continuing Accessibility:

Incidents included in the campus hazing transparency report will remain posted for a period of 5 calendar years from the date of publication.

 

Note:    It is important to note that statistical information regarding hazing incidents published in the Hobart and William Smith Annual Security and Fire Safety Report may differ from the Campus Hazing Transparency Report.

The annual security and fire safety report includes all reports of hazing activity occurring on property owned or controlled by Hobart and William Smith, whether or not a finding of responsibility was made, and encompassing student organizations, both established by and recognized by HWS, as well as those student organizations not recognized.

The campus hazing transparency report includes information about hazing incidents only where a student organization established by or recognized by Hobart and William Smith was found to be in violation of hazing activity.  

Hazing Prevention and Awareness Programing:

Hobart and William Smith are aware that hazing cannot be properly recognized and therefore prevented without robust and comprehensive research-informed prevention and awareness programing designed to be provided to all students, faculty, and staff.

To accomplish this, Hobart and William Smith have partnered with the “StopHazing” organization to utilize their “StandUP to Hazing” research-informed hazing prevention online training program.

The “StandUP to Hazing” program is interactive in design and includes information about hazing, signs of healthy and unhealthy group relationships, the importance of reporting incidents of hazing as well as laws and policies related to hazing. The program places an emphasis on leadership ethical development, bystander intervention strategies and ways to build group and organization cohesion without hazing. Hobart and William Smith have customized the awareness and prevention training to address Stop Campus Hazing Act definitions, New York State laws impacting hazing, our institutional hazing policies, how to report instances of hazing and the process used to investigate reports of hazing.

The ”StandUP to Hazing” program will be provided to all students, faculty and staff yearly. In addition, new or transfer students will be provided the training as a part of their orientation and newly hired faculty and staff will receive the training a part of their new employee onboarding process.

Hobart and Willliam Smith will offer additional and targeted hazing awareness and prevention programing to specific student organizations upon request or as necessary.