Information on Hazing
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Hazing

High Point University (HPU) prohibits hazing and any conduct that aids, abets, assists, or supports hazing. Hazing is a serious violation of the University’s Code of Conduct as well as federal and state law. The purpose of this policy is to prevent hazing in all forms, promote the safety and wellbeing of the University’s students, and affirm the University’s commitment to a safe, inclusive campus environment that promotes belonging and wellbeing.

HPU takes a proactive approach to hazing prevention by prioritizing education, healthy development, and collective responsibility. By recognizing that without intervention, this conduct can occur within organizations, the university endeavors to steward a culture of actions that are genuinely constructive and developmental for students, organizations, and teams. This expectation is reinforced by providing accessible resources that empower students with active bystander skills, ensuring they have the tools to intervene effectively. HPU cultivates a safe, respectful environment where personal growth and organizational belonging are achieved through mutual support rather than hardship. Any allegation of hazing is reviewed by the Offices of Student Life, Student Services, and University Police to determine the necessity of a formal investigation or adjudication.

Hazing Definition

Any action or situation that involves potential members, new members, or active members with the goal of facilitating entry or affiliation, or performed as an expectation for maintaining active membership, status or standing within a recognized or unrecognized team or organization that jeopardizes the student’s psychological, emotional, and/or physical wellbeing. These actions or situations will be defined as hazing regardless of a person’s willingness to participate. Such acts or situations include:

  • Compromising a student’s ability to succeed by creating unreasonable expectations that disrupt academic performance, employment responsibilities, and/or essential personal commitments.
  • Subjecting a student to emotional distress or social shame through actions intended to diminish their self-worth, dignity, or standing among peers.
  • Forcing participation in activities that serve no constructive educational or team-building function.
  • Imposing demands or conditions that far exceed the normal expectations of membership.

Spectrum of Hazing

Hazing often results from a power imbalance between members of a group, organization, or team. This imbalance can impact the psychological, emotional, and/or physical wellbeing of any member of the group, organization, or team, regardless of status. Hazing can take place in various forms, including Subtle/Intimidation Hazing, Harassment Hazing, and/or Violent Hazing. It is also recognized that acts or actions of hazing will impact students differently, and that impact can often be categorized in multiple forms:

  • Subtle/Intimidation Hazing — acts or actions that ridicule, embarrass, humiliate, or interfere with academic progress or other educational experiences.
  • Harassment Hazing — acts or actions that cause emotional distress, mental anguish, or physical discomfort or confuses, frustrates, and causes undue stress.
  • Violent Hazing — acts or actions that cause, or have the potential to cause, physical, emotional, or psychological harm.

Examples of Hazing Activities

A non-comprehensive list of examples of conduct that could be considered hazing includes the following:

  • Required periods of silence, deprivation of privileges, social isolation, name-calling, assignment of duties not assigned to other members, including event preparation and/or clean up, driving requirements, and similar obligations or assignments.
  • Sleep deprivation, exposure to the elements, confinement, extreme calisthenics, verbal abuse, threats or implied threats, sexual simulations or nudity, requiring situationally inappropriate attire or changes to physical appearance, such as the cutting of hair, wearing makeup or markers, or other alterations, or threats of such activities.
  • Assault, paddling, branding, tattooing, or other forms of battery, forced consumption of drugs, alcohol, or any other substance, forced or coerced sexual acts, bondage, kidnapping, forcing or coercing physical activity or exercise, creating a threatening circumstance such that a student reasonably fears for their personal safety, forced or coerced participation in illegal activity or in an activity that would otherwise violate the Student Code of Conduct or other University policy.

Hazing Prevention Strategies

HPU is committed to its policies reflecting current best practices in prevention, prioritizing student wellbeing through several key pillars:

  • Public Transparency of New Member Programs: To demystify the joining process, HPU requires organizations to maintain clear, accessible outlines of their new member activities, ensuring that both students and families understand the expectations and boundaries of membership.
  • Leadership Cohort Training: The university invests in specialized training for student leaders, equipping them with the skills to foster inclusive, non-harmful environments and to recognize the psychological drivers behind hazing behaviors.
  • Hybrid Education for Incoming Students: HPU utilizes a blend of online modules and in-person sessions to reach students before they even begin their campus journey, establishing a baseline of zero tolerance and bystander intervention early on.
  • Clear Reporting Options: HPU provides multiple high-accessibility channels for reporting concerns, including a dedicated 24/7 Hazing Hotline (336-841-4699) and online reporting forms that allow for prompt university intervention.
  • Assessment: HPU employs a variety of assessment opportunities, such as pre- and post-training surveys, campus climate reviews, and risk and protective factor analyses to measure the effectiveness of its programs and refine its prevention tactics.

Hazing Transparency Report

As required by the Stop Campus Hazing Act (H.R. 5646, enacted December 23, 2024), which amends the Jeanne Clery Campus Safety Act under Section 485(f) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1092(f)), the University is required to compile and publicly publish a Campus Hazing Transparency Report summarizing findings against any recognized student organization found responsible for a violation of the University’s standards of conduct related to hazing. The Act also requires the University to collect and publish hazing incident statistics as part of that report, and to publish information related to hazing prevention programs and policies. The Hazing Transparency Report is updated semi-annually, and is available on the University’s public website.

North Carolina Anti-Hazing — Harrison’s Law

14-35. Hazing; definition and punishment.

  • It is unlawful for any student in attendance at any university, college, or school in this State to engage in hazing, or to aid or abet any other student in the commission of this offense. Any violation of this subsection shall constitute a Class A1 misdemeanor.
  • It is unlawful for any school personnel, including, but not limited to, a teacher, school administrator, student teacher, school safety officer, or coach, at any university, college, or school in this State to engage in hazing or to aid or abet any other person in the commission of this offense. Any violation of this subsection shall constitute a Class I felony.
  • For the purposes of this section, hazing is defined as subjecting a student to physical or serious psychological injury as part of an initiation, or as a prerequisite to membership, into any organized school group, including any society, athletic team, fraternity or sorority, or other similar group.

14-38. Witnesses in hazing trials; no indictment to be founded on self-criminating testimony.

  • In all trials for the offense of hazing any student or other person subpoenaed as a witness in behalf of the State shall be required to testify if called upon to do so: Provided, however, that no student or other person so testifying shall be amenable or subject to indictment on account of, or by reason of, such testimony.

Retaliation

The University prohibits retaliation against any person who acts in good faith to stop, prevent, or report potential hazing activity, or who participates in an investigation involving hazing allegations. A person or organization can be found responsible for retaliation regardless of whether they are found responsible for hazing.

Disciplinary suspension or expulsion will be strongly considered for students and/or student organizations found responsible for hazing and/or retaliation. Additionally, students or student organizations who use deception or collude with others to obstruct a hazing investigation will be subject to disciplinary sanctions. The Office of Community Standards will coordinate hazing investigations with other appropriate University offices and officials, and a proceeding may determine outcomes for alleged violations of this policy and other University policies.

People who cause physical injury by hazing, or who aid or abet others in causing physical injury by hazing, are also subject to arrest and criminal liability under North Carolina law.

How to Report Hazing

HPU Hazing Hotline

336-841-4699