Hazing Policy
Witness, Stand Up, Speak Out and Report What Matters!
At UH West Oʻahu, we seek to promote a safe campus environment where members of our learning community may participate in experiences and activities without compromising their health, well-being, dignity and/or rights. Hazing can cause irreparable harm to Complainants, Complainants’ families, and the UH West Oʻahu community. Hazing in any shape or form is not tolerated or welcomed at UH West Oʻahu. Each member of the UH West Oʻahu community shares the responsibility to speak up and take action when something isn’t right.
Together, Pueos can prevent hazing!
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Statement:
University of Hawaiʻi–West Oahu exists so that the people it serves have learning and enrichment opportunities to improve their quality of life and their standard of living. UH West Oʻahu supports a positive educational environment that will benefit student success. UH West Oʻahu does not tolerate hazing. Any student organization(s) found responsible for engaging in hazing occurring on or off campus is subject to disciplinary action under the UH West Oʻahu Student Code of Conduct. The Student Code of Conduct adheres to the Stop Campus Hazing Act (The Stop Campus Hazing Act; Public Law No: 118-173), enacted on December 23, 2024. Students and UH West Oʻahu campus community members to which this policy applies are strongly encouraged to read the Stop Campus Hazing Act in its entirety.
Purpose:
To outline UH West Oʻahu’s stance on hazing; specify key contact for inquiries, where to report an incident, the methods for policy enforcement, and available resources for those reporting violations.
Prohibited Conduct:
The hazing policy is intended to add to, and to work in conjunction with, UH West Oʻahu Student Code of Conduct process.
UH West Oʻahu defines hazing and student organization from the Stop Campus Hazing Act (Section 485(f)(6)(A) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1092(f)(6)(A)) and in the Student Code of Conduct as:
“Hazing” (as defined in Article I(O)) any intentional, knowing, or reckless act committed by a person, whether individually or in concert with other persons, against a student, regardless of that student’s willingness to participate, that:
- is committed in the course of an initiation into, an affiliation with, or the maintenance of membership in, a student organization (as defined in Article I(MM));
- causes or creates a risk, above the reasonable risk encountered in the course of participation in the institution of higher education or the organization (such as the physical preparation necessary for participation in an athletic team), of physical or psychological injury including:
- Whipping, beating, striking, electronic shocking, placing of a harmful substance on someone’s body, or similar activity;
- Causing, coercing, or otherwise inducing sleep deprivation, exposure to the elements, confinement in a small space, extreme calisthenics, or other similar activity;
- Causing, coercing, or otherwise inducing another person to consume food, liquid, alcohol, drugs, or other substances;
- Causing, coercing, or otherwise inducing another person to perform sexual acts;
- Any activity that places another person in reasonable fear of bodily harm through the use of threatening words or conduct;
- Any activity against another person that includes a criminal violation of Local, State, or Federal law; and
- Any activity that induces, causes, or requires another person to perform a duty or task that involves a criminal violation of Local, State, or Federal law.”
Examples: (The following are behaviors that may be constituted or considered as hazing, although this list is not exhaustive)
- Consuming large amount of liquids in a short period of time
- Consuming vile or rotten food and/or beverages
- Isolation
- Prohibiting consumption of food and/or liquids.
- Sleep deprivation
- Making new members provide personal services for active members
“Student Organization” an organization at an institution of higher education in which two or more of the members are students enrolled at the institution of higher education, whether or not the organization is established or recognized by the institution.
Student organizations include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Club
- Society
- Association
- Intramural activities or sports
- Esports/gaming
- Fraternity/sorority
- Band
- Student government
- Honor society in which two or more
Examples:
- Recognized student organizations
- Formerly recognized student organizations
- Loosely affiliated student groups
- Intramurals activities or sports
- Any other organization operating under the sanction of or recognized as an organization by UH West Oʻahu. Other individuals associated with the organizations described above, including:
- Guests of students for student organizations
- Prospective students
- Advisors
- Alumni members of Representatives, directors, trustees, or officers of any national or parent organization.
It shall not be a defense to hazing that the student’s consent was sought or obtained. It is also not a defense that the conduct was sanctioned or approved by the group or organization.
