Coppin State University Statement on Hazing
Coppin State University abides by the standards set forth in the Maryland Education Code that prohibits hazing at an educational institution and has elected to apply these standards to students in attendance at the University. Following is a summary of information from the State of Maryland Hazing Law.
Article I
State of Maryland Hazing Law
Maryland Anti Hazing Law (§ 3-607) The State of Maryland also prohibits hazing and defines it as such:
- Prohibited — A person may not recklessly or intentionally do an act or create a situation that subjects a student to the risk of serious bodily injury for the purpose of initiation into a student organization of a school, college, or university.
- Penalty — A person who violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and, on conviction, is subject to imprisonment not exceeding 6 months or a fine not exceeding $500 or both.
- Prohibited defense — The implied or expressed consent of a student to hazing is not a defense under this section.
The College’s anti-hazing policies apply to any and all student groups and organizations on campus. The consent of those being hazed will not be accepted as a defense for those who have been found to violate college policies on hazing.
Article II
Hazing Policy
Section 1. "Hazing" is defined as any intentional, knowing, or reckless act, occurring on or off the campus of an educational institution, by one person alone or acting with others, directed against a student, that endangers the mental or physical health or safety of a student for the purpose of pledging, being initiated into, affiliating with, holding office in, or maintaining membership in an organization. Hazing includes any type of:
- Physical brutality, such as whipping, beating, striking, branding, electronic shocking, placing of a harmful substance on the body, or similar activity;
- Physical activity, such as sleep deprivation, exposure to the elements, confinement in a small space, calisthenics, or other activity that subjects the student to an unreasonable risk of harm or that adversely affects the mental or physical health or safety of the student;
- Activity involving consumption of a food, liquid, alcoholic beverage, liquor, drug, or other substance that subjects the student to an unreasonable risk of harm or that adversely affects the mental or physical health or safety of the student;
- Activity that intimidates or threatens the student with ostracism, that subjects the student to extreme mental stress, shame, or humiliation, that adversely affects the mental health or dignity of the student or discourages the student from entering or remaining registered in an educational institution, or that may reasonably be expected to cause a student to leave the organization or the institution rather than submit to acts described in this subdivision; and
- Activity that induces, causes, or requires the student to perform a duty or task that involves a violation of the Penal Code.
Section 3. Personal Hazing Offense—A person commits an offense if the person:
- engages in hazing;
- solicits, encourages, directs, aids, or attempts to aid another in engaging in hazing;
- recklessly permits hazing to occur; or
- has firsthand knowledge of the planning of a specific hazing incident involving a student in an educational institution or has firsthand knowledge that a specific hazing incident has occurred and knowingly fails to report that knowledge in writing to Dean of Students or other appropriate official of the institution.
Section 4. Organization Hazing Offense— An organization commits an offense if the organization condones or encourages hazing or if an officer or any combination of members, pledges, or alumni of the organization commits or assists in the commission of hazing.
Section 5. Consent Not a Defense—It is not a defense to prosecution of an offense under the Tennessee Hazing Law that the person against whom the hazing was directed consented to or acquiesced in the hazing activity. Permission or approval by a person being hazed does no abrogate any hazing policy.
Section 6. Hazing Actions and Activities—Hazing includes, but is not limited to:
- Any action taken or a situation created intentionally to produce mental or physical discomfort, embarrassment, or ridicule; any form of verbal or physical harassment or abuse; and participation in public stunts or morally degrading or humiliating behavior or games, whether on or off campus.
- Excessive demands on a student’s time so as to interfere with academic performance are prohibited. Threatening in any manner or form for the purpose of cajoling individuals into secrecy in regard to breaches (planned, threatened, attempted, or perpetrated) of hazing restrictions also is prohibited. Hazing activities that are in violation of any other institution or school regulations such as the misuse of alcohol, drugs, school property, etc. are strictly forbidden.
- Some examples of activities that constitute hazing and are prohibited: a) forced consumption of alcohol, special drinks and foods; calisthenics (push-ups, runs squats, etc.) “road-trips”(dropping off candidates to find their way back); paddling; dropping off candidates to find their way back; line-ups (lining up candidates and harassing them verbally); doing personal favors for members.
