Emerson Interim Hazing Policy
Emerson College recognizes that student clubs and organizations, including fraternities and sororities, are integral to the campus community. The College places its educational mission at the center of college experience and expects that the actions, programs, and activities of students and student groups reflect and advance that mission. Hazing is antithetical to the College’s mission and is therefore strictly prohibited.
Hazing is defined as any action or situation that recklessly or intentionally endangers a student's mental or physical health or safety for the purpose of initiation or admission into or affiliation with any group, including but not limited to any club, organization, co-curricular group, team, interest group, student production, student leadership role operating within the College, whether the group is recognized or not.
The term hazing includes, but is not limited to:
- Any brutality of a physical nature, such as beating, forced calisthenics, exposure to the elements,
- Any forced physical activity that could adversely affect health or mental stress, such as sleep deprivation; forced exclusion from social contact, which could result in extreme embarrassment;
- Any forced consumption of any food, alcohol, or other drug or substance;
- Any other forced activity that could adversely affect the mental health or dignity of an individual.
- Any activity that violates State or Federal anti-hazing legislation or guidance.
The policy applies regardless of an individual’s willingness to participate. The implied or explicit consent of a participant does not excuse behavior that meets the definition of hazing.
This policy applies to both individual students and student organizations. Students and/or student organizations reported to have potentially engaged in hazing behavior will be referred to the appropriate disciplinary process for investigation and resolution. Any student or group found responsible for a violation of the hazing policy will be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including educational sanctions, loss of privileges or funding, disbanding or suspending the organization, suspension/dismissal from the College, or other sanctions pursuant to College policies.
Student and student organization disciplinary processes are managed by the Office of Community Standards and the Office of Equal Opportunity. Relevant processes are linked below.
- The Office of Community Standards.
- The Office of Equal Opportunity.
Reporting Hazing Concerns
Concerns about hazing involving a student or group should be submitted in a report using the online reporting form. Reports will be reviewed by the Office of Community Standards. Upon review, this report may be shared with other College offices on an as-needed basis.
All information reported will be treated with sensitivity and shared only when necessary or required.
Anonymous reports are permitted; however, individuals are encouraged to provide contact information to support effective follow-up. Limited or anonymous information may hinder the College’s ability to investigate or resolve the matter fully, but all reports will be reviewed and acted upon to the extent possible. All submitted reports are handled in compliance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).
Reports are not monitored 24/7. In an emergency, please report any concern immediately to an Emerson College staff member or contact campus emergency services. Emergency phone numbers for each campus are below:
- Boston: Please call the Emerson College Police Department at 617-824-8888 or 911.
- Los Angeles: Please call Security at 323-952-6211 or 911.
- Kasteel Well: Please call the Office of Student Affairs at 011-31-478-507-117 (Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. to 11:15 p.m.) or 011-31-478-507-119 (during non-business hours). For emergency services please call 112.
Hazing Prevention and Education
The College is committed to creating a safe and welcoming community for all, and thus takes a holistic approach to hazing prevention. The College is dedicated to sharing research-informed training and resources available to all students, staff, and faculty. Resources and best practices will be shared periodically through email, educational materials, campus announcements, and updates to this policy. Additionally, research-informed training on hazing education and prevention is regularly offered to all members of our community, virtually and in person.
Examples of the College’s training, prevention, and awareness efforts include, but are not limited to:
- Workshops at New Student, International Student, Graduate Student, and Student-Athlete orientations
- On-campus anti-hazing events and programs
- Student Organization Leader and Student Organization Advisor training
- The Fraternity and Sorority Life Summit
- Faculty and staff onboarding materials
- Staff and faculty training sessions
- Annual dissemination of this policy and resources for prevention and education
Upholding a culture of safety and mutual respect is essential to the student experience. All members of the community are expected to take concerns related to hazing seriously and report them immediately. Student involvement across campus should reflect the values of care, inclusion, and shared purpose, creating opportunities for connection, learning, and growth.
Additional Hazing Prevention and Education Resources
- StopHazing - A research organization dedicated to hazing research, education, and prevention.
- Hazing Prevention Network - A nonprofit organization dedicated to hazing education, training, and prevention.
- Timothy J. Piazza Center for Fraternity and Sorority Research - A leading research facility organized and managed by Pennsylvania State University, dedicated to addressing hazing through research, education, and prevention. This organization primarily focuses on resources for Greek-letter organizations.
- The Gordie Center - Created and managed by the University of Virginia, aims to prevent hazing and substance misuse through peer education and bystander intervention.
Initial Stop Campus Hazing Act Transparency Report will be posted in December 2025.
