Hazing Prevention Education and Adam’s Law

From: Sidney Evans (Vice President for Student Affairs, Dean of Students)
To: Undergraduate Students and Law Students
Date: Thursday, Aug. 25
Subj.: Hazing Prevention Education and Adam's Law

Dear Students:

I write to share with you an important update regarding a new campus safety and anti-hazing law in Virginia. Adam's Law is named for Adam Oakes, a VCU student who tragically died from alcohol poisoning during a hazing-related incident last year. You can read the law in its entirety here.

This law prioritizes hazing prevention training and institutional transparency, and we want to make sure you're aware of what this new law means for W&L's ongoing hazing prevention efforts.

Although we have long offered hazing prevention education within certain groups on campus, this fall we will offer in-person hazing prevention education to all students. We will also include advisers of any organizations that have a period of time between invitation for membership and being initiated into membership.

We also updated our policy to provide disciplinary immunity for certain individuals who report an act of hazing and will begin to publicly report hazing violations. Our newly developed hazing prevention website now offers a user-friendly way to review hazing definitions, relevant policies, and information about how to report.

What is hazing?

W&L prohibits hazing and encourages reporting of alleged violations of this policy, which applies to all university students and student organizations. Hazing is a crime in the Commonwealth of Virginia and is defined by law at Va. Code §18.2-56 as follows: "hazing" means 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.

Allegations of hazing or retaliation by individuals or student organizations not under the jurisdiction of the Interfraternity Council (IFC) or National Panhellenic Council (NPC) will be referred to the Student Judicial Council (this includes our NPHC organizations). Allegations of hazing or retaliation by fraternities and sororities will be under the jurisdiction of the IFC or NPC.

Reporting Potential Hazing Violations

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 your fellow 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.

Among the ways to report a hazing or retaliation concern:

  • Contact to the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students.
  • If there is immediate concern for safety, please call 911 before taking any next steps.
  • Submit a report through Silent Witness (an anonymous online reporting tool) or the Live Safe App [ Google Play | App Store ].
  • Contact Public Safety directly 540-458-8999.
  • Talk with a member of the campus community who can assist you with reporting. Some of these people might include: a Student Affairs dean or staff member, adviser of your organization, coach, trainer, Resident Adviser or Community Assistant.

Retaliation is prohibited against any individual who, in good faith, reports allegations of hazing, or cooperates in an investigation or adjudication under this 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 this policy.

Immunity for Good Faith Reporting or Cooperation

Individuals shall be entitled to immunity under this policy as set forth in Va. Code §23.1-821. Any individual who, in good faith, reports hazing 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. 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.

Thank you for your cooperation and support as we work together to comply with the university's anti-hazing policy and the Adam's Law requirements. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to your Student Affairs dean or to me.

Sincerely,

Sidney Evans
Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students