Hazing Policy

Hazing is a criminal violation under Texas law. A person can be found guilty of criminal conduct for hazing, encouraging hazing, permitting hazing, or having knowledge of the planning of hazing incidents and failing to report in writing his / her knowledge to the Dean of Students. An organization commits hazing if the organization condones or encourages hazing or if an officer or any combination of members, pledges, or alumni of the organization commit or assist in the commission of hazing. It is not a defense to prosecuting an offense under this policy that the person against whom the hazing was directed consented or acquiesced in the hazing activity.

Hazing means any intentional, knowing or reckless act occurring on or off the campus of an educational institution by one person or acting with others, directed against a student, that endangers the mental or physical health or safety of a student to pledge, being initiated into, affiliating with, holding office in, or maintaining membership in an organization. The term includes but is not limited to:

1. Any physical brutality, such as whipping, beating, striking, branding, electronic shocking, placing of a harmful substance on the body, or similar activity;
2. Any type of physical activity, such as sleep deprivation, exposure to the elements, confinement in a small space, calisthenics, or other activity that subjects the student to an unreasonable risk of harm or that adversely affects the mental or physical health or safety of the student;
3. Any activity involving consumption of a food, liquid, alcoholic beverage, liquor, drug or other substance that subjects the student to an unreasonable risk of harm or that adversely affects the mental or physical health or safety of the student.
4. Any activity that intimidates or threatens the student with ostracism, that subjects the student to extreme mental stress, shame or humiliation, or that adversely affects the mental health or dignity of the student or discourages the student from entering or remaining registered in an educational institution, or that may reasonably be expected to cause a student to leave the organization or institution, rather than submit to acts described in this policy.
5. Any activity that induces, causes, or requires the student to perform a duty or task that violates the penal code.

Texas A&M University-Kingsville also defines hazing to include:

1. Misuse of authority by one’s class rank or leadership position;
2. Any form of physical bondage of a student (including but not limited to having prospective members perform personal chores or other tasks under threat of negative repercussions, blindfolding and/or parading individuals, requiring members to carry items or perform activities meant to punish, discomfort or embarrass members; etc.)
3. Road trips (taking a student to an outlying area and dropping him/her off); compelling a person or group to remain at a certain place; transporting a person anywhere without their consent (kidnapping).
4. Performing physical exercise (sit-ups, push-ups, crab walk, elephant walk, etc.) except in the case of organized sports activities.
5. Expecting participation in an activity that violates the Student Code of Conduct (stealing, defacing, or trashing property, assigning or endorsing pranks, etc.)

Incidents of hazing should be reported to the Dean of Students Office. The website provides a detailed list of conduct that constitutes hazing and the entire hazing policy.