Hazing
TTUHSC expects that all students and organizations will observe and fully comply with state law, University regulations, and administrative rules associated with the prohibition of hazing.
Hazing is prohibited under state law and University policy. The University will take disciplinary action for hazing that takes place during official University functions, or during functions held by registered or sponsored student organizations; the University will also take disciplinary action for hazing incidents that have a substantial connection to the interests of the University, wherever they occur.
Definition of Hazing per TTUHSC Student Handbook
By definition, hazing is any intentional, knowing, or reckless act, occurring on or off the campus of the University, by one person alone or acting with others, directed against a student for the purpose of pledging, being initiated into, affiliating with, holding office in, or maintaining membership in any organization whose membership consists primarily of students. Consent and/or acquiescence by a student or students subjected to hazing is not a reasonable defense in a disciplinary proceeding.
a. Any type of physical brutality, such as whipping, beating, striking, branding, electronic shocking, placing of a harmful substance on the body, or similar activity;
b. Any type of physical activity, such as sleep deprivation, exposure to the elements, confinement in a small space, calisthenics, or other activity that subjects the student to an unreasonable risk of harm or that adversely affects the mental or physical health or safety of the student;
c. Any activity involving consumption of a food, liquid, alcoholic beverage, liquor, drug, or other substance that subjects the student to an unreasonable risk of harm or that adversely affects the mental or physical health or safety of the student;
d. Any activity that intimidates or threatens the student with ostracism, that subjects the student to extreme mental stress, shame, or humiliation, that adversely affects the mental health or dignity of the student or discourages the student from entering or remaining registered in an educational institution, or that may reasonably be expected to cause a student to leave the organization or the institution rather than submit to acts described in this subdivision;
e. Any activity that induces, causes, or requires the student to perform a duty or task that involves a violation of the Penal Code;
f. Any activity in which a person engages in, solicits, encourages, directs, aids or attempts to aid another , directly or indirectly, in hazing; intentionally, knowingly or recklessly permits hazing to occur; having firsthand knowledge of the planning of a specific hazing incident which has occurred; and fails to report the incident in writing to the specific School’s student affairs office;
g. Any activity in which hazing is either condoned or encouraged or actions of any officer or combination of members, pledges, associates or alumni of the organization in committing or assisting in the commission of hazing; or,
h. Any act that is unlawful as designated by local, state, or federal government.
State Law: Texas Education Code, Sections 37.151-37.157 and Section 51.936
University Policies: Student Handbook
Texas Education Code: Hazing
In this subchapter: (1)”Educational institution” includes a public or private high school. (2) “Pledge” means any person who has been accepted by, is considering an offer of membership from, or is in the process of qualifying for membership in an organization. (3) “Pledging” means any action or activity related to becoming a member of an organization. (4) “Student” means any person who: (A) is registered in or in attendance at an educational institution; (B) has been accepted for admission at the educational institution where the hazing incident occurs; or (C) intends to attend an educational institution during any of its regular sessions after a period of scheduled vacation. (5) “Organization” means a fraternity, sorority, association, corporation, order, society, corps, club, or student government, a band or musical group or an academic, athletic, cheerleading, or dance team, including any group or team that participates in National Collegiate Athletic Association competition, or a service, social, or similar group, whose members are primarily students. (6) “Hazing” means any intentional, knowing, or reckless act, occurring on or off the campus of an educational institution, by one person alone or acting with others, directed against a student for the purpose of pledging, being initiated into, affiliating with, holding office in, or maintaining membership in an organization if the act: (A) is any type of physical brutality, such as whipping, beating, striking, branding, electronic shocking, placing of a harmful substance on the body, or similar activity; (B) involves sleep deprivation, exposure to the elements, confinement in a small space, calisthenics, or other similar activity that subjects the student to an unreasonable risk of harm or that adversely affects the mental or physical health or safety of the student; (C) involves consumption of a food, liquid, alcoholic beverage, liquor, drug, or other substance, other than as described by Paragraph (E), that subjects the student to an unreasonable risk of harm or that adversely affects the mental or physical health or safety of the student; (D) is any activity that induces, causes, or requires the student to perform a duty or task that involves a violation of the Penal Code; or (E) involves coercing, as defined by Section 1.07, Penal Code, the student to consume: (i) a drug; or (ii) an alcoholic beverage or liquor in an amount that would lead a reasonable person to believe that the student is intoxicated, as defined by Section 49.01, Penal Code.
(a) A person commits an offense if the person: (1) engages in hazing; (2) solicits, encourages, directs, aids, or attempts to aid another in engaging in hazing; (3) recklessly permits hazing to occur; or (4) has firsthand knowledge of the planning of a specific hazing incident involving a student in an educational institution, or has firsthand knowledge that a specific hazing incident has occurred, and knowingly fails to report that knowledge in writing to the dean of students or other appropriate official of the institution. (b) The offense of failing to report is a Class B misdemeanor. (c) Any other offense under this section that does not cause serious bodily injury to another is a Class B misdemeanor. (d) Any other offense under this section that causes serious bodily injury to another is a Class A misdemeanor. (e) Any other offense under this section that causes the death of another is a state jail felony. (f) Except if an offense causes the death of a student, in sentencing a person convicted of an offense under this section, the court may require the person to perform community service, subject to the same conditions imposed on a person placed on community supervision under Chapter 42A, Code of Criminal Procedure, for an appropriate period of time in lieu of confinement in county jail or in lieu of a part of the time the person is sentenced to confinement in county jail.
(a) An organization commits an offense if the organization condones or encourages hazing or if an officer or any combination of members, pledges, or alumni of the organization commits or assists in the commission of hazing. (b) An offense under this section is a misdemeanor punishable by: (1) a fine of not less than $5,000 nor more than $10,000; or (2) if the court finds that the offense caused personal injury, property damage, or other loss, a fine of not less than $5,000 nor more than double the amount lost or expenses incurred because of the injury, damage, or loss.
It is not a defense to prosecution of an offense under this subchapter that the person against whom the hazing was directed consents to or acquiesced in the hazing activity.
Stop Campus Hazing Act
Texas Tech University System Regulation 07.19
Campus Hazing Transparency Report
In accordance with Texas Education Code Section 51.936 and the United States 118th Congress, H.R. 5646 - Stop Campus Hazing Act (Public Law No: 118-173) as the entity charged with the collection and distribution described therein, TTUHSC Student Life is formally publishing the required reports of student organizations in violation of hazing for the past five years. Questions, email student.life@ttuhsc.edu.
University sanctions for organizational discipline are listed in in the Student Handbook. Student
groups and individual students can be found guilty of hazing.
Hazing is not only against TTUHSC policy, it is also against the law. Criminal penalties for hazing can include:
- Failing to report hazing: Fine up to $2,000 and/or up to 180 days in jail (Class B Misdemeanor)
- Hazing not resulting in serious bodily injury: Fine of $500-$1,000 and/or 90-180 days in jail (Class B Misdemeanor)
- Hazing resulting in serious bodily injury: Fine of $1,000-$5,000 and/or 180 days to 1 year in jail (Class A Misdemeanor)
- Hazing resulting in death: Fine of $5,000-$10,000 and/or 1-2 years in jail (State Jail Felony)
Except where hazing results in death, an individual convicted of hazing may be required to perform community service in lieu of confinement to jail. Students who commit hazing can be subject to both criminal prosecution and penalties as well as sanctions through the university conduct process.