Adopted by the Board of Trustees: Sept.
22, 1980
Wheras the rules and regulations
of the University have, for numerous years, prohibited various
activities commonly referred to as 'hazing'; and
Wheras the State of New York has
enacted a law which required the University to file with the
Regents and the Commissioner of Education its rules and regulations
relating to the subject of 'hazing';
Now it be Hereby Resolved that
the following Rules and Regulations Regarding Hazing are hereby
adopted by the Board of Trustees and that the same be filed with
the Regents and the Commissioner of Education and be disseminated
among the University community.
St. John's University, New York, recognizes that membership in a
fraternity/sorority or other campus organization (hereinafter
collectively referred to as an 'organization') can be a meaningful
experience in conjunction with other aspects of the educational
process. Unfortunately, however, membership or prospective
membership in an organization is sometimes accompanied by a
wrongful activity commonly known as 'hazing'.
Hazing is both a violation of the Penal Law and other laws of
the State of New York as well as the general regulations of the
University. Accordingly, the University hereby reaffirms its policy
that it will not condone hazing of any kind. To this end, any
student, faculty member, staff member, visitor, licensee or invitee
who engage in hazing may be ejected from the campus and, where
appropriate, shall be subject to suspension, expulsion or other
disciplinary action. Similarly, the University may take any or all
of the following actions against any organization which authorizes
hazing or whose members (whether individually or in concert) engage
in hazing: rescind permission for the organization to operate on
campus property; rescind recognition of the organization; prohibit
the organization from using the University's name.
Hazing has been defined as generally including, among other
things:
- Any action or situation which recklessly or intentionally
endangers mental or physical health or involves the forced
consumption of alcohol or drugs for the purpose of initiation into
or affiliation with any organization.
- Any other act or series of acts which cause or are likely to
cause bodily or physical harm or danger.
- Mistreatment by playing stunts or practicing abusive,
humiliating or ridiculous tricks that subject an individual to
personal indignity, humiliation or ridicule.
- Harassment by exacting unnecessary, disagreeable or difficult
work or harassment by banter, ridicule or criticism. Some examples
of such prohibited activities are:
a. Abnormal or unusual dress; e.g., extraordinary headwear,
costumes, underwear, body painting, etc.
b. Performing unusual or abnormal acts; e.g., dancing on tables,
standing at attention, standing on windowsills, etc.
c. Excessive or unusual physical exercise.
d. Verbal harassment or abuse; e.g., yelling, making demeaning
remarks, etc.
Violations of any of the foregoing prohibitions shall be dealt
with by the University as follows:
- In the case of any individual or group that is not a
member of the University community: The authorization for
such individual or group to remain on University property will
immediately be revoked, and if the individual or group thereafter
refuses to leave University property, necessary and appropriate
action will be taken to eject such a person or group therefrom. In
addition, the University may, in its sole discretion, take all
necessary and appropriate action to prevent any such individual or
group that engages in hazing from reentering University
property.
- In the case of a student: The student shall be
requested to cease and desist from such prohibited conduct; and if
he/she fails to do so, necessary and appropriate action will be
taken to eject such student from University property. In addition,
disciplinary proceedings shall be commenced, pursuant to the
Procedures for Student Discipline in Nonacademic Affairs, against
any student who engages in hazing. In accordance with those
procedures, the penalties of suspension, expulsion or other
disciplinary action may be imposed.
- In the case of a faculty member: The faculty
member shall be requested to cease and desist from such prohibited
conduct; and if he/she fails to do so, necessary and appropriate
action will be taken to eject such faculty member from University
property. In addition, charges shall be brought, in accordance with
the Procedures set forth in of the Statutes of the University,
against any faculty member who engages in hazing. In accordance
with those Procedures, the penalties of suspension, removal from
the faculty or other disciplinary action may be imposed against the
faculty member.
- In the case of non-faculty staff member or
administrator: The staff member or administrator shall be
requested to cease and desist from such prohibited conduct; and if
he/she fails to do so, necessary and appropriate action shall be
taken to eject such staff member or administrator from University
property. In addition:
a. In the case of a non-academic professional staff member or
administrator who engages in hazing, disciplinary action shall be
taken by the President or his designee, in accordance with
procedures to be established by the President.
b. In the case of any other staff member who engages in hazing,
disciplinary action shall be taken by appropriate representatives
of the University, subject to the grievance procedures set forth in
the Handbook for Staff Personnel.
As a result of such disciplinary action, any staff member or
administrator may be suspended, discharged or otherwise
disciplined.
- In the case of an organization: The
organization shall be requested to cease and desist from such
prohibited conduct; and if the organization fails to do so,
necessary and appropriate action will be taken to eject such
organization from University property. In addition, charges shall
be instituted, pursuant to the Procedures for Student Discipline in
Nonacademic Affairs, against any organization which authorizes or
engages in hazing. In accordance with those procedures the
penalties of temporary or permanent recision of permission for the
organization to operate on campus property; temporary or permanent
recision of the University's recognition of such organization; and
prohibition of the use of the University's name by such
organization, may be imposed.
- The foregoing Rules and Regulations shall apply equally to
individuals and organizations at the School of Law except that the
hearing procedures to be followed with regard to students and
organizations at the School of Law shall be those set forth in the
Grievances Procedure adopted by the Faculty Council of the School
of Law. In accordance with those Grievance Procedures, the
penalties of suspension, expulsion or other disciplinary action may
be imposed upon any student at the School of Law who engages in
hazing. In connection with any organization of the School of Law,
in addition to the penalties set forth in those Grievances
Procedures, the penalties of temporary or permanent recision of
permission for the organization to operate on campus property;
temporary or permanent recision of the University's recognition of
such organization; and prohibition of the use of the University's
name by such organization, may be imposed.
- Wherever, in the opinion of the President or his designee, the
conduct of any individual or organization poses an imminent threat
to the physical or emotional safety of himself/herself or to others
or to property, the President or his designee may immediately
suspend such individual or organization from the campus pending any
appropriate hearing and final determination therein.
- In addition to the foregoing, the University reaffirms its
right to utilize and seek the aid of public authorities and such
judicial, civil and criminal process and proceedings as may, in the
discretion of the University, be necessary and appropriate. Any
penalty imposed by the University shall be in addition to any
penalty pursuant to the penal law or any other law to which a
violator or organization may be subject.
- The foregoing Rules and Regulations shall be deemed to be part
of the bylaws of all organizations operating on the University's
campuses. Every organization shall annually review its bylaws with
all individuals affiliated with such organization.