Federal Anti-Hazing Law
The Federal Stop Campus Hazing Act was passed in December 2024. The Federal legislation outlines specific requirements for institutions of higher education related to Hazing. The law is outlined below, in part; you are welcome to read the complete language of the bill.
The Stop Campus Hazing Act defines “hazing” as:
"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"
The Stop Campus Hazing Act defines “student organization” as:
“(vii) The term "student organization", for purposes of reporting under paragraph (1)(F)(iv) and paragraph (9)(A), means an organization at an institution of higher education (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 institution.''
The Stop Campus Hazing Act requires:
- Each institution participating in any program under this subchapter, other than a foreign institution of higher education, shall develop, in accordance with the institution’s statement of policy relating to hazing under paragraph (1)(K), a report (which shall be referred to as the “Campus Hazing Transparency Report”) summarizing findings concerning any student organization (except that this shall only apply to student organizations that are established or recognized by the institution) found to be in violation of an institution’s standards of conduct relating to hazing, as defined by the institution, (hereinafter referred to in this paragraph as a “hazing violation”) that requires the institution to—
- (beginning July 1, 2025, collect information with respect to hazing incidents at the institution;
- not later than 12 months after December 23, 2024, make the Campus Hazing Transparency Report publicly available on the public website of the institution; and
- not less frequently than 2 times each year, update the Campus Hazing Transparency Report to include, for the period beginning on the date on which the Report was last published and ending on the date on which such update is submitted, each incident involving a student organization for which a finding of responsibility is issued relating to a hazing violation, including—
- the name of such student organization;
- a general description of the violation that resulted in a finding of responsibility, including whether the violation involved the abuse or illegal use of alcohol or drugs, the findings of the institution, and any sanctions placed on the student organization by the institution, as applicable; and
- the dates on which—
- the incident was alleged to have occurred;
- the investigation into the incident was initiated;
- the investigation ended with a finding that a hazing violation occurred; and
- the institution provided notice to the student organization that the incident resulted in a hazing violation.
- The Campus Hazing Transparency Report may include—
- to satisfy the requirements of this paragraph, information that—
- is included as part of a report published by the institution; and
- meets the requirements of the Campus Hazing Transparency Report; and
- any additional information—
- determined by the institution to be necessary; or
- reported as required by State law.
- to satisfy the requirements of this paragraph, information that—
- The Campus Hazing Transparency Report shall not include any personally identifiable information, including any information that would reveal personally identifiable information, about any individual student in accordance with section 444 of the General Education Provisions Act [20 U.S.C. 1232g] (commonly known as the “Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974”).
- The institution shall publish, in a prominent location on the public website of the institution, the Campus Hazing Transparency Report, including—
- a statement notifying the public of the annual availability of statistics on hazing pursuant to the report required under paragraph (1)(F), including a link to such report;
- information about the institution’s policies relating to hazing under paragraph (1)(K) and applicable local, State, and Tribal laws on hazing; and
- the information included in each update required under subparagraph (A)(iii), which shall be maintained for a period of 5 calendar years from the date of publication of such update.
- The institution may include, as part of the publication of the Campus Hazing Transparency Report under subparagraph (D), a description of the purposes of, and differences between—
- the report required under paragraph (1)(F); and
- the Campus Hazing Transparency Report required under this paragraph.
- For purposes of this paragraph, the definition of “campus” under paragraph (6)(A)(ii) shall not apply.
- An institution described in subparagraph (A) is not required to—
- develop the Campus Hazing Transparency Report under this subsection until such institution has a finding of a hazing violation; or
- update the Campus Hazing Transparency Report in accordance with clause (iii) of subparagraph (A) for a period described in such clause if such institution does not have a finding of a hazing violation for such period.
The Stop Campus Hazing Act requires:
(F) “Disclosure of campus security policy and campus crime statistics [Beginning in October 2026, including]:
(iv) of hazing incidents that were reported to campus security authorities or local police agencies.”
See Emerson College’s Clery Reports page for more information.
The Stop Campus Hazing Act requires:
- A statement of current policies relating to hazing (as defined by the institution), how to report incidents of such hazing, and the process used to investigate such incidents of hazing, and information on applicable local, State, and Tribal laws on hazing (as defined by such local, State, and Tribal laws).
- A statement of policy regarding prevention and awareness programs related to hazing (as defined by the institution) that includes a description of research-informed campus-wide prevention programs designed to reach students, staff, and faculty, which includes—
- the information referred to in subparagraph (K); and
- primary prevention strategies intended to stop hazing before hazing occurs, which may include skill building for bystander intervention, information about ethical leadership, and the promotion of strategies for building group cohesion without hazing.”
