Anti-Hazing Policy

I. Scope

This policy applies to William & Mary as a whole university (the university).  It applies to all persons and groups associated with the university and involved with student organizations or groups including, but not limited to students, faculty and staff, including administrators and coaches, undergraduate and graduate student organizations, as defined in this policy, extracurricular activities or programs, and advisors of student organizations. 

This policy is not intended to apply to: 

1. Customary athletic events, contests, or competitions that are sponsored by the university or the organized and supervised practices associated with such events; or  
2. Any activity or conduct that furthers the goals of a legitimate educational curriculum or military training program.

II. Purpose & Policy Statement

William & Mary is committed to promoting a safe and healthy living, learning, and working environment to further its educational mission. Hazing is a harmful and unproductive activity that threatens the well-being of students, faculty, and staff and is antithetical to the university’s values, including respect and belonging. 

The purpose of this policy is to prohibit and prevent hazing and to respond to it when it occurs. Hazing has no place at this university, and it is the responsibility of the entire campus community to encourage an atmosphere of learning, social responsibility, and respect for human dignity, ensuring that William & Mary is a Home Without Hazing.  

This policy ensures university compliance with federal (§20 USC 1092) and state (Va. Code Section . § 18.2-56) laws.  

III. Definitions  

Hazing means any activity expected of someone joining or participating in a student organization that humiliates, degrades, abuses, or endangers them regardless of a person’s willingness to participate. Hazing includes, but is not limited to, acts in violation of Virginia Code in violation of Virginia Code  18.2-56 that recklessly or intentionally endanger the health or safety of a student or students or inflict bodily injury on a student or students in connection with or for the purpose of initiation, admission into or affiliation with or as a condition for continued membership in a club, organization, association, fraternity, sorority, or student body regardless of whether the student or students so endangered or injured participated voluntarily in the relevant activity. 

Retaliation means adverse action taken by an individual or organization alleged to have engaged in misconduct under this polity or allied third party against a person because the person made a good faith report of hazing, or the person is involved in or participated in an investigation or proceeding of such reported allegation under this policy 

Student Organization means any club, society, association, varsity athletic team, club sports team, fraternity, sorority, band, student government, cooperative, order, military organization, or similar group whose members are primarily students of the institution whether the organization is established by the university or recognized by its official recognition process. 

IV. Policy

 

A. Prohibition Against Hazing

Hazing is a crime in the Commonwealth of Virginia and is prohibited in accordance with this policy and the university’s Student Code of Conduct. The University does not condone hazing in any form and will respond if it occurs. 

1. Types of Hazing.

Examples of activities that may humiliate, degrade, abuse, or endanger the mental or physical health or safety of a student include, but are not limited to, the following*: 

Physical Hazingg 

• Paddling; 
• Burning, branding, or tattooing any part of the body; 
• All forms of physical activity which are used to harass, punish, or harm a person; 
• Spraying, painting, or pelting with any substance; 
• Binding or restricting a person in any way that would prohibit them from moving on their own; 
• Burying in any substance; 
• Exposure to uncomfortable elements; 
• Forced consumption of alcohol or any other substance, legal or illegal; 
• Non-consensual sexual activity; 

Psychological Hazing 

• Kidnapping; 
• Confinement; 
• Nudity with the intent to cause embarrassment; 
• Servitude; 
• Verbal abuse; 
• Wearing of apparel that is conspicuous and/or indecent; 
• Depriving a person of sufficient sleep; 
• Subjecting a person to be the object of malicious amusement or ridicule; 
• Interrogating a person in an intimidating or threatening manner; 
• Misleading a person to convince them that they will not become a member unless they complete tasks, follow instructions, change class/personal schedules, or act in a certain way; 
• Misleading a person into believing that they will be hurt during induction or initiation; 
• Carrying any items (shields, paddles, bricks, hammers, etc.) that serve no constructive purpose or that are designed to punish or embarrass the carrier; 
• Blindfolding and parading a person in public areas and/or transporting the person in a motor vehicle, or privately conducting blindfolded activities that serve no constructive purpose; 

Other Hazing 

• Forced excursions or road trips; 
• Activities that are intended to interfere with academic pursuits; 
• Requiring or suggesting that a person obtain or possess items or complete tasks in an unlawful manner (e.g., for a scavenger hunt); and 
• Prohibiting a person from social contact or from associating with other individuals or groups. 
• Requiring or suggesting that a person engage in a crime or university policy violation against bystanders. 

