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Hazing Policy & Prevention

Policy Statement

Roger Williams University (��������) is a community where students live and work together in an atmosphere of mutual respect that is conducive to both personal and academic growth. Students are expected to uphold a high standard of civility and to be responsible along with all members of the university community for ensuring a safe and healthy campus. Behavior that violates this value includes, but is not limited to, hazing. As such, �������� seeks to provide an educational environment free from all forms of hazing. Hazing is prohibited by University policies and applicable state law, specifically Rhode Island General Law, Title 11, Chapter 21. VIolations may result in University sanctions and/or criminal prosecution.

Scope of policy

This Policy applies to all �������� students, including undergraduate, graduate, law, and continuing/professional studies students, and certain school officials.

Definitions

For purposes of this Policy, the terms below have the following definitions:
Hazing: includes but is not limited to, any conduct or method of initiation into any student organization, whether occurring on University or other property, which willfully or recklessly endangers the physical or mental health of any student or other person, such as extended deprivation of sleep or rest, forced consumption of food, liquor, beverage, or drugs, beating or branding.(1),(2),(3)  
Student Organization: means 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.

Footnote 1: �������� Student Conduct Code 3I

Footnote 2: Athletes are also expected to follow the guidelines set forth in the . Violations of the Athletics Hazing Policy may be adjudicated by the Department of Athletics, Office of Student Conduct and Conflict Resolution, and/or applicable law.

Footnote 3: Students involved in a student group are also expected to follow the guidelines set forth by the Department of Student Programs, Leadership, and Orientation (SPLO). Violations of the SPLO’s Hazing Policy may be adjudicated by SPLO, Office of Student Conduct and Conflict Resolution, and/or applicable law.

Reporting

If you become aware of or may have witnessed or been subjected to hazing, you are encouraged to report the behavior(s) through one of the following methods:

1. Contact �������� Public Safety:
   a. Emergency: (401) 254-3333 or 3333 from a campus phone
   b. Non-Emergency: (401) 254-3611 or 3611 from a campus phone
   c. Use the emergency blue light phones located throughout campus and press the button to be connected to Dispatch
2. Contact local law enforcement:
   a. Emergency: 911
   b. : (401) 253-6900
   c. : (401) 683-0300
   d. : (401) 272-3121
3. Complete the :
   a. Do not use this form to report incidents that may present an immediate threat to life or property. Reports submitted via this form may not receive an immediate response.

Violations of the Hazing Policy

Violations of this Policy shall be investigated and adjudicated in accordance with ��������’s Student Code of Conduct and Conduct Review Process. 
Hazing is also prohibited by R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-21. The University may refer incidents for criminal prosecution depending on the nature and extent of the alleged hazing. 

Retaliation

�������� prohibits retaliation against any individual who has made a good-faith complaint against another individual or who has participated in the Conduct Review Process, including cooperation with the investigation of the complaint.(4) Anyone found to have engaged in retaliation may be subject to disciplinary action by the University.

Footnote 4: �������� Student Conduct Code 1E

Prevention and Awareness

Hazing prevention and awareness programs include elements that are research-informed and designed to reach students, staff, and faculty. Programming is customized and tailored to ��������’s unique campus culture.

• Prevention and Awareness Programs:
  All student group members are required to attend the Club Officer Training, facilitated by the Associate Director of SPLO. This training discusses hazing and its prohibition at ��������.
• All Presidents and Vice Presidents of student groups must review and certify an understanding of hazing and its prohibition during the Club Charter Re-Registration process with SPLO.
• In support of the NCAA Board of Governors Policy on Campus Sexual Violence, all student athletes complete Vector Solutions’ Sexual Assault Prevention for Student Athletes course during the fall semester. This course discusses topics such as bystander intervention, building a culture of respect, positive relationships, strong communities, and leadership.
• Student athletes are required to sign the prior to participating in their sport.
• Athletic teams periodically address hazing in team discussions.
• During team compliance meetings, the Assistant Athletic Director reviews the definition of hazing and potential consequences for violations.
• The Assistant Athletic Director provides information and articles to coaches and/or student athletes regarding hazing incidents at other schools.
• As part of orientation, incoming first-year students and transfers must complete Vector Solutions’ AlcoholEdu course. This course includes a section dedicated to hazing prevention and discussion of ��������’s Hazing Policy.
• Campus-wide awareness and prevention campaign to be developed.

