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Anti-Hazing Policy

I. Introduction and Prohibition

Cedarville University is a Christ-centered institution of higher education that transforms lives through excellent education and intentional discipleship in submission to biblical authority. The University is committed to the principle that all human beings are created in the image of God and to the physical, mental, and emotional health of all people. Therefore, consistent with these biblical principles, as well as federal and Ohio law, hazing is prohibited by Cedarville University.

II. Scope and Effective Date

The Effective Date of this policy is June 23, 2025; although, as described in this policy, some obligations for recording and reporting hazing begin January 1, 2025.

III. Definitions

A. Hazing - Any of the following:

  1. Doing any act or coercing another, including the victim, to do any initiation into a student or other organization or any act to continue or reinstate membership in or affiliation with any student or other organization (including sports team or club team) that causes a substantial risk of causing mental or physical harm to any person, including coercing another to consume alcohol or a drug of abuse, as defined by 3719.011 of the Ohio Revised Code. Hazing includes, but is not limited to, the coercing of someone to consume alcohol and/or drugs of abuse resulting in serious physical harm to the other person/victim and abusive and/or unreasonably humiliating pranks.
  2. 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; and
    2. Causes, or creates a risk, above the reasonable risk encountered in the course of participation in the institution of higher education or the organization (such as the physical preparation necessary for participation in an athletic team), of physical or psychological injury.
  3. Examples of hazing include, but are not limited to, the following:
    1. Whipping, beating, striking, electronic shocking, placing of a harmful substance on someone's body, or similar activity;
    2. Causing, coercing, or otherwise inducing sleep deprivation, exposure to the elements, confinement in a small space, extreme calisthenics, or other similar activity;
    3. Causing, coercing, or otherwise inducing another person to consume food, liquid, alcohol, drugs, or other substances;
    4. Causing, coercing, or otherwise inducing another person to perform sexual acts;
    5. Any activity that places another person in reasonable fear of bodily harm through the use of threatening words or conduct;
    6. Any activity against another person that includes a criminal violation of local, State, Tribal, or Federal law; and
    7. Any activity that induces, causes, or requires another person to perform a duty or task that induces, causes, or requires another person to perform a duty or task that involves a criminal violation of local, State, Tribal, or Federal law.

B. Student Organization

  1. An organization at Cedarville University (such as, but not limited to, a club, society, association, varsity or junior varsity athletic team, club sports team, fraternity, sorority, band, student government, or other organization officially recognized by Cedarville University) in which two or more of the members are students enrolled at Cedarville University, whether or not the organization is established or recognized by the institution.
  2. However, for purposes of the “Campus Hazing Transparency Report (CHRT), findings concerning any “Student Organization” only applies to student organizations that are established or recognized by Cedarville University.

C. University

Cedarville University, Cedarville, Ohio.

 

IV. Procedures for Institutional Response to Hazing

A. Reporting

  1. Any person who receives a complaint of hazing, or who observes or learns of conduct that is reasonably believed to be in violation of this policy, is required to immediately report the alleged conduct to the Student Development Office or Campus Security. Student organization/team members and officers/captains should immediately report any hazing incidents that occur within their organization to the Student Development Office. Students, faculty, administrators, coaches, staff, consultants, alumni, and volunteers have a duty to report violations of this policy.
  2. Any person who believes that another person is in serious physical danger shall immediately call 911 to obtain immediate medical assistance.
  3. In addition to the duty to report hazing to the Student Development Office as identified in the prior paragraphs, in some circumstances there is also a duty to report allegations of criminal conduct to law enforcement.
  4. All reports of hazing shall include a detailed description of the events that have transpired, the names of any individuals involved, and a description of any actions taken by the organization. Upon receiving the report, the Student Development Office will investigate as described in this policy and the organization president and advisor/coach will be notified.
  5. Cedarville University is committed to reviewing all reports of hazing. Anonymous reports are accepted; however, the University’s ability to obtain additional information may be compromised and the ability to investigate anonymous reports may be limited.
  6. Individuals may report hazing by contacting any of the following:
    1. Student Development contact form or by phone at 937-766-7872;
    2. Campus Security contact form or by phone at 937-239-6491; or
    3. In the event of an emergency, dial 911.
  7. Retaliating against an individual who made a report of hazing is prohibited. Retaliation includes, but is not limited to, intimidating, threatening, coercing, or discriminating against an individual because the individual made a report of hazing.
  8. Cedarville University seeks to remove barriers to reporting hazing. To this end, a violation of the student handbook relating to Prohibited Conduct (such as an alcohol or substance abuse violation relating to the personal use of alcohol or drugs, or violations of the Commitment to Purity outlined in the student handbook), when the violation is discovered as a result of a good faith report of hazing will not result in dismissal for the reporting party, provided that no one sustained serious mental and/or physical harm as a result of actions taken by the reporting party.