*Examples included in the list have been adapted from the Commonwealth of Virginia’s model hazing prevention policy as developed by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia.

2. Location

This policy encompasses all acts of hazing whether the acts occur on or off campus. An act of hazing by an individual or organization will be viewed by the university as a violation of this policy, regardless of where the act of hazing took place. 

3. Consent

In accordance with Virginia law, an individual may not consent to being hazed, and a victim’s voluntary or willful participation in hazing activities will not be considered evidence that a violation of this policy did not occur.

4. Level of Direct Involvement

Apathy or acquiescence by member(s) of a student organization in the presence of hazing by other member(s) of the same student organization is not considered a neutral act; it is a violation of this policy. Observation of hazing activities by individuals in a position to intervene but failing to do so may also be a violation of this policy. 

5. Recklessness

An activity that is carried out recklessly by individuals, including group members, coaches, or advisors is considered a violation of this policy regardless of the individual’s or individuals’ intent to humiliate, degrade, abuse, or endanger a person.  

 B. Reporting 

REPORT HAZING

Any suspected violation of this policy should be reported online at the link above or to Student Affairs staff at 757.221.2510 .  If there is an immediate concern of health or safety, please contact William & Mary Police at 757.221.4596 or in person at 201 Ukrop Way on the Williamsburg campus.

Anyone who has knowledge of a potential violation of this policy is encouraged to report information.  Reporters include, but not limited to, the complainant, witness, friend, or unaffiliated person. The university can most effectively respond to reports when they are made as promptly as possible after the conduct has occurred however, there is no time limitation on reporting alleged violations of this policy. Reporters may report anonymously. The university may be limited in its ability to address dated or anonymous reports. 

Campus Security Authorities (CSA’s) are mandatory reporters, and as such, are required to report information they have knowledge of that could be an incident of hazing via the online report form linked above. Confidential employees, such as Counseling Center and Student Health Center staff, are not required to report hazing activity. 

C. Retaliation

The University prohibits retaliation directed against a person for making a good faith complaint under this policy or against any person who testifies, assists, or participates in an investigation or adjudication process. Retaliation may exist even when the underlying complaint is not substantiated. Report any suspected acts of retaliation to Student Affairs staff at 757.221.2510 or online at the link below.

Report Retaliation

D. Support for Reporting Allegations of Hazing and Retaliation

On-campus resources that are qualified to provide the appropriate ongoing mental and behavioral health support to any student who reports to the university an act of hazing or retaliation experienced as the result of a report of an act of hazing for such student include: 

William & Mary Counseling Center  
McLeod Tyler Wellness Center, 2nd Floor 
(757) 221-3620   

Student Health Center  
McLeod Tyler Wellness Center, 1st Floor  
(757) 221-4386 

E. Amnesty

Per Va. Code 23.1-821, the university provides immunity from disciplinary action based on hazing or personal consumption of drugs or alcohol where such disclosure is made by a bystander not involved in such acts in conjunction with a good faith report of an act of hazing in advance of or during an incident of hazing as defined in this policy.

F. Hazing Involving Bodily Injury

In accordance with Virginia Code § 18.2-56, the university shall report hazing that causes bodily injury to the appropriate law enforcement agency. 

G. Applicable State, Local and Tribunal Laws

1. Under Section § 18.2-56 of the Code of Virginia, hazing that causes bodily injury to any student at any school, college or university is unlawful and the university shall discipline any student found responsible for violation of this policy in accordance with university policy, up to and including expulsion.  
2. The president or other presiding official of the university shall report hazing which causes bodily injury to the attorney for the Commonwealth of the City of Williamsburg, who shall take such action as they deem appropriate. 
3. For the purposes of this section, “hazing” means to recklessly or intentionally endanger the health or safety of a student or students or to inflict bodily injury on a student or students in connection with or for the purpose of initiation, admission into or affiliation with or as a condition for continued membership in a club, organization, association, fraternity, sorority, or student body regardless of whether the student or students so endangered or injured participated voluntarily in the relevant activity.”

