Statement of Policy

Hazing will not be tolerated at the University of Iowa. University student groups (e.g., registered student organizations, intramural, club and varsity athletic teams, and other student groups), individual students, and those who supervise student group activities are prohibited from hazing. Hazing is prohibited in any form both on campus and off campus. 

What is Hazing?

The Clery Act requires institutions to include definitions of hazing: 

“Hazing” is a criminal misdemeanor under Iowa law when a person intentionally or recklessly engages in any act or acts involving forced activity which endanger the physical health or safety of a student for the purpose of initiation or admission into, or affiliation with, any organization operating in connection with a university.  Iowa Code § 708.10.

The University of Iowa further defines as “hazing” any intentional, knowing, or reckless act committed by person (whether individually or in concert with other persons), against another person or persons, occurring with or without consent, that creates a risk, above the reasonable risk encountered in the course of participation in the organization, of physical or psychological injury. This definition includes assisting, approving (implicitly or explicitly), organizing, or otherwise participating in the prohibited behaviors, for the purpose of initiation into, affiliation with, or as a condition of continued membership in or a leadership role in any university student group.

Activities that may be considered hazing include but are not limited to:

  1. Whipping, beating, striking, electronic shocking, placing of a harmful substance on or in 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 involves a criminal violation of local, State, Tribal, or Federal law.

For the purposes of this policy, bystanders who fail to intervene can also be held accountable for committing acts of hazing. In other words, hazing includes observation of hazing activities when individuals are in a position to intervene but fail to intervene, including organization officers or other leaders who are aware of planned hazing activities, as well as those who condone and/or fail to prevent hazing from occurring, regardless of their direct participation in the conduct that creates an unreasonable risk of resulting in physical or psychological harm.

How to Report Hazing:

Any person with knowledge or concerns regarding any activity or conduct which might constitute hazing may report their concerns to the Office of Student Accountability through the Report a Concern Form or the University Police Department. 

All reports involving students will be assessed and evaluated by the Office of Student Accountability. Reports related to faculty or staff will be routed to the Office of the Provost and University Human Resources, respectively.

Investigating Hazing Reports

Students and Student Organizations

Upon receiving reports of potential hazing incidents, the Office of Student Accountability investigates as described in the Accountability Procedures. The Accountability Procedures contains a description of the investigation processes for individual students and for registered student organizations.   

The designated organization president and advisor or coach will be notified. If the student organization is affiliated with a national organization, then the national headquarters will also be notified. 

If the incident appears as if it may have been sanctioned by a national organization, the Office of Student Accountability may undertake a follow-up investigation into the organization’s role.  

Investigations may be handled by the Office of Student Accountability internally or cases may be assigned to independent investigators. All investigation procedures follow the structure and processes outlined in the Accountability Procedures. 

Instances involving student-athletes are subject to further routing and review for implications under the Student-Athlete Code of Conduct. 

Cases Involving Faculty or Staff

If reports of potential hazing involve faculty or staff members, the Office of Student Accountability routes those reports to the offices responsible for those personnel.  Faculty conduct allegations are managed by the Office of the Provost and the Associate Provost for Faculty utilizing the Professional Ethics and Academic Responsibility policy. Staff conduct allegations are managed by University Human Resources utilizing the Ethics and Responsibilities for University of Iowa Staff policy.