05-09.00 鈥� Hazing Policy

  1. Policy Statement:

    Towson University (the 鈥淯niversity鈥�) strictly prohibits hazing, which is a crime under Maryland Law. Hazing presents serious risks to the health and safety of students and jeopardizes the affiliation of student organizations at the University.

  2. Definitions:

    1. 鈥淗补锄颈苍驳鈥� means any intentional, knowing, or reckless act committed by a person, whether individually or in concert with other persons, against another person regardless of such other person's willingness 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 (including but not limited to a club, society, association, athletic team, fraternal organization, or student government); and

      2. causes or creates a risk, above the reasonable risk encountered during participation in the University or the Student Organization (such as the physical training necessary for participation in an athletic team), of physical or psychological injury or degradation. 

    2. Actions and activities that may constitute hazing under this Policy include, but are not limited to: 
       

      1. Kidnapping

      2. Requiring inappropriate dress (including, for example, militaristic garb and/or apparel that is conspicuous and not normally in good taste, for public embarrassment.) 

      3. Paddling in any form.

      4. Creation of excessive fatigue or labor for inappropriate reasons outside of the mission of the University organization, office, team, or unit. (e.g., labor that is not inherent in the scope of the group's activities.) Examples of labor inherent in a group's activities would include following appropriate directions given by University representatives with authority over the group, such as coaches or faculty advisors requiring members of the group to put away equipment after using it.  

      5. Required road trips taken that have not been authorized by the University senior administrators (i.e., the Assistant Vice President of Campus Life or the Director of Athletics, and/or their designees). 

      6. Scavenger hunts without prior approval from the University senior administrators (i.e., the Assistant Vice President of Campus Life or the Director of Athletics, and/or their designees).  

      7. Branding, tattooing, or any form of body mutilation. 

      8. Any act of physical abuse, psychological abuse, or verbal abuse (including but not limited to, whipping, beating, striking, electronic shocking, place a harmful substance on someone's body, 鈥渓ine-ups,鈥� forced calisthenics (unless part of an organized athletic activity sponsored by a recognized/sanctioned sports program), and surprise or fake initiations, etc. 

      9. Exposing participants to adverse weather conditions not in conjunction with an athletic competition. 

      10. Engaging in public stunts and humiliating games and activities. 

      11. Mandated late-night sessions or sleep deprivation that interferes with academic and co-curricular activities. 

      12. Running personal errands for members or mandating tasks only for new members. 

      13. Mandated consumption, included but not limited to consumption of illegal substances, food, alcohol, or any non-potable or non-consumable products. 

      14. Inappropriate activities required of a specific group (new member, rookie, etc.) including, as limited examples, shaving of heads and servitude. 

      15. Requiring or coercing members to engage in sexual acts of any kind, regardless or their consent. 

    3. 鈥泪苍补辫辫谤辞辫谤颈补迟别鈥� is defined as any act or behavior that is unreasonable, unnecessary, and is not consistent with the academic mission of the University. The University's Office of Student Accountability and Restorative Practices is responsible for determining whether an individual's behavior is inappropriate within the meaning of this Policy. 

    4. "Student Organization" means an organization at the University (such as a club, society, association, varsity or junior varsity athletic team, club sports team, fraternity, sorority, band, or student government) in which two or more of the members are students enrolled at the University, whether or not the organization is established or recognized by the University.

    5. 鈥淯niversity Community鈥� means University students, faculty and staff

  3. Responsible Executive and Office:

    Responsible Executives:
    Senior Vice President for Student Affairs and University Life

    Responsible Offices:
    Office of Student Accountability and Restorative Practices (SARP)

  4. Entities Affected by this Policy:

    The University Community 

Related Policies:

Procedures for 05-09.00 Hazing Policy
Code of Student Accountability

Related Resources:


Stop Campus Hazing Act, Public Law 118-173 118th Congress
Maryland Code Annotated, Criminal Law, 3-607

Approval Date: 08/27/2012

Effective Date: 08/27/2012

Amended Date: 11/02/2015, 06/23/25

Approved By: President鈥檚 Cabinet

How to Request the Policy PDF

This online version of the policy may include updated links and names of departments. To request a PDF of the original, signed version of this policy, email the Office of the General Counsel, .