Massachusetts Hazing Law
Section 17: Hazing; organizing or participating; hazing defined
Section 17. Whoever is a principal organizer or participant in the crime of hazing, as defined herein, shall be punished by a fine of not more than three thousand dollars or by imprisonment in a house of correction for not more than one year, or both such fine and imprisonment.
The term ''hazing'' as used in this section and in sections eighteen and nineteen, shall mean any conduct or method of initiation into any student organization, whether on public or private property, which willfully or recklessly endangers the physical or mental health of any student or other person. Such conduct shall include whipping, beating, branding, forced calisthenics, exposure to the weather, forced consumption of any food, liquor, beverage, drug or other substance, or any other brutal treatment or forced physical activity which is likely to adversely affect the physical health or safety of any such student or other person, or which subjects such student or other person to extreme mental stress, including extended deprivation of sleep or rest or extended isolation.
Notwithstanding any other provisions of this section to the contrary, consent shall not be available as a defense to any prosecution under this action.
Section 18: Failure to report hazing
Section 18. Whoever knows that another person is the victim of hazing as defined in section seventeen and is at the scene of such crime shall, to the extent that such person can do so without danger or peril to himself or others, report such crime to an appropriate law enforcement official as soon as reasonably practicable. Whoever fails to report such crime shall be punished by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars.
Section 19: Copy of Secs. 17 to 19; issuance to students and student groups, teams and organizations; report
Section 19. Each institution of secondary education and each public and private institution of post secondary education shall issue to every student group, student team or student organization which is part of such institution or is recognized by the institution or permitted by the institution to use its name or facilities or is known by the institution to exist as an unaffiliated student group, student team or student organization, a copy of this section and sections seventeen and eighteen; provided, however, that an institution's compliance with this section's requirements that an institution issue copies of this section and sections seventeen and eighteen to unaffiliated student groups, teams or organizations shall not constitute evidence of the institution's recognition or endorsement of said unaffiliated student groups, teams or organizations.
Each such group, team or organization shall distribute a copy of this section and sections seventeen and eighteen to each of its members, plebes, pledges or applicants for membership. It shall be the duty of each such group, team or organization, acting through its designated officer, to deliver annually, to the institution an attested acknowledgement stating that such group, team or organization has received a copy of this section and said sections seventeen and eighteen, that each of its members, plebes, pledges, or applicants has received a copy of sections seventeen and eighteen, and that such group, team or organization understands and agrees to comply with the provisions of this section and sections seventeen and eighteen.
Each institution of secondary education and each public or private institution of post secondary education shall, at least annually, before or at the start of enrollment, deliver to each person who enrolls as a full time student in such institution a copy of this section and sections seventeen and eighteen.
Each institution of secondary education and each public or private institution of post secondary education shall file, at least annually, a report with the board of higher education and in the case of secondary institutions, the board of education, certifying that such institution has complied with its responsibility to inform student groups, teams or organizations and to notify each full time student enrolled by it of the provisions of this section and sections seventeen and eighteen and also certifying that said institution has adopted a disciplinary policy with regard to the organizers and participants of hazing, and that such policy has been set forth with appropriate emphasis in the student handbook or similar means of communicating the institution's policies to its students. The board of higher education and, in the case of secondary institutions, the board of education shall promulgate regulations governing the content and frequency of such reports, and shall forthwith report to the attorney general any such institution which fails to make such report.
California Hazing Law
- It shall be unlawful to engage in hazing, as defined in this section.
- “Hazing” means any method of initiation or preinitiation into a student organization or student body, whether or not the organization or body is officially recognized by an educational institution, which is likely to cause serious bodily injury to any former, current, or prospective student of any school, community college, college, university, or other educational institution in this state. The term “hazing” does not include customary athletic events or school-sanctioned events.
- A violation of this section that does not result in serious bodily injury is a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of not less than one hundred dollars ($100), nor more than five thousand dollars ($5,000), or imprisonment in the county jail for not more than one year, or both.
- Any person who personally engages in hazing that results in death or serious bodily injury as defined in paragraph (4) of subdivision (f) of Section 243 of the Penal Code, is guilty of either a misdemeanor or a felony, and shall be punished by imprisonment in county jail not exceeding one year, or by imprisonment pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 1170.
- The person against whom the hazing is directed may commence a civil action for injury or damages. The action may be brought against any participants in the hazing, or any organization to which the student is seeking membership whose agents, directors, trustees, managers, or officers authorized, requested, commanded, participated in, or ratified the hazing.
- Prosecution under this section shall not prohibit prosecution under any other provision of law.
(Amended by Stats. 2011, Ch. 15, Sec. 299. (AB 109) Effective April 4, 2011. Operative October 1, 2011, by Sec. 636 of Ch. 15, as amended by Stats. 2011, Ch. 39, Sec. 68.)