Policy Statement
Sarah Lawrence College is committed to fostering a safe, inclusive, and respectful campus environment. Hazing, in any form, is strictly prohibited and undermines the values of our community. In compliance with the federal Stop Campus Hazing Act (SCHA), signed into law on December 23, 2024, this policy outlines our commitment to preventing hazing and ensuring accountability.
Definition
Pursuant to the Stop Campus Hazing Act (“SCHA”), “hazing” is an intentional, knowing, or reckless act committed by a person, whether individually or in concert with other persons, against a student, regardless of that student’s willingness to participate, that was committed in connection with an initiation into, an affiliation with, or the maintenance of membership in, an organization (such as a club, society, association, athletic team, fraternity, sorority, or student government); and causes or is likely to contribute to a substantial risk, above the reasonable risk encountered in the course of participation in the institution of higher education or the organization (such as the physical training necessary for participation in an athletic team), of physical injury or psychological injury including:
- whipping, beating, striking, electronic shocking, placing of a harmful substance on someone’s body, or similar activity;
- causing, coercing, or otherwise inducing sleep deprivation, exposure to the elements, confinement in a small space, extreme calisthenics, or other similar activity;
- causing, coercing, or otherwise inducing another person to consume food, liquid, alcohol, drugs, or other substances;
- causing, coercing, or otherwise inducing another person to perform sexual acts;
- any activity that places another person in reasonable fear of bodily harm through the use of threatening words or conduct;
- any activity against another person that includes a criminal violation of local, state, tribal, or federal law; and
- 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.
A “student organization” is any organization at Sarah Lawrence College (such as a club, society, association, varsity or junior varsity athletic team, club sports team, fraternity, sorority, band, or student government) in which two or more of the members are students enrolled at the institution of higher education, whether or not the organization is established or recognized by the College.
Examples of prohibited behaviors that may amount to hazing include, but are not limited to:
- Requiring any form of physically demanding activity (e.g. calisthenics, sit-ups, push up, or runs).
- Verbal harassment including yelling or screaming at potential members.
- Requiring or compelling individuals to wear or carry unusual, uncomfortable, degrading, or physically burdensome articles or apparel.
- Requiring any type of personal servitude such as running errands, cleaning apartments or houses, doing laundry, etc.
- Morally degrading and humiliating activities (e.g. requiring students to scrub floors or toilets with toothbrushes or requiring pledges to be indecently exposed).
- Assigning or endorsing pranks such as borrowing or stealing items, painting other's property or objects, or harassing other groups.
- Psychological harassment in any form.
Federal and State Laws
The federal Stop Campus Hazing Act, enacted on December 23, 2024, (20 U.S.C. §1092(f)), Amended the Jeanne Clery Campus Safety Act by adding certain provisions regarding hazing. The laws of the State of New York also define hazing and provide for civil and criminal sanctions for individuals who engage in hazing:
- § 120.16 Hazing in the first degree. A person is guilty of hazing in the first degree when, in the course of another person's initiation into or affiliation with any organization, he intentionally or recklessly engages in conduct, including, but not limited to, making physical contact with or requiring physical activity of such other person, which creates a substantial risk of physical injury to such other person or a third person and thereby causes such injury. Hazing in the first degree is a class A misdemeanor.
- § 120.17 Hazing in the second degree. A person is guilty of hazing in the second degree when, in the course of another person's initiation or affiliation with any organization, he intentionally or recklessly engages in conduct, including, but not limited to, making physical contact with or requiring physical activity of such other person, which creates a substantial risk of physical injury to such other person or a third person. Hazing in the second degree is a violation.
Location of Hazing Incidents
Any incident meeting the definition of hazing in this Policy must be reported following the procedure described below. Hazing that occurs at any of the following locations is subject to reporting under this Policy: anywhere on campus, in on-campus student housing, on public property within the boundaries of the campus, on public property immediately adjacent to the campus, and in non-campus buildings and property owned or controlled by the College that are used for educational purposes and frequently used by students, but not a part of the core campus, or those owned or controlled by a student organization officially recognized by the College.
Reporting and Transparency
In alignment with the SCHA, Sarah Lawrence College is committed to transparency and accountability. Any instances of hazing should be reported to Campus Safety at 914-395-2222 immediately. An incident report can be filled out here and/or reports can also be made to the following offices:
- Dean of Students
- Office of Student Life
- Student Involvement and Leadership
- Athletics
When reporting, please be prepared to provide the following information as best you can and provide as much detail as possible:
- Your contact information (name, SLC ID number, phone number, and email address)
- When and where it occurred and who was involved
- Names and contact information of others present
- Any documentation you may have
Campus Hazing Transparency Report: The College will compile and publish a report detailing any student organization found in violation of the institution's hazing policies which will be available on the college website. This report will include:
- The name of the student organization
- A general description of the violation
- Relevant dates, including the date of the alleged incident, initiation of the investigation
- conclusion of the investigation, and notification to the organization.
Annual Security Report (ASR): The College will also include hazing incidents reported to campus security authorities or local law enforcement in its ASR, as required by the Clery Act.
Enforcement and Accountability
Any individual or organization found to have engaged in hazing will be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including expulsion or revocation of recognition. The College will cooperate fully with law enforcement agencies in the investigation of hazing incidents.
Disciplinary and adjudication procedures for violations of this policy can be found in the SLC student handbook.
Prevention and Education
All students have access to the Student Handbook on the Sarah Lawrence website and MySLC. Students receive an email notification with the updated version of the Student Handbook at the beginning of each academic year.
The Student Organizations Manual includes the College’s Hazing Policy. All registered student organizations must include information about the Hazing Policy in their bylaws. Student organization participants are required to attend an annual training, which includes an explanation of Sarah Lawrence’s Anti-Hazing Policy.
Review and Updates
This policy will be reviewed annually and updated as necessary to ensure compliance with federal and state laws and to reflect best practices in hazing prevention.
Contact Information
For questions or to report an incident, please contact Campus Safety at 914-395-2222 or fill out an incident report available on MySLC