Grove City College does not condone hazing; or the associated activities which undermine the inherent dignity of members of our community.
Hazing is defined as intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly, for the purpose of initiating, admitting or affiliating a student into or with an organization, or for the purpose of continuing or enhancing a student’s membership or status in an organization, causing, coercing, or forcing a student to do any of the following:
- Violate Federal or State criminal law;
- Consume any food, liquid, alcoholic liquid, drug or other substance which subjects the student to a risk of emotional or physical harm;
- Endure brutality of a physical nature, including whipping, beating, branding, calisthenics, or exposure to the elements;
- Endure brutality of a mental nature, including activity adversely affecting the mental health or dignity of the individual, sleep deprivation, exclusion from social contact, or conduct that could result in extreme embarrassment;
- Endure brutality of a sexual nature; or
- Endure any other activity that creates a reasonable likelihood of bodily injury to the student.
Aggravated Hazing is defined as any of the activities described in the definition of Hazing that result in serious bodily injury or death to the student, and the person doing the hazing acts with reckless indifference to the health and safety of the student or the person doing the hazing causes, coerces, or forces the consumption of an alcoholic liquid or drug by the student.
Organizational Hazing occurs when an organization intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly promotes or facilitates Hazing or Aggravated Hazing.
Neither of the following is considered to be a defense to any of the forms of hazing listed herein: 1) the consent of the student was sought or obtained, or 2) the conduct was sanctioned or approved by the College.
Appropriate penalties may include the following:
- Withholding of diplomas or transcripts pending compliance with the rules or payment of fines;
- Rescission of permission for the organization to operate on campus or school property or to otherwise operate under the sanction or recognition of the institution; and/or
- Imposition of probation, suspension, dismissal or expulsion;
- Imposition of fines;
- Educational Sanctions.
The law states that these penalties are in addition to, not in lieu of, any penalty set forth in other places in the law, any penalty imposed for violating the criminal laws of the Commonwealth, or any penalty imposed for violating any other institutional rule to which the violator may be subject.