B. Investigation and Determination

  1. The Student Development Office will coordinate the investigation of all hazing allegations. When appropriate, other University offices may handle certain aspects of the University response (e.g., Human Resources, Campus Security, Title IX office, etc.).
  2. A hazing allegation involving students will be investigated and resolved in keeping with the student conduct process outlined in the Cedarville University Student Handbook. Hazing allegations involving faculty will be investigated and resolved in keeping with the Faculty Handbook. Hazing allegations involving staff will be investigated and resolved in keeping with the Staff Handbook. However, any hazing allegation that also constitutes a possible violation of the University’s Title IX policy will be addressed under the University's Title IX policy.
  3. Criminal investigations resulting from a report to law enforcement will be handled by the appropriate law enforcement agency.
  4. Cedarville University may charge an individual or a group with a violation of this Hazing Policy via the Student Code of Conduct and/or any other University rules, regulations, or policies.
  5. All decisions and determinations of hazing are made solely at the discretion of Cedarville University.
  6. The University will determine if interim measures are needed to protect the safety and/or well-being of others.

C. Disciplinary Sanctions For Students

  1. Hazing is a violation of the Cedarville University Student Handbook and, therefore, is subject to the full range of disciplinary sanctions outlined in the handbook. Disciplinary sanctions may be implemented against individuals whose conduct is in violation of this policy. In addition, other educational activities may be required as conditions of the sanction.
  2. Sanctions applied to organizations and/or individuals will be determined by the Student Development Office.
  3. As may be relevant, the Student Development Office will coordinate with the appropriate supervisor of the campus organization or team for the implementation of corresponding sanctions at the organization level.
  4. Any student, or organization, who participates in hazing will be held accountable regardless of motive or intent in accordance with the Cedarville University Student Handbook.
  5. Disciplinary sanctions imposed may be appealed as described in the Cedarville University Student Handbook. All decisions, determinations of hazing, and disciplinary sanctions are made solely at the discretion of Cedarville University.

D. Disciplinary Sanctions for Employees

Sanctions for Faculty will be consistent with the Faculty Handbook and sanctions for Staff will be consistent with the Staff Handbook.

V. Anti-Hazing, Education, Awareness, and Prevention

A. All students seeking membership in a registered student organization or student group at Cedarville University must complete the anti-hazing training provided by the University. Failure to complete the training will result in the student being denied the ability to join any recognized student organization, team, or group.

B. Any faculty or staff member, as well as any individual who is not a faculty member, staff member or staff, but who is involved with a student organization in the role of leader, advisor, coach, sponsor, mentor, supervisor, or participant, must complete the anti-hazing training provided by the University.

C. The University will do the following:

  1. Provide research-based or evidence-informed education and training;
  2. Develop strategies to break barriers related to reporting hazing;
  3. Address the bystander effect;
  4. Include hazing in campus education programs;
  5. Create a campus-wide effort for employees and students to identify warning signs of hazing, understand how to report, and take action; and
  6. Teach ethical leadership and strategies to build group cohesion without hazing.

D. Each recognized organization of the University must have a designated Hazing Prevention Coordinator.

  1. The organization’s Hazing Prevention Coordinator may be the designated University employee who serves as advisor, team coach, staff administrator or supervisor for the organization. 
  2. A student may not serve as the Hazing Prevention Coordinator.
  3. The Hazing Prevention Coordinator must ensure that all members, prospective members, and anyone who is employed by or volunteers with the organization completes the required hazing prevention education program.
  4. The Hazing Prevention Coordinator will maintain records that demonstrate all group participants are eligible for participation based on completion of the anti-hazing training. If a student is unsure if they have completed the required program, they should contact their organization’s Hazing Prevention Coordinator to verify their eligibility to join a student organization or group.

VI. Public Disclosure

A. The University will publish a Campus Hazing Transparency Report (CHTR).

  1. The CHTR will summarize the findings concerning any established or recognized student organization found to be in violation of the University’s standards or conduct relating to hazing, regardless of the location of the incident.
  2. For each such finding, the CHTR will include the following:
    1. The name of the student organization but no personally identifying information of any individual;
    2. A general description of the violating including whether it involved abuse or illegal use of alcohol or drugs;
    3. The findings;
    4. A description of any sanctions imposed;
    5. The date(s) of the occurrences of hazing;
    6. The date the investigation was initiated;
    7. The date the investigation ended; and
    8. The date the University notified the student organization of the report claiming a violation of the hazing policy.
  3. The CHTR will include the following:
    1. A statement of the availability of the statistics on hazing in the Annual Security Report (ASR) and will include a link to the ASR.
    2. Information about the University’s policies relating to reporting and investigating allegations of hazing.
    3. Applicable local, State of Ohio, and Tribal laws on hazing, if any.
  4. The CHTR will be published on the University’s website.
  5. The CHTR will be updated by January 1st and August 1st of each year if there has been at least one hazing incident that is required to be reported.

B. Just as other reportable events that are required to be included in the University’s Annual Security and Fire Safety Report, the University will include reported incidents of hazing made to Campus Security Authorities or local police agencies in the University’s Annual Security Report and Fire Safety Report. Hazing incidents will be included in the University’s Daily Crime Log. The first year for including incidents of hazing will be the calendar year of 2025, for the report that will be published by October 1, 2026.

VII. Liability

While this policy describes the anti-hazing policy of, and expectations for, Cedarville University and people subject to this policy, this policy does not create any duty, and/or liability for Cedarville University or any person subject to this policy other than liability that exists under Federal and/or Ohio law. For example, this policy may prohibit conduct that is not prohibited by Federal and/or Ohio law such as abusive and unreasonably humiliating conduct; however, Cedarville University and people subject to this policy are not liable for any conduct that does not constitute “hazing” under Federal and/or Ohio law.