Policy Statement
Hazing is abusive, degrading, psychologically damaging, and may be life-threatening. It is unacceptable in all forms and has no place in the SUNY Oneonta community. Student groups, organizations, and athletic teams are important contributors to a vibrant and positive campus life and are expected to act in accordance with the Student Code of Conduct and to treat others with respect. Hazing by individuals and student organizations is prohibited in any form both on campus and off campus.
SUNY Oneonta has a zero-tolerance policy regarding hazing, consistent with New York State law. Hazing includes any activity that subjects members to harassment, ridicule, intimidation, physical exhaustion, abuse, or mental distress. Hazing is contrary to the purpose of the Greek community and SUNY Oneonta.
Hazing violates not only University regulations but state law as well. Individuals and/or organizations found guilty of hazing may face loss of college recognition, disciplinary charges, and/or criminal charges.
Rationale
SUNY Oneonta is adopting this policy in response to the Stop Campus Hazing Act, allowing for greater transparency and education on the topic of hazing. This legislation requires institutions of higher education that accept federal funding to publicly report hazing incidents on their campus and disclose these incidents in their annual security reports.
Applicability of the Policy
This policy applies to all SUNY Oneonta students.
Definitions
Hazing
No person, either singly or in concert with others, shall for the purpose of initiation into, affiliation with, or maintenance of membership with any organization or group, recklessly or intentionally take any action or create or participate in the creation of any situation that endangers the mental or physical health of another person. This includes, but is not limited to:
- Physical abuse, including but not limited to paddling, slapping, kicking, striking, electronic shocking, choking, scratching, extreme calisthenics, confinement in a small space, exposure to extreme (i.e., cold or hot) temperatures, placing of a harmful substance on someone’s body, the consumption of disgusting and/or dangerous concoctions or the forced consumption of alcohol and/or drugs (legal or illegal), other liquids, food or condiments.
- Causing mental stress, including but not limited to placing prospective members of an organization or group in ambiguous situations which lead to confusion, emotional stress, embarrassment, humiliation, harassment, ridicule, sleep deprivation, and/or reasonable fear of bodily harm through use of threatening words or conduct.
- Verbal abuse, including but not limited to shouting, screaming or use of derogatory, profane, or obscene language.
- Subservience, including but not limited to any activity which promotes a class system within organizations or activities which facilitate inappropriate levels of authority over students. For example, forcing persons seeking membership or affiliation to serve meals to, provide financial support to, clean for, or carry items for any veteran or full member of the group.
- Sexual abuse, including but not limited to any activity causing, coercing, or otherwise inducing another person to perform sexual acts.
- Any activity against another person that includes a criminal violation of local, State, Tribal, or Federal law or any activity that induces, causes, or requires another person to perform a duty or task that involves a criminal violation.
- Technology and cyberbullying, using the Internet, cell phone, or another device to send or post text, video, or images with the intent or knowledge, or with reckless disregard, that the text, video, or image will hurt, embarrass, or threaten an individual, regardless of whether the individual directed, consented to, or voluntarily accessed the electronic communication.
- Threats to family or partners with the intent to harm or cause the intended individual change or succumb to a required behavior.
Student Organizations
The University definition of “organization” is any number of persons who have complied with the formal requirements for university recognition. SUNY Oneonta reserves the right to revoke recognition of any chapter or other organization which is found to have violated these or other Federal, State or State University rules and regulations. Revocation of recognition does not preclude the imposition of campus conduct charges and/or legal action against individual members of a fraternity, sorority, club, or organization. Nor does it preclude informal and unrecognized student groups and organizations from investigation under this policy.
For the purpose of reporting hazing allegations, any incident that involves a group of two or more students enrolled in the University (such as a club, society, association, varsity or junior varsity athletic team, club sports team, fraternity, sorority, band, or student organization), whether or not the organization is established or recognized by the institution, may be reported through one of the methods detailed below.
Procedures
The conduct process includes three levels of adjudication. At the lowest level, complaints are heard by Administrative Hearing Officers within the Office of Residential and Community Life. At the next level, complaints are heard by Administrative Hearing Officers within the Office of Community Standards. At the highest level, complaints are heard by the Standing Disciplinary Board (SDB).
There shall be a single verbatim record, such as a digital audio recording, of all conduct hearings. This recording will be made by and shall be the property of the University. Relevant parties of a case (i.e., accused student and complainant) may request permission, in writing, to listen to the official recording in an approved campus location. Also, an official transcript may be made at the requesting party’s expense by an approved transcriber. These requests should be made to the Office of Community Standards.
The Office of Community Standards determines the level at which complaints will be adjudicated. Alleged violations for which the accused student may be suspended will be heard by the Office of Community Standards or SDB; if dismissal is a possibility, the complaint will be heard by the SDB. There are the following exceptions:
- If the complaint cannot be heard by the SDB in a timely manner, it may be adjudicated by the Office of Community Standards.
- A student who is facing suspension and is informed that the complaint will be heard by the Office of Community Standards may request in writing that the complaint is heard instead by the SDB. The written request must be submitted to the Office of Community Standards within 24hrs of the student having been informed of the hearing.
The standard Language to format this section with the procedure link is:
https://suny.oneonta.edu/policy-library/policies-z/code-student-conduct#article3
Forms
Any person may report hazing in person, by mail, by telephone or by electronic mail, using the contact information listed for the Office of Community Standards or University Police Department, or by utilizing the online reporting forms:
SUNY Oneonta Hazing Hotline Form
Contacts
Questions related to this policy or reporting of an incident should be directed to:
Community Standards
206 Sherman Hall
Phone: 607-436-3353
Office of Student Life and Leadership
220 Hunt Union
University Police Department
Emergency Services Building
Phone: 607-436-3550
Related Documents / Policies
Not applicable
Effective Dates
Approved by the President/Provost June 2025
Latest Revision June 2025