Anti-Hazing Policy

Purpose

This policy affirms our commitment to a positive and safe campus community free from hazing. It also ensures Hamilton College’s compliance with the Stop Campus Hazing Act (SCHA), an amendment to the Clery Act. This policy applies to all members of the Hamilton College community and, to the extent described below, conduct of non-community members when interacting with community members.

Policy Statement

Hazing is abusive, potentially damaging and may be life-threatening so it is strictly prohibited at Hamilton College. Hazing is harmful, inconsistent with Hamilton values and has no place in any event in our community, regardless of whether it happens on or off campus. All students, organizations, and teams contribute to a positive campus culture and are expected to treat others with dignity and respect while upholding the Student Code of Conduct.

Definition of Hazing

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:

Is committed in the course of an initiation into, an affiliation with, or the maintenance of membership in, a student organization; and
Causes or creates a risk, above the reasonable risk encountered in the course of participation in the College or the organization (for example, the physical preparation necessary for participation in an athletic team), of physical or psychological injury. The following are non-exhaustive examples of conduct that causes or creates such a risk:
- Whipping, beating, striking, electronic shocking, placing of a harmful substance on someone’s body, or similar activity;
- Causing, coercing, or otherwise inducing sleep deprivation, exposure to the elements, confinement in a small space, extreme calisthenics, or other similar activity;
- Causing, coercing, or otherwise inducing another person to consume food, liquid, alcohol, drugs, or other substances;
- Causing, coercing, or otherwise inducing another person to perform sexual acts;
- Any activity that places another person in reasonable fear of bodily harm through the use of threatening words or conduct;
- Any activity against another person that includes a criminal violation of applicable local, New York State, Tribal, or Federal law; and
- Any activity that induces, causes, or requires another person to perform a duty or task that involves a criminal violation of local, New York State, Tribal, or Federal law.

Definition of Student Organization

A student organization is defined as any group or organization with at least two student members who are enrolled at Hamilton College, including but not limited to athletic teams, fraternities, sororities, clubs, or government associations—regardless of establishment or recognition by Hamilton College.

Examples include but are not limited to:

Clubs
Recognized societies, groups, organizations and/or teams
Inactive, suspended or expelled societies, groups, organizations and/or teams
Private or independent societies
Loosely affiliated student groups
Varsity and non-varsity athletic teams
Musical groups
Any other group operating under the sanction of or recognized as an organization by Hamilton College and its trustees.

Note that any incident involving a non-student will be investigated and if that person is found to be associated with and/or representing a student organization, the organization may be held accountable for the actions of the non-student. Hamilton students who host guests are responsible for the actions of their guests and can be held accountable through the Student Code of Conduct and other Hamilton College policies.

Reporting Hazing

Hamilton College takes reports of hazing seriously and encourages anyone to report suspected hazing immediately. All reports will be reviewed and investigated to determine appropriate steps to be taken and to be included in the College’s Campus Hazing Transparency Report. Reports may be made in person, by phone, email, or through our online reporting system:

Ashley Place
Email: aplace@hamilton.edu
Phone: 315-859-4023

Report an Incident

Privacy and Confidentiality

Hamilton College respects the privacy of all reporters but cannot guarantee full confidentiality. Information will be shared as necessary to investigate, resolve, or comply with law or Hamilton College policy. Confidential resources, such as the Counseling Center and Health Center, do not report hazing without the individual’s permission, except in narrow circumstances such as health and safety emergencies or crimes against a minor.

Amnesty Policy

Students who report hazing in good faith or participate fully as witnesses may not be subject to conduct sanctions for their own involvement in hazing or related violations (such as substance use), at the College’s discretion. In cases in which such amnesty is not provided, reporting or witness participation may be considered as mitigating factors. Amnesty does not protect individuals from criminal or civil actions. Please see the College’s policy on Amnesty.

Investigation

Hamilton College will promptly review all reports of hazing. If the reported conduct may be criminal in nature, local law enforcement may be notified. The College will also conduct its own investigation of the alleged hazing and pursue disciplinary processes to address any potential violations of this policy, the Code of Student Conduct and/or other College policies.

Conduct Processes and Sanctions

The College may attribute the action(s) of one member of a student organization to the entire organization. Leadership and representatives of any student organization may be held accountable even if they are not actively participating in the conduct or activities. Reports of hazing by an individual or organization will be investigated by the College. When appropriate, individuals and/or organizations will be held accountable using applicable processes outlined in the Code of Student Conduct*. Multiple processes can happen concurrently or consecutively, depending on the nature of the alleged violation(s) as determined by the Director of Title IX & Civil Rights Compliance and the Assistant Dean of Students for Community Living or their designee(s). This policy does not prevent the College from pursuing charges against individuals under the Sexual Misconduct Policy and/or any other College policy. Likewise, this policy does not prevent action by police or other law enforcement personnel.

Any recognized student organization found responsible for hazing will be subject to disciplinary action, which may include but are not limited to the following sanctions:

Removal/suspension of access to organizational funding
Revoking/suspending access to college resources such as: mass email and listserv privileges, 25Live privileges, etc.
Suspension of the student organization by the College for a short period of time (1 month - 1 semester)
Suspension of the student organization by the College for an extended period of time (1 semester or more)
Alternative sanctions
Permanent removal of the student organization

*Note: Intercollegiate athletic teams are operated by, and exist at the discretion of, the College’s Department of Athletics. Anything to the contrary notwithstanding, in the event of suspected violations of Hamilton College policy (including but not limited to this policy) by an intercollegiate athletic team, the Director of Athletics or his/her/their designee, in consultations with other College officials as deemed appropriate, may impose consequences on the team as an entity without necessity of proceedings under the Code of Student Conduct. Such action does not preclude disciplinary action against individual team members under the Code of Student Conduct or other applicable College policies and procedures.

Any individual(s) found responsible for violating this Hamilton College Anti-Hazing Policy and/or the Code of Student Conduct may be subject to sanctions including but not limited to the following:

Removal from leadership role
Removal from student organization membership
Conduct points and sanctions up to and including separation from the College

Retaliation

Retaliation against anyone who reports or participates in an investigation of hazing in good faith is strictly prohibited. Complaints of retaliation may be made to the Office of Community Living or Human Resources.

Required Reporting

The following materials are maintained on Hamilton College’s public website:

Campus Hazing Transparency Report describing findings concerning any student organization established or recognized by the College that is found to be in violation of this policy (updated twice a year and maintained for at least five years starting with the fall of 2025)
Annual statement on hazing statistics (per SCHA and Clery Act)
The full text of this Hazing Policy and related laws

A violation of this Anti-Hazing Policy may also be a violation of New York State law

New York State Penal Law, Chapter 716, Section 1 (effective November 1, 1988) defines hazing as:

120.16: Hazing in the first degree
- A person is guilty of hazing in the first degree when, in the course of another person's initiation into or affiliation with any organization, he intentionally or recklessly engages in conduct which creates a substantial risk of physical injury to such other person or a third person and thereby causes such injury.
- Hazing in the first degree is a class A misdemeanor.
120.17: Hazing in the second degree
- A person is guilty of hazing in the second degree when, in the course of another person's initiation or affiliation with any organization, he intentionally or recklessly engages in conduct which creates a substantial risk of physical injury to such other person or a third person.
- Hazing in the second degree is a violation.

For questions regarding this policy or to report an incident, contact Ashley Place at aplace@hamilton.edu or 315-859-4023.

Hamilton College is dedicated to a campus experience where respect, safety, and integrity are paramount—hazing is never acceptable here.