Hazing Policy
Hazing is prohibited by the College and is a crime under Massachusetts law.
Definitions
For purposes of this policy, Hazing is defined as any act committed against another person or persons that is tied to initiation into or participation in a Student Organization (regardless of that person’s willingness to participate) that humiliates, intimidates, demeans, abuses or endangers them, as well as any activity that violates the state and federal definitions of hazing shared below. Hazing also includes facilitating, soliciting, directing, aiding, or otherwise participating actively or passively in the above acts.
Student Organization is defined as an organization (including, but not limited to, a club, society, association, varsity athletic team, club sports team, band, or student government) in which two or more members are students enrolled at Williams. For the purpose of this policy, the term Student Organization encompasses all organizations, whether or not the organization is formally recognized by the College.
Implied or expressed consent is not a defense against an accusation of Hazing. Nor do the student(s) experiencing hazing need to believe that the hazing negatively impacted their ability to fully participate in and benefit from the educational opportunities and activities available to them.
Examples of Hazing
The following is a non-exhaustive list of activities that may constitute Hazing when tied to initiation into or participation in a Student Organization:
- Any activity that would be viewed by a reasonable person as subjecting any person to embarrassment, degradation, exclusion or humiliation
- Assigning unreasonable chores or acts of servitude/service, particularly to new members of the group
- Assigning or endorsing pranks such as stealing or harassing other individuals or groups
- Blindfolding
- Causing, coercing, or otherwise inducing excessive exercise, sleep deprivation, or excessive fatigue, exposure to the elements, confinement in a small space, extreme calisthenics, or other similar activity
- Encouraging, causing, coercing, or otherwise inducing another person to consume food, liquid, alcohol, drugs, or other substances
- Engaging in or threatening activities that compel an individual or group to remain at a certain place, restrict their movement, deny exiting, or transporting anyone anywhere without their knowledge and/or consent (e.g., road trips, kidnapping, caging etc.)
- Causing, coercing, or otherwise inducing another person to perform, engage in, or simulate sexual acts
- Requiring individuals to be nude or to observe others’ nudity, or any other sexual exploitation
- Playing high risk drinking games with dangerous alcohol consumption practices (particularly where new members play out the games that older members facilitate, but do not participate in themselves)
- Shaving, tattooing, piercing or branding, or any other body alterations, permanent or temporary
- Throwing substances or objects at individuals
- Whipping, beating, striking, electronic shocking, placing of a harmful substance on someone’s body, or similar activity
- Any activity that places another person in reasonable fear of bodily harm through the use of threatening words or actions
- Any activity against another person that includes a criminal violation of local, state, tribal, or federal law
- 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
- Using slurs, mocking someone’s accent, culture, gender identity, or other aspects of who they are can be a form of hazing when it creates a hostile, degrading, or isolating environment—especially when there’s a power dynamic involved (like returning leaders using this kind of language with prospective or new members)
- Using technology (e.g., social media, texts, emails, forums) to harass, humiliate, or endanger individuals, including posting humiliating content, spreading rumors or threats, enforcing constant online presence, or sharing private information without consent as a condition of group membership
Reporting Hazing
If a member of the College community knows that a student is being hazed, is directed by another to haze someone, witnesses an act of Hazing, or is made aware of Hazing within the College community, they are required to report it. Reports of Hazing may be made in any of the following manners:
For an emergency, dial 911.
If not an emergency:
Report to:
- Office of Campus Life
- Anonymous Tip Line: https://webapps.williams.edu/admin-forms/security/tip-line.php
- Please be aware that Tip Line reports are checked periodically and should not be used to report an emergency. Follow-up may not be possible if there is insufficient information.
- Received by Campus Safety Services
- Directly to the following offices:
- Campus Safety Services (24 hours)
- Title IX: https://diversity.williams.edu/title-ix-incident-reporting/
- Human Resources
- Office of Campus Life
Investigation and Adjudication
An allegation that a student has engaged in Hazing will be investigated and adjudicated through the College’s processes for investigating and adjudicating violations of social misconduct and/or sexual misconduct and Title IX sexual harassment, as applicable.
In addition, the Department of Athletics may institute sanctions for violations of the Department’s Code of Conduct, and the Office of Campus Life reserves the right to grant, refuse, and/or suspend recognition to any Registered Student Organization for failure to adhere to College policy.
An allegation that a staff or faculty member has engaged in Hazing will be investigated and adjudicated pursuant to procedures described in the Staff Handbook or Faculty Handbook, as applicable.
Incidents of Hazing that may involve criminal conduct may also be referred to law enforcement.
Prevention and Awareness Training
The College offers research-informed, campus-wide prevention programming designed to reach all members of the College community that addresses this policy, how to report Hazing, information about the College’s Hazing response process, applicable state law, and primary prevention strategies.
This training will be particularly focused on new students, student athletes and Student Organization leaders, and the College employees that oversee or advise Student Organizations.
Federal Law
Hazing means 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 (I) is committed in the course of an initiation into, an affiliation with, or the maintenance of membership in, a student organization; and (II) 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.
State Law
Whoever is a principal organizer or participant in the crime of hazing, as defined herein, shall be punished by a fine of not more than three thousand dollars or by imprisonment in a house of correction for not more than one year, or both such fine and imprisonment.
The term ”hazing” shall mean 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.
Whoever knows that another person is the victim of hazing and is at the scene of such crime shall, to the extent that such person can do so without danger or peril to himself or others, report such crime to an appropriate law enforcement official as soon as reasonably practicable. Whoever fails to report such crime shall be punished by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars.