While headlines might indicate that hazing is exclusively a fraternity and sorority problem, research shows that hazing is a growing societal issue that can also occur in high schools, churches, athletic teams, marching bands, military organizations, and professional clubs. Temple University has zero tolerance for hazing.

Defined

A. Hazing: A person commits the offense of hazing if the person intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly, for the purpose of initiating, admitting, or affiliating a minor or student into or with an organization, or for the purpose of continuing or enhancing a minor or student’s membership or status in an organization, causes, coerces, or forces a minor or student to engage in activities, including, but not limited to consuming any food, liquid, alcoholic liquid, drug, or other substance; brutality of a physical nature, including whipping, beating, branding, calisthenics, forced exercise or exposure to the elements; brutality of a mental nature, including activity adversely affecting the mental health or dignity of the individual, sleep deprivation, exclusion from social contact or conduct that could result in extreme embarrassment; or brutality of a sexual nature.

B. Aggravated Hazing: A person commits the offense of aggravated hazing if the subject commits a violation of Hazing that results in serious bodily injury or death to the minor or student.

C. Organizational Hazing: An organization commits the offense of Organizational Hazing if the organization intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly promotes or facilitates a violation of Hazing or Aggravated Hazing.

Review the Student Code of Conduct for additional information on hazing.

Reporting Hazing

If hazing is occurring, it must be reported. All reported incidents of hazing will be investigated given available and credible information. Individuals and/or organizations involved in hazing activities are subject to both criminal and/or university judicial proceedings.

A hazing incident may be reported by anyone; a person who the activity directly affected, a person who was involved in the incident; faculty/staff, parents, friends, or community members. If you have witnessed or have knowledge of a possible hazing incident, please report the incident to one of the following departments.

State & National Hazing Resources

Pennsylvania Anti-Hazing Law

Temple University Hazing Report

HazingPrevention.Org