Core Values: Respect

Intentionally or recklessly causing physical harm or endangering the health or safety of any person.

1. Threat. Written or verbal conduct that causes a reasonable expectation of injury to the health or safety of any person or damage to any property.
2. Intimidation. Intimidation defined as implied threats or acts that cause a reasonable fear of harm in another.

Bullying and cyberbullying are repeated and/or severe aggressive behaviors that intimidate or intentionally harm or control another person physically or emotionally, and are not protected by freedom of expression.

ROCKFORD UNIVERSITY HAZING POLICY

All acts of hazing, as defined by this policy, by any individual student, or sanctioned or promoted by any University registered student club or organization and any of its members or alumni, are prohibited. Students are entitled to be treated with consideration and respect, and no individual may perform an act that is likely to cause physical or psychological harm to any other person within the University community. Accordingly, any such behavior is expressly forbidden when related to the admission, initiation, pledging, joining, or any other group-affiliation activity.

Any student or organization found to be involved in any hazing activity will face conduct action and may be subjected to suspension or expulsion from the University. A violation of this policy may exist irrespective of any alleged voluntary or consensual participation in the activity by the person(s) being abused.

Faculty, staff, Campus Security Authorities (CSAs), alumni, students, and parents must report any hazing allegations as soon as possible by completing an incident report form with the Department of Public Safety that will be reviewed by Public Safety and provided to the Senior Vice President for Student Life & Operations. Rockford University strictly prohibits hazing of any kind in any student organization. The purpose of this Policy is to: 1) reaffirm the University’s Hazing Policy; 2) identify how the University will enforce this Policy; 3) identify resources for reporting violations of this Policy; and 4) identify the University’s hazing prevention and awareness programs.

UNIVERSITY REGULATIONS

Rockford University defines Hazing as:

1. Any action taken, or situation created that negligently, recklessly, intentionally or unintentionally subjects any person to any of the following:

• Risk of bodily harm
• Mental or physical discomfort
• Harassment
• Embarrassment
• Ridicule
• Emotional or mental brutality/degradation
• Abuse
• Torture
• Interferes with academics or health and safety of a student
• Causing or encouraging any person to commit an act that would be a violation of law or University regulations for the purpose of any of the following:
  • Initiating any form of affiliation with a student group or organization.
  • Promoting any form of affiliation with a student group or organization.
  • Fostering any form of affiliation with a student group or organization.
  • Confirming any form of affiliation with a student group or organization.

2. Soliciting, encouraging, aiding, assisting or directing another to engage in hazing.

3. Intentionally or knowingly permitting hazing to occur.

4. Having first-hand knowledge that a specific hazing incident has occurred and failing to report said knowledge to University authorities.

5. Observation by a member of a student group or organization of any hazing activity without reporting the incident to University authorities.

Again, the express or implied consent of a person is not a defense to any hazing activity described above. It is also not a defense that the conduct was encouraged, sanctioned, or approved by a student organization or group.

Examples of hazing include, but are not limited to:

• Forced or coerced consumption of alcohol or other drugs.
• Forced or coerced consumption of any substance (food, liquid, alcoholic liquid, drug or other substance) which subjects the student to a risk of emotional or physical harm.
• Dietary restrictions of any kind.
• Sleep deprivation, or permitting or requiring less than six consecutive hours of sleep each night.
• Creation of excessive fatigue.
• Calisthenics or any type of physically abusive exercise (sit-ups, push-ups and runs).
• Enduring brutality of a physical nature, including paddling, whipping, beating, branding, calisthenics, exposure to the elements, physical abuse, psychological abuse, deception or shocks.
• Mentally abusive or demeaning behavior.
• Photos, videos, posts or comments on social media of violent, illegal or embarrassing activities.
• Compulsory servitude of any nature (food runs, personal errands, cleaning, academic work, etc.).
• Assigned or endorsed pranks such as borrowing or stealing items, painting property or objects.
• Theft, defacement or destruction of private or public property.

