Hazing Education Initiative

Hazing Prevention at Florida State
Our community believes that all students should be able to participate in campus activities free of concerns of hazing
About
We believe no student should be harmed, demeaned, and/or put at any safety risk while joining, during membership, or after membership of any student organization, club, group, or university entity.
Mission
To inspire every member of the FSU community to utilize how their own power can create positive change on campus and within the Tallahassee community.
Hazing Defined
According to the Florida State University Code of Conduct, "Hazing" means:
1. What Hazing Means
According to the Florida State University Code of Conduct, “Hazing” means: Any individual action or situation, which occurs on or off University property, that intentionally, recklessly, or negligently endangers the mental or physical health or safety of a student for purposes including, but not limited to, initiation or admission into or affiliation with any University student organization or other group whether officially recognized by the University, or the perpetuation or furtherance of a tradition or ritual of any such student organization or group. Hazing includes, but is not limited to:
  • brutality of a physical nature, such as whipping, beating, branding, exposure to the elements, forced consumption of food, liquor, drug, or other substance;
  • subjecting a person to extreme mental stress, such as sleep deprivation, forced exclusion from social contact, forced conduct that could result in extreme embarrassment, or other forced activity that could adversely affect the mental health or dignity of a reasonable person;
  • pressuring or coercing a person into violating local, state, federal law and/or University policy;
  • interfering with or impeding a person's academic pursuits, employment, religious observances, or affiliation with other individuals, groups, or activities; or
  • otherwise infringing upon a person's personal or property rights or substantially interfering with a reasonable person's ability to participate in or benefit from the services, activities, or privileges provided by the University.

Hazing does not include: customary athletic events or other similar contests or competitions or any activity or conduct that furthers a legal and legitimate objective.

2. Soliciting another or aiding or assisting another to engage in any act of hazing as defined in this Code, or active involvement in the planning of such action.  

3. Observing or participating in any conduct defined as hazing pursuant to the Code by a member of the student organization or group who is not themselves a complainant, without reporting the incident to a University official.

The following circumstances do not constitute a defense to allegations of hazing:

a. the consent of the victim had been obtained;

b. the conduct or activity that resulted in the death or injury of a person was not part of any official organizational event or otherwise sanctioned or approved by the student organization or group; or

c. the conduct or activity that resulted in the death or injury of a person was not done as a condition of membership into a student organization or group.

BOG 6.021, and Section 1006.63, Florida Statutes are considered part of this Code and incorporated as applicable