Hazing Defined

Ohio Revised Code 2903.31 defines “hazing” as doing any act or coercing another, including the victim, to do any act of initiation into any student or other organization or any act to continue or reinstate membership in or affiliation with any student or other organization that causes or creates a substantial risk of causing mental or physical harm to any person, including coercing another to consume alcohol or a drug of abuse, as defined in section 3719.011 of the Ohio Revised Code.

In alignment with Ohio Revised Code 2903.31, Ashland University defines “hazing” as doing, requiring, encouraging, or coercing any act or behavior regardless of the participant’s willingness or reluctance that is associated with initiation into or continued affiliation with any organization recognized by, or operating under the sanction of Ashland University, that causes or creates a substantial risk of physical or mental harm or humiliation to any person, including coercing another to consume alcohol or a drug of abuse. Hazing is strictly prohibited on the campus of Ashland University and off campus when involving two or more individuals affiliated with Ashland University. Students are not permitted to participate in any activity (including athletic teams, student organizations, sport clubs, etc.) sanctioned by Ashland University until a required anti-hazing training is completed and recorded as completed.

Required Training, Education, and Enforcement

1. Implement hazing prevention education and awareness strategies
1. Required for students, employees, and volunteers in direct contact with students
2. Required training provided by Orientation, Student Life, Fraternity & Sorority Life, and Athletics will adjust content for their specific audience.
1. Students are not permitted to participate in any Ashland University sanctioned activity (including athletic teams, student organizations, sport clubs, etc.) until a required anti-hazing training is completed and recorded as completed.
3. Attendance will be tracked by the office or department hosting the training.
2. Educate community members on intervention strategies
1. Required bystander training for students
2. Required training provided by Orientation, Student Life, Fraternity & Sorority Life, and Athletics will adjust content for their specific audience.
3. Attendance will be tracked by the office or department hosting the training.
3. Hold community members accountable for violations of institutional policy and law
1. Required distribution of anti-hazing policy to students, student organizations, and employees and volunteers who have direct contact with students
1. Distributed biannually in August and January via email
2. Required posting of Anti-Hazing policy on institution’s publicly accessible website
4. Report violations of institutional policy and/or law on the institution’s publicly accessible website
1. Ashland University Safety Services will maintain a report that captures all violations of this policy that are reported incidents to the university at least five years prior to October 6, 2021 (effective date of “Collin’s Law”), and provide updates to this report bi-annually in August and January.

Sanctions for Hazing

Hazing is a violation of Ohio Law and a Level 1 Violation of Ashland University Policy.

Having knowledge of and failing to report hazing is a violation of Ohio Law and a Level 1 Violation of Ashland University Policy.

Ashland University has no tolerance for hazing. Organizations operating under the umbrella of Ashland University and found responsible for hazing may be suspended and/or disbanded and permanently restricted from any affiliation with the university. Organizations under investigation for hazing may be interimly suspended until a conduct outcome is reached.

Enforcement

The Ashland University Student Conduct System is initiated by the filing of an Incident Report by any member of the University community.

1. An Incident Report is documented for the alleged violation.
1. The Director of Student Conduct or designee investigates the incident to determine reasonable cause.
1. If reasonable cause is found, the Director of Student Conduct or designee will determine how a conduct case is processed (either administrative hearing or conduct board).
2. If the case proceeds to administrative hearing or conduct board, the process outlined in the Student Handbook will be followed.

Students are not permitted to participate in any Ashland University sanctioned activity (including athletic teams, student organizations, sport clubs, etc.) until a required anti-hazing training is completed and recorded as completed.

Required Reporting

It is the responsibility of the entire university community to report suspected acts of hazing immediately to Safety Services at security@ashland.edu, 419.207.5555, or 1st Floor Student Center.

All alleged hazing incidents will be investigated through the Ashland University student conduct system as well as reported to local law enforcement. The University reserves the right to process incidents that occur outside of university property and when classes are not in session. It is a violation of Ohio Law and university policy (Level I) to have knowledge of a hazing incident and fail to report it.

Ashland University Safety Services will maintain a report that captures all violations of this policy that are reported incidents to the university at least five years prior to October 6, 2021 (effective date of “Collin’s Law”), and provide updates to this report bi-annually in August and January.