30.10.0 Hazing
SUNY Canton prohibits the taking of any action, creating, or participating in the creation of any situation that endangers mental or physical health, endangers safety, involves the forced consumption of alcohol or drugs, or destroys or removes public or private property, for the purpose of initiation into, affiliation with, or as a condition for continued membership, in a group or organization. Individuals and/or organizations in violation of this policy are subject to disciplinary action by the appropriate disciplinary body of the College and may be subject to any applicable provision of the New York State Penal Law. Students who are present for, but do not report, the hazing of others, may be subject to disciplinary action under this policy as well. Any suspension/expulsion from the College due to hazing will result in a notation being placed on the student’s academic transcript, loss of all academic credits for the semester of violation, and liable for all the semester’s tuition and fees.
Due to the supportive and condoning role played by “audiences” or witnesses to hazing, the College will interpret a person’s presence during hazing (even if the person is a bystander and not directly-acting) as condoning the activities and therefore, participating. The College will hold such persons collectively responsible along with the directly-acting participants.
The college defines hazing as 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—
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- 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 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—
- 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 local, 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, State, Tribal, or Federal law
Student Organization means an organization at an institution of higher education (such as a club, society, association, varsity or junior varsity athletic team, club sports team, fraternity, sorority, band, or student government) in which two or more of the members are students enrolled at the institution of higher education, whether or not the organization is established or recognized by the institution.