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Rights & Responsibilities

Hazing Policy

The purpose of the Hazing Policy is to protect the safety and rights of all Thomas Jefferson University students who choose to join or associate with a sorority, fraternity, Jefferson supported athletics team, including club sports, or other University affiliated organization as defined under Pennsylvania’s Anti-Hazing Lawand the federal Stop Campus Hazing Act (generically referenced in this policy as “Organizations”).  It applies to all Organizations whether they or their facilities are located or the conduct occurs on or off the University campus. Hazing of a student by any Organization or group or its members is absolutely prohibited

Hazing: Definition

For the purposes of this policy, “Hazing” 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 (1) is committed in the course of an initiation into an affiliation with, or the maintenance of membership in an Organization; and (2) 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:

  1. whipping, beating, striking, electronic shocking, placing of harmful substance on someone’s body, or similar activity;
  2. causing, coercing, or otherwise inducing sleep deprivation, exposure to the elements, confinement in a small space, extreme calisthenics, or other substances;
  3. causing, coercing, or otherwise inducing another person to consume food, liquid, alcohol, drugs, or other substances;
  4. causing, coercing, or otherwise inducing another person to perform sexual acts;
  5. any activity that places another person in reasonable fear of bodily harm through the use of threatening words or conduct;
  6. any activity against another person that includes a criminal violation of local, State, Tribal, or Federal law; and
  7. 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.

Reporting Alleged Acts of Hazing

Reports of alleged hazing may be made by completing the form on the University’s Department of Public Safety website or by contacting Public Safety directly.

Hazing Reporting Form

Compliance & Enforcement

Any alleged violation of the Hazing Policy by students and/or Organizations will be adjudicated in accordance with the procedures set forth in the Community Standards Policy and may result in such penalties including suspension or expulsion from the University, as are deemed appropriate.

The University, including the administration and its student government associations, will not tolerate Hazing.   All segments of the University community must work together to maintain a positive atmosphere of social and moral responsibility.

In addition to the sanctions described above, a student or Organization may be subject to civil and/or criminal liability under Pennsylvania’s Anti-Hazing Law.

Hazing Transparency Report

The University publishes a Campus Hazing Transparency Report (the “Report”) twice a year. The Report will include data for each incident involving an Organization for which a finding of responsibility is issued relating to a hazing violation. Hazing statistics will also be made available in the Annual Security Report published by the Department of Public Safety.