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Anti-Hazing Policy

Saint Michael’s College prohibits hazing, whether by an individual or an organization. This Policy and the programs identified below aim to prevent hazing, promote a safe, respectful environment that does not include hazing, and ensure compliance with the federal Stop Campus Hazing Act (“SCHA”) as well as other applicable laws and College policies.

The SCHA amended the Jeanne Clery Campus Safety Act 20 U.S.C. § 1092(f), and its implementing regulations at 34 C.F.R. § 668.46 (collectively, the “Clery Act”) to include provisions related to hazing. The Clery Act is a federal law that requires Title IV federally subsidized institutions of higher education to disclose certain crime, fire, safety, and hazing information in publicly available locations.

Policy Scope

This Policy applies to all Saint Michael’s College students, faculty and staff, and covers conduct that occurs on or off campus.

Definitions

Hazing, as defined in the SCHA, is 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 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, 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, or Federal law.

 Saint Michael’s College prohibits hazing as defined by the SCHA, as a matter of college policy.

Saint Michael’s College also prohibits as a matter of college policy hazing as defined by applicable Vermont hazing statutes, which definition is stated in the Vermont Hazing Statutes section of this Policy, below.

Student organization, for purposes of this Policy, is an organization at Saint Michael’s College (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 College, whether or not the organization is established or recognized by the College. 

Prohibited Conduct

The following conduct is prohibited by this Policy:

  • Engaging in the hazing of others or assisting in such hazing;

  • Failing to report hazing incidents or activities when required to do so;

  • Soliciting, directing, aiding or otherwise participating actively or passively in the sorts of acts described in this Policy.

  • Retaliating against individuals who report potential hazing incidents or activities.

Hazing either on or off the College’s campus is prohibited equally. Initiation activities and initiation parties fall into this category. Purported consent of individuals being subjected to hazing is not a defense to disciplinary action under this policy, given the socially coercive nature of hazing activities.

Reporting and Investigation

All members of the Saint Michael’s College community are encouraged to report possible hazing incidents to the Director of Public Safety for investigation and/or referral to other College processes.

Saint Michael’s College Campus Security Authorities (“CSAs”) are required to inform the Director of Public Safety or designee of any and all information they receive about potential hazing as defined by the SCHA, as stated above, within 24 hours of their receipt of the information. A CSA is any Public Safety personnel; other individuals who have responsibility for campus security, but who do not work for Public Safety (including contracted security providers); individuals or offices designated by the College as those to whom crimes should be reported; or officials who have significant responsibility for student and campus activities outside of the classroom. If a person is not sure whether they are a CSA, they should contact the Director of Public Safety.

To report any incident of potential hazing, please contact Public Safety directly or via LiveSafe. Any other staff member of the college can also take the report and then pass the information along to Public Safety for follow-up.  

Reports may be submitted anonymously, but anonymous reports can limit the College’s ability to investigate and respond.  The more information that is provided, the more likely the issue can be addressed fully.

Reports involving students as respondents will be investigated and/or addressed by Public Safety and Student Affairs under procedures outlined in the student Code of Conduct found online in the student portal.  Reports involving staff or faculty as respondents will be referred to Human Resources and investigated and/or addressed under applicable policies and procedures.  Reports will be additionally referred for consideration to other College departments, (e.g., Public Safety, Student Conduct, etc.) for investigation and/or disciplinary or other action as deemed appropriate at the College’s discretion.

Information about reports of hazing will also be provided to Saint Michael’s College Public Safety to enable compliance with the College’s obligations under the Clery Act.

The College will publish a Campus Transparency Report as required by SCHA.

Sanctions

Any individual, group, or organization found responsible for hazing will be subject to the student conduct process, which may result in relocation from on campus housing, suspension, dismissal, or revocation or suspension of college recognition or permission to operate or exist within the College’s purview if that organization knowingly permits, authorizes, or condones hazing, or such sanctions are otherwise deemed appropriate by the College. Faculty and staff found responsible for hazing may be subject to sanctions up to and including termination of employment. Members of student organizations may be held individually responsible for violations, even if the group or organization itself is not formally sanctioned.  Sanctions may also include required participation in educational programs such as those related to hazing prevention, ethical leadership, or restorative practices. Any sanction imposed on a student organization will be included in the College’s Campus Hazing Transparency Report.

Reporting to Law Enforcement

Circumstances under which the College will report hazing to a law enforcement agency or agencies include, but are not limited to, circumstances in which in its judgment, the nature of the allegations and/or findings suggest that the hazing activity, if it occurred or is occurring, presents a serious risk of harm to students or other persons, or involves a potentially serious violation of law.

Resources and Supports

The College has published a list with a variety of campus-wide resources for those who have experienced issues such as hazing or similar misconduct. Confidential support is available through the Title IX Office.

The department(s) handling the matter can provide additional referral, resources and supports as appropriate.

Statement of Policy Regarding Hazing Prevention and Awareness Programs

Through the publication of this Anti-Hazing Policy and its awareness and prevention programs related to hazing, Saint Michael’s College seeks to promote understanding and intolerance of prohibited hazing behaviors in the College community.

Saint Michael’s College is committed to proactive, research-informed efforts to prevent hazing in its community.  The College will offer campus-wide prevention and awareness programs that are designed to reach students, faculty, and staff.  These efforts will include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Primary prevention strategies, such as training on the negative consequences of hazing, the importance of mutual respect, the promotion of healthy group dynamics and how to build group cohesion without hazing, skill building for bystander intervention, information about ethical leadership, and how to identify and stop hazing before it occurs.

  • Focused interventions for high-risk groups.

  • Publication of findings of responsibility, consistent with the Campus Hazing Transparency Report requirements of the SCHA.

  • Ongoing assessment and adaptation of anti-hazing awareness and prevention programs based on evidence and emerging best practices.

The College’s awareness and prevention programs are adopted and led by multiple departments on campus to include Athletics, Student Life, Title IX, Public Safety, Student Activities and others.

Vermont Hazing Statutes

Title 16 V.S.A. § 178 provides in pertinent part that the Board of Trustees or other governing body of each postsecondary school operating in Vermont shall adopt and ensure enforcement of a policy prohibiting hazing, which shall define hazing in a manner that is at least as stringent as the definition contained in 16 V.S.A. § 11(a)(30). 

Title 16 V.S.A. § 11(a)(30) defines hazing as:

any act committed by a person, whether individually or in concert with others, against a student in connection with pledging, being initiated into, affiliating with, holding office in, or maintaining membership in any organization that is affiliated with an educational institution; and that is intended to have the effect of, or should reasonably be expected to have the effect of, humiliating, intimidating, or demeaning the student or endangering the mental or physical health of a student. Hazing also includes soliciting, directing, aiding, or otherwise participating actively or passively in these acts. Hazing may occur on or off the campus of an educational institution.

Hazing shall not include any activity or conduct that furthers legitimate curricular, extracurricular, or military training program goals, provided that:

(i) the goals are approved by the educational institution; and

(ii) the activity or conduct furthers the goals in a manner that is appropriate, contemplated by the educational institution, and normal and customary for similar programs at other educational institutions.

“Organization” means a fraternity, sorority, athletic team, association, corporation, order, society, corps, cooperative, club, or other similar group, whose members primarily are students at an educational institution, and that is affiliated with the educational institution.

“Pledging” means any action or activity related to becoming a member of an organization.