Washington State Hazing Definition, Prohibition, and Penalty

Definition: RCW 28B.10.900

"As used in RCW 28B.10.901 and 28B.10.902, "hazing" includes any act committed as part of a person's recruitment, initiation, pledging, admission into, or affiliation with a student organization, athletic team, or living group, or any pastime or amusement engaged in with respect to such an organization, athletic team, or living group that causes, or is likely to cause, bodily danger or physical harm, or serious psychological or emotional harm, to any student or other person attending a public or private institution of higher education or other postsecondary educational institution in this state, including causing, directing, coercing, or forcing a person to consume any food, liquid, alcohol, drug, or other substance which subjects the person to risk of such harm, regardless of the person's willingness to participate. "Hazing" does not include customary athletic events or other similar contests or competitions."

Prohibition & Penalty: RCW 28B.10.901

Oregon State Hazing Definition, Prohibition, and Penalty

Prohibition: Hazing is prohibited by Oregon Revised Statute 163.197, which states:

 “(1) A student organization or a member of a student organization commits the offense of hazing if, as a condition or precondition of attaining membership in the organization or of attaining any office or status in the organization, the organization or member intentionally hazes any member, potential member or person pledged to be a member of the organization. (2)(a) A student organization that violates subsection (1) of this section commits a Class A violation. (b) A member of a student organization who personally violates subsection (1) of this section commits a Class B violation. (3) Consent of the person who is hazed is not a defense in a prosecution under this section.”

Definitions: Oregon law defines hazing as follows:

“(4) As used in this section: (a) ”Haze" means: (A) To subject an individual to whipping, beating, striking, branding or electronic shocking, to place a harmful substance on an individual’s body or to subject an individual to other similar forms of physical brutality; (B) To subject an individual to sleep deprivation, exposure to the elements, confinement in a small space or other similar activity that subjects the individual to an unreasonable risk of harm or adversely affects the physical health or safety of the individual; (C) To compel an individual to consume food, liquid, alcohol, controlled substances or other substances that subject the individual to an unreasonable risk of harm or adversely affect the physical health or safety of the individual; or (D) To induce, cause or require an individual to perform a duty or task that involves the commission of a crime or an act of hazing." ORS 163.197(4)(a). 

Oregon law defines “member” for the purposes of this statute as including “volunteers, coaches, and faculty advisers of a student organization.” ORS 163.197(4)(b). 

Oregon law defines “student organization” as a “fraternity, sorority, athletic team or other organization that is organized or operating on a college, university or elementary or secondary school campus for the purpose of providing members an opportunity to participate in student activities of the college3, university or elementary or secondary school.” ORS 163.197(4)(c). 

 

 

The Stop Campus Hazing Act - Definitions

The “Stop Campus Hazing Act” is a United States federal law that amends Section 485(f)(6)(A) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1092(f)(6)(A). The law defines hazing and requires institutions of higher education to provide more transparency regarding verified hazing incidents and regular training and education to students and employees. 

Hazing Definition: "(vi) The term ‘hazing’, for purposes of reporting statistics on hazing incidents under paragraph (1)(F)(iv), means 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.” (20 U.S.C. 1092(f)(6)(A)(vi))

Student Organization Definition: “The term ‘student organization’, for purposes of reporting under paragraph (1)(F)(iv) and paragraph (9)(A), means 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.” (20 U.S.C. 1092(f)(6)(A)(vii))