Hazing Policy

The law defines hazing as “any conduct or method of initiation into any student organization, whether on public or private property, which willfully or recklessly endangers the physical or mental health of any student or other person. Such conduct shall include whipping, beating, branding, forced calisthenics, exposure to the weather, forced consumption of any food, liquor, beverage, drug or other substance, or any other brutal treatment or forced physical activity which is likely to adversely affect the physical health or safety of any such student or other person, or which subjects such student or other person to extreme mental stress, including extended deprivation of sleep or rest or extended isolation. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this section to the contrary, consent shall not be available as a defense to any prosecution under this action.”

Endicott College is required by this statute to issue a copy of the law to the leadership of every registered student organization. Student Affairs requires all groups to sign an acknowledgment of this law. The Department of Athletics is required to review the law annually with every varsity athlete. If you have any questions regarding the law, discuss them with a staff member from the Department of Athletics.

Endicott College further expanded the Massachusetts law to also include the following as part of the Endicott College Hazing Policy: Any act committed against someone joining or maintaining membership in any organization or team that is humiliating, intimidating, or demeaning, or endangers the health and safety of the person. Hazing includes active or passive participation in such acts and occurs regardless of the willingness to participate in the activities. This may include activities that are a violation of international organizational policies related to hazing. Hazing creates an environment/climate in which dignity and respect are absent.

Hazing in any form including, but is not limited to:

1. Unreasonable interference with a student’s academic performance
2. Asking or forcing any members to consume/use alcohol and/or drugs, or ingest any other food, beverage or substance
3. Requiring situationally inappropriate attire
4. Forced or coerced exclusion from social contact
5. Branding
6. Creation of unnecessary fatigue (including but not limited to acts that stem from forced physical activity, such as calisthenics and deprivation of sleep)
7. Deprivation of food or water
8. Beating, whipping, or paddling in any form
9. Line-ups and berating
10. Physical and/or psychological shocks
11. Personal servitude
12. Kidnapping or abandonment
13. Unreasonable exposure to the weather
14. Any activity that would be viewed by a reasonable person as subjecting any person to embarrassment, degradation, or humiliation
15. The expectation of participation in activities that are unlawful, lewd, or in violation of College policy.

Failure to report hazing:

Whoever knows that another person is the victim of hazing as defined above and is at the scene of such action shall, to the extent that person can do so without danger or peril to himself or others, report such crime to an appropriate law enforcement official (or coach, athletic director, dean of students, Public Safety, college counselor, or any college faculty or staff member) as soon as is reasonably possible. Failure to report such activity is punishable under this Code and under state law.

Retaliating against any individual who reported a hazing violation or suspected hazing violation to College or law enforcement officials.

Who do hazing incidents apply to?

Hazing incidents apply to student organizations, which are defined as organizations at an institution of higher education.

• Recognized Student Clubs and Organizations
• Varsity Sports
• Club Sports
• Intramural Athletic Teams
• Student Government Association

These student organizations have two or more of their members enrolled as students at an institution of higher education, whether or not the organization is established or recognized by the institution. This covers all student organizations (as defined above) and individual students.

Stop Campus Hazing Act of 2024

The federal Act requires colleges and universities to make information about hazing violations publicly available through a Campus Hazing Transparency Report. This report helps increase awareness and accountability for hazing while protecting the privacy of individual students.

For each student organization found responsible for a hazing violation, the report will provide:

• The name of the organization
• A general description of the violation, including whether alcohol or drugs were involved
• The institution’s findings and any sanctions imposed
• The date the incident allegedly occurred
• The date the investigation began and the date it concluded
• The date the organization was notified of the findings
• The first Campus Hazing Transparency Report must be posted by December 23, 2025.
• The report will be updated at least twice per year (typically in January and July).
• Each update will remain available to the public for five years.
• The report will not include any personally identifiable information about individual students, in accordance with federal privacy law (FERPA).

Campus Hazing Transparency Report

Access Report

How to Report

If you have witnessed, been subject to, or suspect a member of the Endicott community has been subjected to hazing, complete a report so the College can investigate. Confidential reporting may be requested, however, anonymous reports are not accepted due to the inability to confirm or verify the information presented without attribution.

Hazing Reporting Form