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Hazing Prevention

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Report Hazing

St. John’s University is committed to maintaining a safe and respectful environment, strictly prohibiting any form of hazing within its community. Hazing comes in many forms, including physical, emotional, psychological, and financial, and is defined as acts associated with the membership initiation process into, but not limited to, a student organization, club, or sport. 

This includes actions or situations that recklessly or intentionally endanger the mental or physical health or safety of a student or that willfully destroy or remove public or private property for the purpose of initiation or admission into, or affiliation with, any organization operating under the sanction of the University.

What is Hazing?

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

  • whipping, beating, striking, electronic shocking, 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.

Any member of the University community with knowledge of any hazing related behaviors (see “Hazing”) is expected to report such incidents immediately to preserve the safety and dignity of all students. Non-St. John’s individuals may also submit reports related to hazing concerns.

Reports can be submitted through the following channels:

  • Public Safety: Available 24/7, reports can be made by calling 718-990-5252 or by visiting the Public Safety Command Center next to Gate 6.
  • Hazing Report Form: This form is available for reporting hazing-related concerns. 

Individuals outside the University community may also report hazing concerns through these channels.

All reports are investigated by the Office of Student Conduct. Interim actions, such as restrictions on organizational activities or interim suspension, may be imposed to ensure the safety and integrity of the University community during the investigation. 

Whereas the rules and regulations of the University have, for numerous years, prohibited various activities commonly referred to as “hazing”; and

Whereas 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, be it 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 New York State 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, administrator, staff member, visitor, licensee, or invitee who engages 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; and/or 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 that 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
    • Abnormal or unusual dress, e.g., extraordinary headwear, costumes, underwear, body painting, etc.
    • Performing unusual or abnormal acts, e.g., dancing on tables, standing at attention, standing on windowsills, etc.
    • Excessive or unusual physical exercise.
    • 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:

  1. 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 re-entering University property.
  2. 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.
  3. 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 University Statutes and Bylaws, 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.
  4. In the case of a nonfaculty 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:
    1. In the case of a nonacademic 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.
    2. 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 recission of permission for the organization to operate on campus property; temporary or permanent recission 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 Grievance Procedures adopted by the Faculty Council of the School of Law. In accordance with the 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 the Grievance Procedures, the penalties of temporary or permanent recission of permission for the organization to operate on campus property; temporary or permanent recission 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 at the University’s campuses and locations. Every organization shall annually review its bylaws with all individuals affiliated with such organization.

Adopted by the Board of Trustees on September 22, 1980