Hazing Prevention

Article 23 of the Code of Student Rights and Responsibilities states:

Pittsburg State University prohibits student organizations, fraternities or sororities from engaging in hazing of another person for the purpose of initiation or admission into or affiliation within any organization operating under the sanction of the University. Hazing includes, but is not limited to, any action, activity or situation which recklessly, negligently or intentionally endangers the mental or physical health, welfare or safety of a person or exposes a person to extreme embarrassment. It is presumed that hazing is a forced activity regardless of the apparent willingness of an individual to participate in the activity.

Such activities and situations include paddling in any form; creation of excessive fatigue; ingestion of unusual liquids or solids or the ingestion of liquids or solids of unusual quantities; physical and psychological shocks, scavenger hunts, road trips, or any other such activities carried on outside the confines of the house; wearing apparel in public which is conspicuous and not normally in good taste, engaging in public stunts and buffoonery; morally degrading and/or humiliating games and activities; late work sessions which interfere with scholastic activities; and any other activities which are not consistent with fraternal law, ritual or policy or the regulations and policies of Pittsburg State University and Kansas statutes on hazing.

Kansas Law states the following regarding hazing law:

• 21-5418. Hazing.
  1. Hazing is recklessly coercing, demanding or encouraging another person to perform, as a condition of membership in a social or fraternal organization, any act which could reasonably be expected to result in great bodily harm, disfigurement or death or which is done in a manner whereby great bodily harm, disfigurement or death could be inflicted.
  2. Hazing is a class B nonperson misdemeanor.

In December 2024, the Stop Campus Hazing Act was signed into law.

• This law requires institutions of higher education to report hazing incidents in its annual security report.
• The law defines hazing as:
  • 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 (1) is committed in the course of an initiation into, an affiliation with, or the maintenance of membership in, a student organization (e.g., a club, athletic team, fraternity, or sorority); and (2) causes or creates a risk, above the reasonable risk encountered in the course of participation in the IHE or the organization, of physical or psychological injury.
• Institutions must provide accessible information on applicable policies and laws, reporting procedures, and the investigation process.
• Institutions are required to share information about hazing-related awareness and prevention programs.
• Institutions are required to develop a Campus Hazing Transparency Report that summarizes the findings of any recognized student organization that has been found in violation of university hazing policy.