8-12 Hazing

POLICY: 6Hx28:8-12
Responsible Executive: Vice President, Student Affairs
Policy Contacts: Deans of Students
Specific Authority: 1006.63 and 1001.64, F.S.
Law Implemented: 1006.63 and 1001.64, F.S.
Effective Date: 10-16-2019
Date of Last Policy Review: 10-16-2019

Policy Statement:

1. Hazing is prohibited at Valencia College. Soliciting a person to commit hazing, and/or active involvement in the planning of hazing conduct also is prohibited at Valencia College. All organizations and individuals are prohibited from engaging in any form of hazing either on campus or off campus. Valencia College does not condone hazing in any form.

    

2. Definitions

    

   1. Hazing

       

      Any action or situation that recklessly or intentionally endangers the mental or physical health or safety of a student for the purposes including but not limited to: initiation or admission into, or affiliation with, or the perpetuation or furtherance of a tradition or ritual of any organization operating under the sanction of Valencia College. Hazing includes, but is not limited to, pressuring or coercing the student into violating any state or federal law, any brutality of a physical nature, such as whipping, beating, branding, exposure to the elements, forced consumption of any food, liquor, drug, or other substance, or other forced physical activity which could adversely affect the physical health or safety of the student, or any activity which would subject the student to extreme mental stress, such as sleep deprivation, forced exclusion from social contact,

      forced conduct which could result in extreme embarrassment, or other forced activity which could adversely affect the mental health or dignity of the student. Hazing does not include customary athletic events or other similar contests or competitions or any activity or conduct that furthers a legal and legitimate objective.

       

   2. Aid

       

      Aid for purpose of this policy includes but is not limited to, rendering cardiopulmonary resuscitation to the victim, clearing an airway for the victim to breathe, using a defibrillator to assist the victim, or rendering any other assistance to the victim which the person intended in good faith to stabilize or improve the victim’s condition while waiting for medical assistance, law enforcement, or campus security to arrive.

       

3. Penalties for violations of this policy shall be determined and administered in accordance with Valencia College Policy 6Hx28:8-03 Student Code of Conduct

    

   1. Such penalties at Valencia College may include, without limitation, the imposition of fines; the withholding of diplomas or transcripts pending compliance with the rules or pending payment of fines; and the imposition of probation, suspension, or expulsion from the college.

       

   2. In the case of an organization/club at Valencia College which authorizes hazing in blatant disregard of this policy, penalties may also include rescission of permission for that organization to operate on campus property or to otherwise operate under the sanction of the College.

       

   3. All penalties imposed under the authority of this subsection shall be in addition to any penalty imposed for violation of any of the criminal laws of this state or for violation of any other rule of the institution to which the violator may be subject.

       

   4. It is not a defense to a complaint of hazing that the consent of the victim had been obtained, the conduct or activity was not part of an official organizational event or was not otherwise sanctioned or approved by the organization, or the conduct or activity was not done as a condition of membership.

       

4. A person may not be found responsible for a violation of this policy if they are present at an event where, as a result of hazing, a hazing victim appeared to be in need of medical assistance and that person was the first person to call 911 or campus security to report the need for immediate medical assistance, provided their name and address of where assistance was needed, a description of the medical issue to the 911 operator or campus security at the time of the call, and remained on the scene with the hazing victim until medical assistance, law enforcement, or campus security arrived.

5. A person may not be found responsible for a violation of this policy if before medical assistance, law enforcement or campus security arrived on the scene of a hazing event, that person rendered aid to the hazing victim.

    

6. This policy, by its inclusion in the Student Code of Conduct and other student publications, is provided to each student enrolled in the institution and this policy shall be included in the bylaws of each student club/organization operating under the sanction of Valencia College.

Related Policies:

Policy 6Hx28:8-03 Student Code of Conduct

Policy History:

Adopted 12-11-74; Adopted 11-18-92; Amended 12-20-05; Amended 10-16-19; Formerly 6Hx28:10-04; Formerly 6Hx28:10-17