Stop Hazing Act: H.R. 5646 Public Law No. 118-173

Hazing:
Danville Area Community College is committed to fostering a safe, healthy, and inclusive environment for all members of its campus community. Students, student groups, and athletic teams are essential contributors to this mission, offering meaningful experiences that promote leadership, connection, and personal development. Acts of hazing undermine these core values and are prohibited under Illinois law. As such, Danville Area Community College forbids any form of hazing, whether conducted alone or in collaboration with others.

Definition:
Hazing is defined as any intentional, knowing, or reckless act committed by a person whether individually or in concert with others, against another person or persons regardless of the willingness of such other person or person to participate. This act 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.  Hazing includes acts that cause or create at risk of physical or psychological injury, humiliation, intimidation or demeaning the person or persons, beyond the reasonable risk encountered in the course or participation in the any College Student Organization. (such as the physical preparation necessary for participation in an athletic team), of physical or psychological injury including but not limited to:

• 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.” 

A student organization is defined as “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.” 

Reporting:
Danville Area Community College encourages all members of the DACC community who are aware of, have witnessed, or experienced conduct that they believe constitutes hazing to report the violation.

Investigating Incidents:
The Provost/VP of Academic Affairs and Student Services, or their designee, will investigate and address reports of hazing violations in accordance with Section II.B of the DACC Student Code of Conduct. In addition, reports of hazing may be investigated by the on-campus Security Department, with support from other law enforcement agencies, as outlined in Section II.C of the Student Code of Conduct. All disciplinary actions and appeals will follow the procedures established in the Student Code of Conduct found in the Student Handbook.

Illinois State Law
§ 720 ILCS 5/12C-50. Hazing.
(a) A person commits hazing when he or she knowingly requires the performance of any act by a student or other person in a school, college, university, or other educational institution of this State, for the purpose of induction or admission into any group, organization, or society associated or connected with that institution, if:

1. the act is not sanctioned or authorized by that educational institution; and
2. the act results in bodily harm to any person.

(b) Sentence. Hazing is a Class A misdemeanor, except that hazing that results in death or great bodily harm is a Class 4 felony.

Campus Transparency Report 
An institution is only required to post the Campus Transparency Report on their website after a hazing incident has been reported and substantiated.  The report must include:  the organization, description of violation, findings, sanctions, whether alcohol and/or drugs were involved, date occurred, date investigation initiated, date investigation ended with a finding, date organization was notified of hazing violation.  The report must be updated bi-annually on your website.

Hazing Prevention and Awareness Efforts
New federal guidelines mandate that hazing prevention and awareness efforts follow a comprehensive strategy focused on primary prevention. This includes the use of bystander intervention, ethical leadership, and techniques for fostering group cohesion to stop hazing before it starts.

Hazing prevention programming must be implemented campus-wide, engaging faculty, staff, and students, with specialized training provided for Campus Security Authorities. See proposed schedule.

To help inform the broader campus community, information about this new federal requirement can be included in the annual Clery Act email notification, which is distributed each August. This addition would serve as another effective method for notifying the DACC community.