H. Public Reporting

Under 20 U.S.C. § 1092(f) (2024) and Va. Code Section § 23.1-822, the university produces and publishes on its website a Campus Hazing Transparency Report at least two times a year. 

1. Report Components. The report summarizes actual findings of violation of this policy or of federal or state laws pertaining to hazing that are reported to campus authorities or local law enforcement. The Campus Hazing Transparency Report includes the name of the student organization found in violation, a general description of the violation that resulted in a finding of responsibility, the sanctions placed on the organization, and related dates of the incident, including date of alleged conduct, date the investigation was initiated, and date of notice to the organization of a finding of violation. Investigations that do not result in findings of violations of codes of conduct or convictions in a court of law shall not be included in the report.  Any reports made pursuant to this section shall not include any personally identifiable information of any students involved in the hazing misconduct and shall be subject to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, 20 U.S.C. § 1232g. 
2. Report Publication and Dissemination. Reports required pursuant to this section shall be available on each institution's homepage and Greek Life homepage, or its equivalent in a prominent location, and a hardcopy notice of the nature and availability of the reports, including the website address where they can be found, shall be provided to all attendees at student orientations. The university shall annually update and report actual findings of violations of university policy or of federal or state laws pertaining to hazing made pursuant to this section to the Timothy J. Piazza Center for Fraternity and Sorority Research and Reform at The Pennsylvania State University to update each organization's national card and provide easily accessible documentation of all hazing incidents and provide additional awareness and easily accessible information on hazing.
3. Report Retention. The university shall publicly maintain reports for a minimum of 10 years from the date of the initial disclosure of a report.

V. Procedure

The designated units and processes below are responsible for investigating allegations of hazing under the respective university procedures. 

A. Investigation

1. Student or Student Organization. Alleged violations of this policy by a individual who is a student and/or by a student organization will be investigated and adjudicated by Student Affairs under the Student Code of Conduct. Consistent with the Student Code of Conduct, both individuals and organizations may be held responsible for their actions and participation in incidents of hazing. 
2. Employee. Alleged violations of this policy by an individual who is an employee of the university will be investigated and adjudicated under the applicable employee policy and procedure. 

B. Disciplinary Action

Any individual or organization found to be in violation of this policy shall be subject to appropriate disciplinary action up to and including Permanent Dismissal, Termination of Recognition, or termination of employment per the applicable procedure. 

Past violations of hazing by an individual or a specific organization for which an individual and/or an organization have received discipline may be considered in the imposing of disciplinary action for subsequent violations of hazing under this policy. 

VI. Prevention and Awareness Practice 

William & Mary is dedicated to involving the broader community in meaningful conversations about the definition of hazing under this policy and the dangers of hazing and the importance of prevention. 

A. Hazing Prevention Coalition 

The university maintains a collaborative coalition charged with empowering the university community to prevent hazing, including recognizing hazing, understanding the implications of hazing, developing intolerance for hazing activities, and reporting when hazing occurs.  The coalition provides organization leadership with resources to support safer, healthier means of acclimation and integration of new members. 

B. Program 

Consistent with Virginia Code Section § 23.1-820 (also known as “Adam’s Law”), the university requires research informed hazing prevention training for all current/new/potential members and advisors of each student organization whose new members have a period between invitation for membership and initiation into membership. This interval between invitation and initiation is often referred to as a “new member period” or “pledge period,” and individuals in this period are not considered full members of the organization. The training will include extensive, current, and in-person education about hazing, the dangers of hazing, including alcohol intoxication, and hazing laws and policies. The training will also explain that the university’s disciplinary process is not to be considered a substitute for the criminal legal process.  

The university’s hazing prevention efforts also include research informed education and engagement opportunities for members of organizations that do not fall under the requirements outlined in Virginia Code Section § 23.1-820, including intercollegiate sport teams and sport clubs. 

VII.  Authority and Amendments 

This policy was adopted on June 20, 2025.

Student Affairs and the Office Compliance & Equity are responsible for interpretation and enforcement of this policy and are permitted to make minor and technical amendments.   

VIII. Related Policies and Documents 

• Clery Compliance Policy 
• Violence and Threat Management Policy 
• Student Code of Conduct