Hazing and Outcomes

Hazing is defined as any mental or physical requirement, request, and/or direct/indirect suggestion to act in such a way that causes or creates a substantial risk of discomfort, pain, fright, disgrace, injury, and/or personal degradation placed upon a member or prospective member of an organization (varsity team, club sport, group, Greek chapter, etc.) by other members of that organization

People and organizations that haze may experience a response through the University conduct resolution process, as well as criminal and civil charges. Charges of hazing can be filed not only against the person who committed the act, but witnesses to the incident, people with firsthand knowledge of the incident, and individuals who were hazed.

The president and officers of an organization, the advisor, and/or any national headquarters could be liable. In addition to individual charges, organizational charges may be filed.

Ohio State Law on Hazing

Last updated July 29, 2021

(1) “Hazing” means doing any act or coercing another, including the victim, to do any act of initiation into any student or other organization or any act to continue or reinstate membership in or affiliation with any student or other organization that causes or creates a substantial risk of causing mental or physical harm to any person, including coercing another to consume alcohol or a drug of abuse, as defined in section 3719.011 of the Revised Code.

(2) “Organization” includes a national or international organization with which a fraternity or sorority is affiliated.

(B)(1) No person shall recklessly participate in the hazing of another.

(2) No administrator, employee, faculty member, teacher, consultant, alumnus, or volunteer of any organization, including any primary, secondary, or post-secondary school or any other educational institution, public or private, shall recklessly permit the hazing of any person associated with the organization.

(C)(1) No person shall recklessly participate in the hazing of another when the hazing includes coerced consumption of alcohol or drugs of abuse resulting in serious physical harm to the other person.

(D) Whoever violates this section is guilty of hazing. A violation of division (B)(1) or (2) of this section is a misdemeanor of the second degree. A violation of division (C)(1) or (2) of this section is a felony of the third degree.

Examples of Hazing

Depending on the circumstances, the activities listed below are among those construed as hazing. These examples are not all-inclusive.

A requirement or encouragement that compels an individual to participate in any activity that is illegal or contrary to an individual’s genuine, moral, and/or religious beliefs or contrary to the rules and regulations of the University.
An activity that might reasonably bring embarrassment or emotional harm to the individual(s).
An activity that might reasonably bring physical harm to the individual(s).
An activity that requires an unreasonable or inordinate amount of the individual’s time or any manner that impairs the individual’s academic efforts.
An activity that requires consumption of any liquid or solid matter.
An activity that would degrade or otherwise compromise the dignity of the individual
Anything detrimental to the OWU community.
Blindfolding.
Calisthenics.
Clothing that is unclean or in poor taste.
Harassment (yelling, pushing, cursing, etc.).
Implication and/or references to public sex and/or nudity or indecent exposure.
Kidnapping or simulation of the act of kidnapping.
Less than six (6) hours of uninterrupted sleep nightly.
New member education (pledge) programs that run past the designated eight (8) week deadline without consent of the Interfraternity or Panhellenic councils and chapter house corporation (this includes falsely ending the program).
New members/prospective new members/members standing, walking, ambulating in formation (line ups).
Paddling or striking in any manner.
Posting signs in/on a University building or property which indicates poor taste (all signs must be approved by the office in charge of that organization).
Preventing/restricting normal personal hygiene.
Psychological shock.
Public humiliation.
Public/private obscenities.
Requiring or encouraging the carrying of items, such as rocks, helmets, books, paddles, matches, etc..
Restricting personal freedoms such as eating proper meals, using the phone, returning to or sleeping in their rooms, showering, etc..
The use of alcohol.
Throwing anything at an individual.
Treasure or scavenger hunts, road trips.

All acts of hazing, both on and off campus by an organization or any of its members, are strictly forbidden.

If you become aware of incidents of hazing and/or suspicious behavior, please contact:

The Dean of Students Office: (740) 368-3135
Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards: (740) 368-3178
Public Safety: (740) 368-2222
Or submit report via the online reporting form.