Hazing may occur when otherwise authorized or permissible conduct crosses the line into impermissible conduct. Alternatively, activities operationally or procedurally required in accordance with University rules and regulations do not constitute hazing (i.e., permissible punishment, physical or mental hardships associated with training or practice, administrative corrective measures, extra instruction or corrective training). Hazing does not include reasonable and customary athletic, contests, competitions or events. However, the hazing of University athletic teams or individual members of athletic teams is prohibited under this Policy.

Enforcement

Any violation of this Policy by a student or student organization shall be deemed a violation of the Rockford University Code of Student Conduct and may also be a violation of other Rockford University policies. All allegations of Hazing involving a student or Student Organization shall be addressed consistent with the student conduct process administered by the Office of Student Life, found here:

Rockford University Student Handbook

1. Any allegations that an organization has engaged in hazing activities will result in a thorough investigation by the Office of Student Life and relevant University offices. If the investigation yields evidence of hazing, the University will then take appropriate disciplinary action against the individuals and/or organizations deemed responsible for the hazing. Individuals involved in alleged acts of hazing and/or individual officers who knew of or should have known of these activities may also face discipline pursuant to the Code of Student Conduct and/or other University policies.

2. Any retaliation taken against a person for reporting a violation of this Policy will be considered a violation of this Policy, even if the organization is found not responsible for the initial alleged charge.

3. In all cases of alleged violations of this Policy, relevant alumni and the local/regional/national/international headquarters of the organization will be notified.

4. The University will assist any victim of hazing if they choose to speak to the local police about the possibility of pressing criminal charges.

Sanctions

Students deemed or found responsible for violating this Policy face disciplinary action pursuant to the Code of Student Conduct and potentially other University policies. Individual students found responsible for violating this Policy could face University Probation, University Suspension, University Dismissal, subjected to expulsion (potentially indefinitely and permanently), or issued any other sanction(s) found in the Code of Student Conduct.

Student organizations may be placed on probation or deferred suspension, lose privileges, lose University recognition, be prohibited from operating on campus or to otherwise operate under the sanction or recognition of the institution, and/or issued any other sanction(s) found in the Code of Student Conduct.

Employees found responsible for violating this Policy may be subject to corrective or

disciplinary action, up to and including termination.

Any violation of this Policy by alumni or those outside the University community may be subject to:

• University ban notice, subject to prosecution for trespass, should they be found on University premises.
• Notification to the appropriate authorities for behavior detrimental to the University community.

Anyone who engages in conduct in violation of this Policy may also face criminal charges under Illinois State law, including but not limited to charges and sanctions associated with a criminal misdemeanor, or felony and/or monetary fines. State authority failure to prosecute is not a defense to this Policy.

The State of Illinois has a hazing law which prohibits hazing (720 ILCS /12C-50).  Hazing is a Class A misdemeanor, except hazing that results in death or great bodily harm is a Class 4 felony.

How to Report Violations of this Policy

The University expects all members of the University community who believe that they have witnessed, experienced, or are aware of conduct that constitutes hazing in violation of this Policy to report the conduct to the Department of Public Safety by completing an incident report form found on the Public Safety website.

Members of the community who are seeking additional information regarding the Hazing Policy are welcome to contact the Department of Public Safety or Student Life Office. Please note that based on what is shared about a situation, individuals in these offices are required to report the conduct.

Campus Hazing Transparency Report

The University will maintain a report of all violations of this Policy (or of Federal or State laws related to hazing) that are reported to and adjudicated by the University. The University will update the report bi-annually on January 1 and August 1 of each year and will post the updated report on the Department of Public Safety website.

Hazing Awareness & Prevention Programs

The University will provide hazing awareness and prevention programs for all students, faculty, and staff. These programs consist of training and informational sessions that are offered online and/or in person. These programs will be offered by University departments such as the Office of Student Life, the Department of Public Safety, Lang Wellness Center, and Athletics.

Violence or abuse by a person in an intimate relationship with another;

Stalking is a course of conduct directed at a specific person that is unwelcome and would cause a reasonable person to feel fear;

Includes, but is not limited to, sexual harassment, non-consensual sexual contact, non-consensual sexual intercourse, and/or sexual exploitation (See the Title IX: Sex/Gender-Based Discrimination & Sexual Misconduct Policy for further information);

Includes deliberately and publicly exposing one’s intimate body parts, public urination, defecation, and public sex acts.