Hazing Policy

Hazing is prohibited by Washington and Lee University, the Code of Virginia § 18.2-56, and the federal Stop Campus Hazing Act (H.R.5646). This policy applies to all University students and student organizations.

Washington and Lee complies with Virginia Code Section 23.1-822 (Adam's Law) and the federal Stop Campus Hazing Act (H.R.5646). This means that the University will:

Provide hazing prevention training to the extent required by Va. Code §23.1-820. For example, there will be in-person hazing prevention education for various groups such as all current members, new members, and potential new members of student organizations with a new member process, as well as coaches and advisors of organizations/teams with a new member process. More information about our hazing prevention education is available on our Hazing Prevention Education webpage.
Maintain an institutional hazing policy that includes the definition of hazing, information on how to report hazing, and language concerning immunity from disciplinary action for certain individuals who report an act of hazing.
Publicly report violations of the this hazing policy to the extent required by Va. Code §23.1-822 and the Stop Campus Hazing Act. This report is referred to as the Campus Hazing Transparency Report.
Provide a hardcopy notice of the availability of the Campus Hazing Transparency Report, including a weblink, to new students.
Maintain a hazing prevention webpage which includes our Hazing Policy, Campus Hazing Transparency Report, and additional educational resources to help prevent hazing.

Hazing Definition

For the purpose of this policy and institutional conduct processes, hazing is defined by the following state and federal definitions:

The Code of Virginia § 18.2-56 defines "hazing" to mean "to recklessly or intentionally endanger the health or safety of a student or students or to inflict bodily injury on a student or students in connection with or for the purpose of initiation, admission into or affiliation with or as a condition for continued membership in a club, organization, association, fraternity, sorority, or student body regardless of whether the student or students so endangered or injured participated voluntarily in the relevant activity."

The federal Stop Campus Hazing Act defines "hazing" to mean "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."

Reporting

The University encourages reporting of alleged hazing and violations of its hazing policy. Allegations of hazing or retaliation for reporting hazing or cooperating in a hazing-related investigation made against individuals or student organizations who are not members of the Interfraternity Council (IFC), such as Panhellenic Council (PC) and all National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) organizations, will be referred to the Student Judicial Council. Allegations of hazing or retaliation for reporting hazing or cooperating in a hazing-related investigation against IFC fraternities, whether national or local, will be handled by the IFC.

How to Report

There are multiple avenues for students, parents, faculty, staff, and community members to report hazing. If you see or hear something that concerns you, please report it to support the health and safety of our students. The University is best positioned to respond to hazing concerns when we receive accurate, timely, and factual information. Please do not assume others have reported the concern - we would rather receive multiple reports than none at all.

While all cases of suspected hazing or retaliation for reporting hazing or cooperating in a hazing-related investigation should be reported to Student Affairs, other ways to report a hazing or retaliation concern include:

If there is immediate concern for safety, please call 911 before taking any next steps.
Submit a report through Silent Witness or the Live Safe App (Google Play / App Store).
Contact Public Safety directly 540-458-8999.
Talk with a member of the community who can assist you with reporting. Some of these people might include: a Student Affairs dean, adviser of your organization, coach, trainer, member of student affairs staff, RA or CA.

Retaliation is prohibited against any individual who, in good faith, reports allegations of hazing, or cooperates in an investigation or adjudication under the hazing policy. Retaliation includes, but is not limited to, physical, verbal, or written harassment, threats, or intimidation of any person(s) who in good faith reports an alleged violation of this policy, or cooperates in an investigation or adjudication under the hazing policy.

Immunity for Good Faith Reporting or Cooperation

Individuals shall be entitled to immunity under the anti-hazing policy as set forth in Va. Code §23.1-821. Any bystander who, in good faith, reports hazing in advance of or during an incident that caused injury or is likely to cause injury to a person, will be immune from disciplinary action related to personal drug use, personal alcohol consumption, or hazing if the individual was not involved in the reported activity. This does not prevent the University from requiring the reporter to access services, including but not limited to inpatient or outpatient counseling for drug or alcohol use.

Any individual who reports and requests immunity under this policy may be liable for criminal and civil penalties that are beyond the University's control.

Commonwealth of Virginia Law

The Code of Virginia § 18.2-56 provides that it shall be unlawful to haze so as to cause bodily injury. Any person found guilty thereof shall be guilty of a class I misdemeanor. Any person receiving bodily injury by hazing or mistreatment shall have a right to sue, civilly, the person or persons guilty thereof, whether adults or infants. More information can be found by reviewing Code of Virginia § 18.2-56.