Hazing

Hazing is any action or situation, expected of someone joining or maintaining membership in a student group, that humiliates, degrades, abuses, or endangers them. This applies whether they willingly participate or not, and whether it causes physical or mental harm.

Think of it this way: if an activity for a club, team, or organization makes you feel unsafe, embarrassed, or uncomfortable in a way that goes beyond normal group activities, or if it involves anything illegal, it’s likely hazing. This can include things like:

• Physical demands: Forced exercises, sleep deprivation, or enduring uncomfortable conditions.
• Forced consumption: Being made to eat or drink anything, especially alcohol or drugs.
• Public humiliation: Being made to do embarrassing things in public.
• Isolation or intimidation: Being yelled at, threatened, or forced to be alone.
• Illegal acts: Being told to steal, destroy property, or break other laws.

Our goal is for everyone to have a positive and safe experience. If you ever feel pressured, uncomfortable, or unsafe as part of any group activity, that could be hazing, and we encourage you to report it.

Hazing Definition

The term ‘hazing’, for purposes of reporting statistics on hazing incidents…means any intentional, knowing, or reckless act committed by a person (whether individually or in concert with other persons) against another person or persons regardless of the willingness of such other person or persons to participate, that:

• is committed in the course of an initiation into, an affiliation with, or the maintenance of 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 (such as the physical preparation necessary for participation in an athletic team), of physical 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.”

Hazing has no place at Jackson College. If you experience or witness any form of hazing, please report it immediately using our Incident Reporting Form. Your voice helps us ensure a safe and respectful campus for all.

You can review the Anti-Hazing Policy in its entirety by clicking the link below.

In compliance with the Clery Act’s Stop Campus Hazing Act, a Campus Hazing Transparency Report, detailing hazing violations and findings, will be available on our website by December 23, 2025, and will be updated at least twice annually thereafter.