Hazing Prevention & Response

University of Northern Iowa students should expect engaging experiences as potential members or members of student organizations, where they are treated with respect. Student organizations include, but may not be limited to, fraternities, sororities, clubs, teams, and any group considered to be an organization where membership is maintained. Hazing does not have a place in our community, as a part of our experience, or within our student organization culture. 

What is Hazing? 

Hazing is an intentional, knowing, or reckless act committed by a person (either individually or in concert with others) against another person(s) regardless of the willingness of other person(s) to participate that:

• is committed in the course of an initiation into, an affiliation with, or the maintenance or membership in, a student organization; and
• causes or creates a risk, above the reasonable risk encountered in the course of participation in the institution of higher education or the organization, or physical or psychological injury, including:
  • Whipping, beating, striking, 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.

Examples of Hazing