Hazing is not only frowned upon, it is against the law. Not only does Panhellenic have an anti-hazing policy, but individual National Headquarters have an anti-hazing policy, Penn State has an anti-hazing policy, and Pennsylvania has anti-hazing laws. In fact, any person who commits or participates in hazing is guilty of a misdemeanor in the third degree. And that is not including any other laws you may be breaking. If, for example, you furnish a minor with alcohol and force them to consume the beverage, you are breaking state laws in addition to hazing, and will be punished accordingly. As you can see from some of the articles below, many students face felony charges for hazing others.
State laws also authorize the University to take action against hazing, up to withholding a diploma. When you haze, you put your future at risk. Hazing doesn’t only affect the people that do it. If someone in your chapter is hazing, your chapter is at risk. Penn State and your National Headquarters both have the authority to dissolve your chapter, and your National Headquarters can revoke your affiliation with their organization.
National Panhellenic’s Policy on Hazing
(Your National Organization’s Headquarters abides by this policy)
Hazing is defined as any action or situation with or without consent which recklessly, intentionally or unintentionally endangers the mental or physical health or safety of a student, or creates risk of injury, or causes discomfort, embarrassment, harassment or ridicule or which willfully destroys or removes public or private property for the purpose of initiation or admission into or affiliation with, or as a condition for continued membership in a chapter or colony of an NPC member fraternity. All member groups will affirm their policies denouncing hazing and inform their membership of this NPC position denouncing hazing through mailings and through their inter/national magazines.
Pennsylvania’s State Laws on Hazing
[P.S.] § 5352. Definitions The following words and phrases when used in this act shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
“HAZING.” Any action or situation which recklessly or intentionally endangers the mental or physical health or safety of a student or which willfully destroys or removes public or private property for the purpose of initiation or admission into or affiliation with, or as a condition for continued membership in, any organization operating under the sanction of or recognized as an organization by an institution of higher education. The term shall include, but not be limited to, any brutality of a physical nature, such as whipping, beating, branding, forced calisthenics, exposure to the elements, forced consumption of any food, liquor, drug or other substance, or any other forced physical activity which could adversely affect the physical health and safety of the individual, and shall include any activity which would subject the individual to extreme mental stress, such as sleep deprivation, forced exclusion from social contact, forced conduct which could result in extreme embarrassment, or any other forced activity which could adversely affect the mental health or dignity of the individual, or any willful destruction or removal of public or private property. For purposes of this definition, any activity as described in this definition upon which the initiation or admission into or affiliation with or continued membership in an organization is directly or indirectly conditioned shall be presumed to be “forced” activity, the willingness of an individual to participate in such activity notwithstanding.
“INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION” or “INSTITUTION.” Any public or private institution within this Commonwealth authorized to grant an associate degree or higher academic degree.
[P.S.] § 5353. Hazing prohibited Any person who causes or participates in hazing commits a misdemeanor of the third degree.
[P.S.] § 5354. Enforcement by institution
(A) ANTIHAZING POLICY.– Each institution shall adopt a written antihazing policy and, pursuant to that policy, shall adopt rules prohibiting students or other persons associated with any organization operating under the sanction of or recognized as an organization by the institution from engaging in any activity which can be described as hazing.
(B) ENFORCEMENT AND PENALTIES.–
(1) Each institution shall provide a program for the enforcement of such rules and shall adopt appropriate penalties for violations of such rules to be administered by the person or agency at the institution responsible for the sanctioning or recognition of such organizations.
(2) Such penalties may include the imposition of fines, the withholding of diplomas or transcripts pending compliance with the rules or pending payment of fines and the imposition of probation, suspension or dismissal.
(3) In the case of an organization which authorizes hazing in blatant disregard of such rules, penalties may also include recision of permission for that organization to operate on campus property or to otherwise operate under the sanction or recognition of the institution.
(4) All penalties imposed under the authority of this section shall be in addition to any penalty imposed for violation of section 3 or any of the criminal laws of this State or for violation of any other institutional rule to which the violator may be subject.
(5) Rules adopted pursuant hereto shall apply to acts conducted on or off campus whenever such acts are deemed to constitute hazing.
Penn State’s Policy on Hazing
Recognized student organizations may not engage in HAZING ACTIVITIES. Hazing is defined as any action or situation that recklessly or intentionally endangers the mental or physical health or safety of a student or that willfully destroys or removes public or private property for the purpose of initiation or admission into or affiliation with, or as a condition for continued membership in any recognized student organization. Hazing includes, but is not limited to, any brutality of a physical nature, such as whipping, beating, branding, forced calisthenics, exposure to the elements, forced consumption of any food, liquor, drug, or other substance, or any other forced physical activity that could adversely affect the physical health and safety of the individual, and shall include any activity that would subject the individual to extreme mental stress, such as sleep deprivation, forced exclusion from social contact, forced conduct that could result in extreme embarrassment, or any other forced activity that could adversely affect the mental health or dignity of the individual, or any willful destruction or removal of public or private property. Any activity as described in this definition upon which the initiation or admission into or affiliation with or continued membership in a recognized student organization is directly or indirectly conditioned shall be presumed to be “forced” activity, the willingness of an individual to participate in such activity notwithstanding. Any recognized student organization that commits hazing is subject to disciplinary action by the Office of Student Activities.
Penn State Panhellenic Council’s Policy on Hazing
ARTICLE XI: HAZING
1. All forms of hazing, Bid Day, pledge day and/or pre-initiation activities which are defined as hazing shall be banned.
2. Hazing is defined as any action taken or situation with or without consent that recklessly, intentionally or unintentionally endangers the mental or physical health and safety of a student, or creates risk of injury, or causes discomfort, embarrassment, harassment or ridicule or that willfully destroys or removes public or private property.
3. Such activities and situations include, but are not limited to, forced consumption of alcohol; creation of excessive fatigue; physical and psychological shocks; wearing apparel that is conspicuous and not normally in good taste; engaging in public stunts and jokes; participating in treasure or scavenger hunts; morally degrading or humiliating games and activities; late night sessions that interfere with scholastic activities or normal sleep patterns; and any other activities which are not consistent with fraternal law, ritual or the regulations and policies of the Pennsylvania State University, as well as the policies of NPC organizations.
4. Any Panhellenic chapter found in violation of Article XI, Sections 1, 2, or 3 will be subject to investigation and discipline by the Panhellenic Association Judicial Board and will have their Inter/National Headquarters contacted.
5. Any Panhellenic Association member is subject to investigation and discipline by the Pennsylvania State University Office of Judicial Affairs.