Hazing, Sexual Assault, & Alcohol

Hazing

Hazing is prohibited by university policy and the law. More information about hazing can be found in AD98.

Penn State defines hazing as

Any action or situation that recklessly or intentionally endangers the mental or physical health or safety of a student or that willfully destroys or removes public or private property for the purpose of initiation or admission into or affiliation with, or as a condition for continued membership in, any registered student organization.

Hazing includes, but is not limited to

Any brutality of a physical nature, such as whipping, beating, branding, forced calisthenics, exposure to the elements, forced consumption of any food, liquor, drug, or other substance, or any other forced physical activity that could adversely affect the physical health and safety of the individual to extreme mental stress, such as sleep deprivation, forced exclusion from social contact, forced conduct that could result in extreme embarrassment, or any other forced activity that could adversely affect the mental health or dignity of the individual, or any willful destruction or removal of public or private property.

Any activities as described in this definition upon which the initiation or admission into, affiliation with, or continued membership in a registered student organization is directly or indirectly conditioned shall be presumed to be forced activity, the willingness of an individual to participate in such activity notwithstanding. Any registered student organization or Penn State student that commits hazing is subject to disciplinary action through the Office of Student Accountability and Conflict Response.

Alcohol Violations

Alcohol abuse and illegal alcohol use, on or off University premises, negatively is a violation of the Student Code of Conduct and Penn State policies AD-18, AD-33

Alcohol-related misconduct on or off campus falls under the jurisdiction of the Office of Student Accountability and Conflict Response.

Students may also face legal action for alcohol-related behavior. 

Sexual Assault or Misconduct

Penn State is committed to fostering an environment free from sexual or gender-based harassment or misconduct. The Office of Sexual Misconduct Prevention and Response ensures compliance with Title IX, a federal law that prohibits discrimination based on the sex or gender of employees and students. Behaviors including sexual harassment, sexual misconduct, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking, as well as retaliation for reporting any of these acts violate Title IX and are not tolerated. Additional Information can be found in Penn State policy AD-85 and the Student Code of Conduct.