Definition and Administration
Lake Forest College explicitly and emphatically prohibits hazing. A student is responsible for hazing when they take any action and/or creates a situation on or off College premises which may produce mental or physical harm, discomfort, harassment, embarrassment, ridicule, or abuse as part of any activity and/or event related to membership and/or participation in an organization.
Such activities and situations include but are not limited to paddling in any form, creation of excessive fatigue, physical or psychological shocks, morally degrading and humiliating games and activities, late work sessions that interfere with academic goals, the coerced use of alcohol/other drugs, and any other activities that are not consistent with the guidelines and/or policies of the College.
Administration
Hazing violations will be addressed by the College’s conduct system. In addition to those sanctions included in the conduct system, the Student Affairs staff may administer sanctions that include, but are not limited to, warnings, suspensions, or disbandment of organizations.
Explicit violations of this policy will warrant the consideration of a minimum sanction of suspension for at least one year. This policy acknowledges the role that peer pressure and acceptance play in new member programs.
With this stated, it is important to understand that consent of a new member to given activity does not necessarily imply that the activity in question is appropriate.
The following are some examples of hazing divided into three categories: subtle, harassment, and violent. It is impossible to list all possible hazing behaviors because many are context specific. While this is not an all-inclusive list, it provides some common examples of hazing traditions.
Subtle Hazing
Subtle hazing is present in behaviors that emphasize a power imbalance between new members/rookies and other members of the group or team. Termed “subtle hazing” because these types of hazing are often taken-for-granted or accepted as “harmless” or meaningless. Subtle hazing typically involves activities or attitudes that breach reasonable standards of mutual respect and place new members/rookies on the receiving end of ridicule, embarrassment, and/or humiliation tactics. (Some types of subtle hazing may also be considered harassment hazing).
Examples:
- Deception,
- assigning demerits,
- silence periods with implied threats for violation,
- deprivation of privileges granted to other members,
- requiring new members/rookies to perform duties not assigned to other members,
- socially isolating new members/rookies,
- line-ups and Drills/Tests on meaningless information,
- name calling,
- requiring new members/rookies to refer to other members with titles (e.g. Mr., Ms., etc.) while the new members are identified with demeaning terms,
- expecting certain items to always be in one's possession
Harassment Hazing
Harassment hazing includes behaviors that cause emotional anguish or physical discomfort in order to feel like part of the group. Harassment hazing confuses, frustrates, and causes undue stress for new members/ rookies. (Some types of harassment hazing can also be considered violent hazing).
Examples:
- Verbal abuse,
- Threats or implied threats,
- Asking new members to wear embarrassing or humiliating attire,
- Stunts or skits with degrading, crude, or humiliating acts,
- Expecting new members/rookies to perform personal service to other members such as carrying books, errands, cooking, cleaning,
- Sleep deprivation,
- Sexual simulations,
- Expecting new members/rookies to be deprived of maintaining a normal schedule of bodily cleanliness,
- Being expected to harass others
Violent Hazing
Violent hazing includes behaviors that have the potential to cause physical and/or emotional, or psychological harm.
Examples:
- Forced or coerced alcohol or other drug consumption,
- Beating, paddling, or other forms of assault,
- Branding,
- Forced or coerced ingestion of vile substances or concoctions,
- Burning,
- Water intoxication,
- Expecting abuse or mistreatment of animals,
- Public nudity,
- Expecting illegal activity,
- Bondage,
- Abductions/kidnaps,
- Exposure to cold weather or extreme heat without appropriate protection
Expressly Forbidden Activities
The following hazing activities are expressly forbidden at Lake Forest College:
- Consumption of alcohol at any time during a new member program.
- Required consumption of any liquids or solids, or placing liquids or solids in the mouth of a new member, other than the normal not coerced intake of beverages and food.
- Wearing of conspicuous, potentially embarrassing articles of clothing/outfits that draw attention to a new member.
- Testing, quizzing, or interrogating new members, which includes "line-ups," with the fear of punishment or ridicule upon failure.
- Required greetings for new members when they interact with active members that are inappropriate or embarrassing or use derogatory nicknames.
- Punishments of any kind (physical or psychological), other than probation or dismissal, for not meeting expectations.
- Physical abuse of any kind.
- Psychological abuse of any kind, including verbal harassment and berating.
- Acts of personal servitude (washing laundry, serving food, etc.) by new members for active members or others.
- Disrupting or prohibiting an adequate amount of sleep per day.
- Disrupting or prohibiting an adequate amount of study per day.
- Public stunts aimed at embarrassing or putting new members on public display.
- Any outdoor activity that might cause discomfort and/or harm/injury.
- Calisthenics or aerobic activities.
- Blindfolding
To make a report of alleged hazing, make a Student Conduct report HERE.