Anti-Hazing Policy and Prevention and Awareness Programming Policy Statement
UWW Policy 102
Original Issuance Date: 6/16/2025
1. Policy Purpose
The purpose of this policy is to outline the University of Wisconsin - Whitewater’s procedures for reporting and investigating incidents of hazing. This policy also describes available prevention, and awareness programs and affirms the University of Wisconsin - Whitewater’s commitment to maintaining a safe, respectful, and legally compliant campus environment.
2. Responsible UW-Whitewater Office
Dean of Students Office
3. Scope
This policy applies to all students, student organizations, athletic teams, other student groups, employees, non-students, and volunteers of the University of Wisconsin - Whitewater community.
4. Definitions
Student: Any person who is registered for study at UW-Whitewater for the academic period in which the misconduct occurred, or between academic periods, for continuing students.
Employee: Employees include, but are not limited to, administrators, faculty, academic staff, university staff, student staff, graduate assistants, and interns.
Non-student: Any person, not including employees, who is not registered for study at UW-Whitewater for the academic period in which the misconduct occurred.
As defined by the Clery Center:
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.
Hazing: Any intentional, knowing, or reckless act committed by a person (whether individually or in concert with other persons) against another person or persons regardless of the willingness of such other person or persons to participate, that:
- 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 (such as the physical preparation necessary for participation in an athletic team), of physical or psychological injury including:
- 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.
Wisconsin state statute 948.51 also defines hazing as the following:
1. In this section “forced activity” means any activity which is a condition of initiation or admission into or affiliation with an organization, regardless of a student’s willingness to participate in the activity.
2. No person may intentionally or recklessly engage in acts which endanger the physical health or safety of a student for the purpose of initiation or admission into or affiliation with any organization operating in connection with a school, college or university. Under those circumstances, prohibited acts may include any brutality of a physical nature, such as whipping, beating, branding, forced consumption of any food, liquor, drug or other substance, forced confinement or any other forced activity which endangers the physical health or safety of the student.
3. Whoever violates sub. (2) is guilty of:
- A Class A misdemeanor if the act results in or is likely to result in bodily harm to another.
- A Class H felony if the act results in great bodily harm to another.
- A Class G felony if the act results in the death of another.
Examples of Hazing include but are not limited to:
- Keeping the date of initiation/induction a secret; requiring signatures for initiation
- Kidnapping of any member, leaving members stranded in a remote location to find their way home, or scavenger/treasure hunts
- Any form of forced physical activity and/or exercise, whether extreme or not (i.e. push-ups, sit-ups, or other calisthenics, runs, walks, etc.)
- The university recognizes that physical activity is a common and necessary component of many athletic, recreational, and performance-based programs. Participation in physical activity as part of structured athletic practices, training regiments, or team-building activities that are supervised, voluntary, and directly related to skill development or performance is not considered Hazing.
- Physical harassment such as paddling, hitting, beating, slapping, pushing, or striking
- Marking or branding (either temporary or permanent)
- Personal servitude of any kind (i.e. phone duty, cleaning, yard work, doing errands, etc.)
- Forcing or encouraging ingesting of any type of liquid or solid matter, edible or non-edible (i.e. alcohol, chewing tobacco, goldfish, raw onions, spoiled food, dirt, etc.)
- Requiring the carrying of any item around campus such as paddles, rocks, books, shields, canes, etc.
- Requiring the wearing of unusual, embarrassing or uncomfortable clothing
- Sleep deprivation or requiring/encouraging anyone to sleep anywhere other than their own residence or bed
- Preventing personal hygiene, communication with certain groups/individuals and/or restricting places that new members can go on campus or in the community
- Verbal abuse such as yelling or screaming or labeling with silly or embarrassing nicknames
- Any activity that interferes with a student's academic pursuits (class attendance, studying, etc.)
- Requiring or suggesting that members vandalize, destroy or steal property or commit crimes
- Requiring anything of one group of members that is not required of another
Individual or group consent to a hazing activity in no way validates the activity or excludes those perpetuating it from being charged with a disciplinary sanction or crime.
