Investigations

The Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students (or designee) will investigate good faith reports of alleged hazing violations within student organizations, clubs, or teams at Washington and Lee University.

Investigations will proceed in the following steps:

1. The designated Student Affairs Staff Member (or designee) will assign the allegation to trained university personnel1 for investigation. The assigned individual(s) will then meet and create an outline for conducting the investigation. This outline will include the date(s), time(s), and location(s) of the investigation. Additionally, the investigator(s) will decide which individuals they plan to interview (e.g., new members, specific leadership positions, captains, advisors, staff members, etc.).

2. The designated Student Affairs Staff Member (or designee) will then notify the organization leader/president, staff advisor/coach, and council advisor (if applicable) of the allegations, pending investigation, and offer a meeting to review the process.

  • Student leaders will be encouraged to communicate directly with their (inter)national headquarters and/or non-staff advisors as appropriate.

3. After the organization has been notified, the university personnel will conduct their investigation which may include, but is not limited to, interviews with individual members, advisors, university staff members, and potential witnesses.

4. The university personnel will complete a summary report including the initial allegation and an outline of the investigation process. Typically, the report will be completed within thirty (30) business days of the allegation being received. A copy of this report will be submitted to the designated Student Affairs Staff member.

5. If there is insufficient information gathered to suggest a potential violation of the anti-hazing policy, the matter will be concluded.

6. If there is sufficient information gathered to suggest a potential violation of the anti-hazing policy, the final investigation report will be referred to the appropriate conduct body.

  • The appropriate conduct body will review and conduct their adjudication process as outlined in their respective bylaws and/or procedures. Any appeals to findings and/or sanctions will follow the appeal process outlined in the Student Handbook.

Interim Action:

In situations where the alleged behavior(s) suggest imminent harm or risk to the health and safety of individual(s), the organization may receive notification of interim action(s) (e.g., Cease and Desist2).

Interim Action will be determined by the designated Student Affairs Staff Member (or designee) in conjunction with the Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students (or designee) and will be directly communicated to the student organization by the designated Student Affairs Staff Member.

1 University personnel consists of professional staff members who are trained to ensure the consistency of investigations of alleged hazing violations.
2 A cease and desist is a form of interim action placed on an organization that specifically demands that the organization discontinue certain (if not all) operations. This form of interim action is to ensure that alleged misconduct will not continue while the investigation is being conducted.