All members of the Lindenwood University community share the responsibility of building and maintaining a safe and respectful campus environment. Consistent with this commitment and in Compliance with the Stop Campus Hazing Act and Missouri law, the University strictly prohibits all forms of hazing, both on and off campus.
This policy applies to students, student organizations (recognized and unrecognized), employees, volunteers, and other members of the University community.
Hazing – Federal: Pursuant to the Stop Campus Hazing Act, hazing includes any intentional, knowing, or reckless act, occurring on or off campus by one person acting alone or with others, directed against an individual, that endangers mental or physical health or safety of another person, for the purpose of initiation, admission, affiliation, or continued membership in any organization or group affiliated with the University.
Hazing – Missouri: Pursuant to Section 578.365 of the Revised Statutes of Missouri hazing is defined as any willful act, occurring on or off the campus, and is directed against a student or a prospective member of an organization that recklessly endangers the health or safety of that individual for the purpose of initiation or admission into or continued membership in any such organization to the extent that such person is knowingly placed at probable risk of the loss of life or probable bodily or psychological harm. Acts of hazing include:
(1) Any activity which recklessly endangers the physical health or safety of the student or prospective member, including but not limited to physical brutality, whipping, beating, branding, exposure to the elements, forced consumption of any food, liquor, drug or other substance, or forced smoking or chewing of tobacco products;
(2) Any activity which recklessly endangers the mental health of the student or prospective member, including but not limited to sleep deprivation, physical confinement, or other extreme stress-inducing activity; or
(3) Any activity that requires the student or prospective member to perform a duty or task which involves a violation of the criminal laws of this state or any political subdivision in this state.
The offense of hazing is a class A misdemeanor, unless the act creates a substantial risk to the life of the student or prospective member, in which case it is a class D felony.
Consent is not a defense to hazing under Missouri law.
Student Organization: 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.
Current Policies Relating to Hazing
In addition to the University's primary hazing policy outlined in the Student Conduct Code, several related policies address conduct that may intersect with or arise from hazing behavior. These include policies on bullying and cyberbullying, infliction of bodily or emotional harm, retaliation, alcohol and alcohol paraphernalia, Title IX and non-Title IX sexual misconduct, and unauthorized surveillance or photography.
Lindenwood University complies with all applicable federal and state anti-hazing laws, including the Stop Campus Hazing Act. A full list of related policies, reporting procedures, and prevention efforts is available on the University’s website and is reviewed annually and updated as needed to comply with applicable laws and regulations.
Prohibited Conduct
All forms of hazing are prohibited. Hazing may take the form of:
All University employees, students, volunteers, and community members are required to report acts of hazing or behavior that may constitute hazing. Reports can be made to either the Community Standards and Conflict Resolutions office or the Department of Public Safety and Security.
Note: All reports of hazing will be investigated by the appropriate office at University. Any retaliation against any person who reports, is a witness to, is involved with, or cooperates with the investigative process is strictly prohibited.
Upon receipt of a report of hazing, the University will appoint an investigator, who will conduct a prompt, thorough, and impartial investigation. All parties and witnesses are expected to provide truthful information. Knowingly providing false or misleading information is a violation of university policy and can subject a student or employee to disciplinary action. The investigator may provide relevant updates to the reporting party, as appropriate or requested, about the timing and status of the investigation.
It is the responsibility of the investigator to gather relevant evidence, interview relevant parties, and create sufficient documentation of findings.
Medical and counseling records are privileged and confidential records that parties are not required to disclose. However, these records may contain relevant and material information, and a party may choose to share such records with the investigator. Any records provided by a party become part of the permanent report file.
The University requires all students, employees, and volunteers to complete annual mandatory training on hazing prevention, reporting obligations, and bystander intervention. Additionally, all students are assigned an online Hazing Awareness and Prevention Course at the start of each fall semester. The University also hosts several campus-wide prevention awareness initiatives throughout the academic year.
These programs are research-informed and are designed to be culturally appropriate. Training content includes hazing definitions, examples of prohibited conduct, and legal obligations. Training effectiveness is reviewed annually to ensure continuous improvement.
In accordance with the Stop Campus Hazing Act, the University will maintain a Campus Hazing Transparency Report that summarizes findings concerning any established or recognized student organization found to be in violation of the University’s standards of conduct relating to hazing as defined by the University in its hazing policies. The report will be updated biannually and published on the University’s website.
The Report shall include each incident involving a student organization for which a finding of responsibility is issued relating to a hazing violation, including:
The Report shall be maintained for a period of no less than five calendar years from the date of publication of the most recent update.
In the event that an act of hazing poses a serious or ongoing threat to the University community, the University shall issue timely warnings and emergency notifications.
Individuals found responsible for engaging in hazing activities may face sanctions imposed by the University, including but not limited to:
For the person being hazed:
The media is full of stories reporting one of the worst possible consequences of hazing: death. While death is a horrendous possible outcome, there are examples of less severe but still life-altering outcomes. One study has shown that 71% of those who are hazed suffer from negative outcomes. These outcomes may include:
Those who are leading or participating in the hazing may unintentionally trigger the memory of a traumatic event in the victim’s past that could result in devastating consequences.
Someone who has been hazed is more likely to haze others in the future.
For the organization doing the hazing:
A recognized student organization is classified in a . The Tiers depend on the organization's participation in student government (a representative), the number of campus-wide events hosted, community service hours performed, and points.
By participating in hazing, not only are individuals affected, but the organization also suffers. Individuals and their organization are accountable to the national offices as well as institutional and local governing boards. In addition to the organization or team being shut down, the following outcomes may result when members of an organization or team participate in hazing:
Individuals and their organization are accountable to the national offices as well as institutional and local governing boards
The University prohibits any retaliatory action against any person who makes a good faith report or who participates in the investigatory process. Reports of potential retaliation should be directed to the individuals identified above.