5. Policy Statement
A. Authority and Oversight
Students, student organizations, athletic teams and other student groups of the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater community are strictly prohibited from engaging in any type of hazing activity under Wisconsin Stat. § 948.51 and Chapter UWS 17. The Dean of Students Office (in collaboration with Student Activities and Involvement) has the authority to investigate, determine whether violations have occurred, and if so, determine appropriate sanctions related to this policy.
Student organizations and their individual representatives (officers and members [student, employee, or non-student]) are expected to comply with the rules, policies, and procedures of the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, as well as with federal, state, and local laws/ordinances. This includes rules, policies, or laws relating to off-campus conduct, and facilities or locations where the organization may be located or participate in activities.
Students and employees should be advised that the conduct processes outlined in section 5.C are separate from criminal and civil court processes. While a student or employee may have a criminal or civil matter that is concurrent with a conduct investigation, those processes (university and criminal/civil) are not dependent on each other. Procedures and rights in the conduct processes do not include the same standard of proof or due process. Students and employees are entitled to due process, including the right to be informed of charges, the right to be heard, and the right to appeal decisions.
When the university becomes aware of potential hazing incidents involving non-students (alumni, guests, or third parties), it may refer the matter to appropriate law enforcement, civil authorities, or affiliated national organizations and may take steps to limit the non-student’s access to university programs, services, or property where appropriate.
B. How to Report Allegations of Hazing
Anyone (student, staff, faculty, friend, parent/caregiver, community member) may report concerns about hazing by a student organization (or their members). Concerns can be reported in several different ways:
- By completing the online reporting form.
- By reporting to the campus police department by calling the non-emergency police line at (262)-472-4660 or by calling 911.
- By calling the UWSA Integrity Hotline at 855-827-4950 or by filing an anonymous report through Ethicspoint.
While there is no time limit on reporting alleged violations of hazing, the longer someone waits to report an allegation, the more challenging it becomes for investigating officers to obtain information and witness statements to make determinations regarding alleged violations.
C. Investigative Process
Any allegation of hazing shall be addressed under Chapter UWS 17 for individual students and the Student Organization Misconduct Policy for student organizations. Allegations of hazing involving employees will be addressed under relevant/applicable state laws and institutional policies.
Interim Measures:
To protect the ongoing health and safety of the University community, or a disruption or interference with the normal operations of the University, or when the Organization is charged with a serious violation of state or federal law the university may issue interim measures (e.g., interim suspension or directive) as dictated by university policies and UWS 17.19 .
Amnesty Through Responsible Action:
The university understands that students may be reluctant to report hazing due to a concern of potential consequences for their own actions. Therefore, students who make a report under this policy or who participate in an investigation related to this policy may receive amnesty as defined in the Amnesty Through Responsible Action policy.
Individual student officers or members of a student organization may be held personally responsible and subject to disciplinary action under Chapter UWS 17 or any other applicable federal, state, or local laws or ordinances.
The investigation of disciplinary procedures against the individual student(s) and the student organization can be happening concurrently.
D. Prevention and Awareness Programs Policy Statement
The University of Wisconsin Whitewater is dedicated to fostering a safe and respectful campus environment through proactive hazing prevention and education initiatives. As part of this commitment, all staff, faculty and students have access to educational programming designed to increase awareness, promote prevention strategies, and empower individuals to recognize and respond to hazing behaviors.
Members of UW-Whitewater’s Greek organizations receive hazing prevention training via the following:
- Mandatory all Greek member semesterly meetings
- Pre-intake meetings and
- (Inter) National sponsored programs
- University sponsored new member education (Greek 101)
Members of UW-Whitewater’s Athletic teams receive hazing prevention training via the following:
- Mandatory monthly educational series or sessions
- Mandatory annual webinars
- Mandatory student-athlete eligibility meetings
Additionally, all student organizations are provided annually with information about hazing prevention education, delivered as part of the University’s student organization recognition process.
6. Related Documents
Chapter UWS 17
7. Policy History
First approved: June 16, 2025
8. Scheduled Review
June 16, 2028
9. Contact Information
Questions regarding the interpretation of this policy should be directed to:
Assistant Vice Chancellor/Dean of Students or Associate Dean of Students
Telephone: (262)-472-1533
Email: Deanofstudents@uww.edu