Please see below for additional resources related to hazing prevention and awareness.

Campus Hazing Transparency Report (CHTR)

�������� tracks reports of hazing incidents consistent with the Stop Campus Hazing Act (SCHA). When applicable, �������� will summarize findings concerning any student organizations that are established or recognized by the University and found to be in violation of this Policy in the Campus Hazing Transparency Report (CHTR).(5)  Summaries include the following information: name of student organization; description of violation; date incident was alleged to have occurred (must include whether the violation involved the abuse or illegal use of alcohol or drugs, the findings of the institution, and any sanctions placed on the student organization); date  investigation was initiated; date investigation ended with finding of hazing of hazing violation; and date institution provided notice to organization of outcome.

Footnote 5: Only institutions that find a recognized or established student organization responsible for a hazing violation must publish a CHTR.

Rhode Island Hazing Laws

Hazing is prohibited by the criminal laws of the State of Rhode Island. Those in violation of this Policy may be referred to the State of Rhode Island for prosecution. The applicable state laws are as follows:

1. R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-21-1 – Penalty for hazing
   1. Any organizer of, or participant in, an activity constituting hazing, as defined in subsection (b) of this section, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, shall be fined not more than five hundred dollars ($500), or punished by imprisonment for not less than thirty (30) days nor more than one year, or both.
   2. “Hazing” as used in this chapter, means any conduct or method of initiation into any student organization, whether on public or private property, which willfully or recklessly endangers the physical or mental health of any student or other person. This conduct shall include, but not be limited to, whipping, beating, branding, forced calisthenics, exposure to the weather, forced consumption of any food, liquor, beverage, drug, or other substance, or any brutal treatment or forced physical activity which is likely to adversely affect the physical health or safety of the student or any other person, or which subjects the student or other person to extreme mental stress, including extended deprivation of sleep or rest or extended isolation.
2. R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-21-2 – Penalty for school official permitting hazing
   Every person, being a teacher, superintendent, commandant, or other person in charge of any public, private, parochial, or military school, college or other educational institution, who shall knowingly permit any activity constituting hazing, as defined in § 11-21-1, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be fined not less than ten dollars ($10.00) nor more than one hundred dollars ($100).
3. R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-21-3 – Tattooing or permanent disfigurement
   Every person being a student, or being a person in attendance at any public, private, parochial, or military school, college, or other educational institution, who shall tattoo or knowingly and willfully permanently disfigure the body, limbs, or features of any fellow student or person attending the institution by the use of nitrate of silver or any like substance, or by any other means, shall be held guilty of a crime of the degree of mayhem, and shall, upon conviction, be imprisoned not exceeding ten (10) years nor less than one year.

Policy Revision

�������� reserves the right to revise this policy at any time in its sole discretion. Revised policies will be posted on the University's website.

Administratively revised June 2025.

Campus Hazing Transparency Report

In accordance with the Stop Campus Hazing Act (SCHA), Roger Williams University publicly reports findings of hazing violations by any student organizations that are established or recognized by the University.

Reports must include the following information:

• Name of student organization;
• Description of violation;
• Date incident was alleged to have occured (must include whether the violation involed abuse or illegal use of alcohol or drugs, the findings of the institution, and any sanctions placed on the student organization);
• Date investigation was initiated;
• Date investigation ended with finding of hazing or hazing violation; and
• Date institution provided notice to organization of outcome

Hazing violations will be made public for at least five years.

There are no findings of hazing violations to report

Last updated: May 23, 2025

Clery Crime statistics, including hazing, are published in the Annual Security and Fire Safety Report.

Information on institutional and state policies regarding hazing can be found in ��������'s Hazing Policy.