Contact Student Rights & Responsibilities
Hazing Prevention
Northern Arizona University promotes student organizations and the opportunities they provide for students. The University respects the right of each student organization to set its own criteria for membership and to establish its own procedures for selecting members as long as these policies are non-discriminatory and abide by University and Board of Regents Policy.
The University stands ready to assist in any of these areas and/or in providing leadership training for student organizations and their members in an effort to make student organizations a more positive and enriching experience for student members.
-
Definition of Hazing Tab Open
-
Examples of Hazing Tab Closed
-
Planning an event? Tab Closed
-
Hazing Resources Tab Closed
Definition of Hazing Accordion Open
Northern Arizona University and the Arizona Board of Regents defines hazing as the following:
Any intentional, knowing or reckless act committed by a student, employee, or visitor whether individually, or in concert with other persons, against another person, in connection with an initiation into, an affiliation with, or the maintenance of membership in any organization that is affiliated with Northern Arizona University that contributes to a substantial risk of potential physical injury, mental harm or degradation, or causes physical injury, mental harm or personal degradation.
Examples of Hazing Accordion Closed
Some examples of hazing include, but are not limited to:
- Paddling in any form
- Physical or psychological shocks
- Late work sessions that interfere with scholastic activities
- Advocating or promoting alcohol or substance use and/or abuse
- Tests of endurance
- Submission of members or prospective members to potentially dangerous or hazardous circumstances or activities, which have a foreseeable potential for resulting in personal injury
- Any activity that may have a potential to cause mental distress, panic, human degradation, or embarrassment
Planning an event? Accordion Closed
5 useful questions to consider when planning activities
When you plan membership activities for your organization and when you are a participant in new membership orientation activities, we ask that you consider whether or not the activity could be viewed as hazing according to the definition stated above. It may be helpful for you to consider the following questions:
- What is the purpose of the activity?
- How does the activity contribute to the new member’s respect and love for the organization and/or them-self?
- Would you be willing to implement or participate in this activity in front of university administrators, alumnae, your parents or the parents of the new member?
- Would you be proud to be tagged online or have pictures posted to your social media of this activity?
- Would you be able to defend this activity in a court of law?
How Office of Leadership & Engagement is supporting clubs regarding hazing education, awareness, and prevention
- Student Organization Summit
- annual training for club officers and advisors/coaches
- Student Organization Manual
- describes University Policy and need for adherence to NAU policy
- Fraternity & Sorority Life Summit
- annual training for Greek leaders
- Hazing Website
- included in the Student Organization Manual and trainings, the hazing website links to the university’s Hazing Prevention Policy, details the definition of hazing, and provides examples of hazing
- Monthly meetings
- officers and advisors/coaches are required to attend monthly meetings with L&E staff where we include continued training on hazing prevention
- Hazing Prevention Week
- L&E honors National Hazing Prevention Week by informing and educating students on how to prevent hazing, impacts of hazing, and alternatives. Through in office signage, social media content, and dialogue, we strive to create a community that agrees “Lumberjacks don’t haze”
- Hazing pledge
- during sorority and fraternity recruitment, Potential New Members were asked to take a pledge against hazing
- during Hazing Prevention Week, students and club members were asked to sign a pledge against hazing while the Office of Leadership & Engagement tabled in the Union
- @NAUGetInvolved social media
- during Hazing Prevention Week, the Office of Leadership & Engagement posted content educating followers about hazing, its impacts, and resources
- FSL flyers
- flyers for FSL recruitment include a statement from the community against hazing
- Harm Reduction Institute – FSL and Sport Clubs only
- in Fall 2024 FSL and Sport Club leaders will be required to attend an in person training on hazing, bystander intervention and alcohol
- Hazing training video
- L&E has prepared a training video for club officers, members, advisors/coaches to view to gain more understanding of hazing and its impacts
- See the video here: https://youtu.be/9K8b8MP2Jic