Reporting:
UH West Oʻahu urges anyone, whether a member of the UH West Oʻahu community or an outside community member, who observes, experienced, or becomes aware of behavior potentially constituting hazing in violation of this policy, to report it immediately.
Reports should be made as soon as possible to any of the following:
- Submit a Student Conduct Report Form.
- Student Conduct Officer:
- Located: Student Services Second Floor of C Building Room 240.
- Phone: (808) 689-2936
- Email: uhwocode@hawaii.edu.
- Title IX Coordinator:
- Located: A Building Chancellor’s Suite Room 208D
- Phone: (808) 689-2934
- Email: bbaligad@hawaii.ed
- UH West Oʻahu Campus Security:
- Location: F Building Room 202
- Phone: (808) 689-2911
- Email: uhwocsd@hawaii.edu.
Anonymous Reporting: UH West Oʻahu Student Conduct Report Form has an option for anonymous reporting. An anonymous report submitted may limit UH West O’ahu Official’s ability to effectively respond fully to the report. Nonetheless, UH West O`ahu Officials may investigate the information provided in the report and take reasonable action as appropriate.
If you have any concerns regarding your own safety or safety of peers, you can call Campus Security at (808) 689-2911; they are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Retaliation:
Retaliation (as defined in Article I(Z)) in connection with hazing is strictly prohibited. This includes any form of intimidation, harassment, or encouragement of others to retaliate against anyone who reports or is believed to have reported hazing or other prohibited conduct. It also applies to those who serve as witnesses or are otherwise involved in a potential hazing violation. Complaints of retaliation are filed w1ith the Student Conduct Office by using the Student Conduct Report Form. A retaliation complaint, allegation, or report will be reviewed as a separate offense under this policy; that is, a student organization and/or a student may be found responsible for retaliation even if not found responsible for the underlying reported Student Code of Conduct violation.
More information for hazing-related resources and prevention:
Fact Finding Investigations Process:
Following the receipt of a report alleging hazing, the Student Conduct Officer conducts a fact-finding investigation of the allegations. This process is conducted in accordance with Article A(1-27), “Charges and Student Conduct Officer Meetings.” The following is a shortened summarized version of Article A(1-27), followed by an illustrated slide outlining the entire process:
- The Student Conduct Officer conducts an impartial and reliable preliminary investigation of all allegations to determine whether the allegations have merit or no merit if a policy violation occurred.
- If it is determined the allegations have no merit a policy violation occurred, the report will be dismissed or resolved administratively.
- If it is determined the allegations have merit that a policy violation occurred, the Respondent (student) receives a notification that summarizes the alleged violations and lists the potential charges.
- A Student Conduct Officer’s meeting is scheduled, affording the Respondent the opportunity to respond to the allegations and provide their side of the story.
- The Respondent submits a written statement responding to the allegations. The Student Conduct Officer will review and follow up with questions, if applicable.
- If the Student Conduct Officer determines whether “more likely than not” (“preponderance of the evidence”) based on all of the information provided, a policy violation occurred, educational sanctions may be imposed.
- If the Student Conduct Officer determines whether “more likely than not” a violation did not occur based on the all of the information provided, the case is dismissed.
- Either parties may file an appeal within 5 business days (excluding Saturday, Sunday, or Holidays), if either parties disagree with the Student Conduct Officer’s decision.
The illustration below
Appeal Process
The illustrated slides below outlines the Appeal process, as stated in Article IV(D)(2-6) of the Student Code of Conduct.
Possible Sanctions
Any student organizations found responsible for engaging in hazing will be subject to sanctions imposed by the Student Conduct Officer. UH West O’ahu imposes discipline that is consistent with the impact of the offense on the UH West O’ahu community. Disciplinary action taken against a student organization may include, but is not limited to, one or more of the following Per Article(B)(1-7); sanctions:
Campus Hazing Transparency Report
UH West O`ahu will maintain a Campus Hazing Transparency Report disclosing incidents of hazing which student organizations have been found responsible for Hazing violation under the Student Conduct. UH West O`ahu will update the transparency report bi-annually on January 1, and August 1, and will post the updated report on the UH West O`ahu Student Conduct Campus Hazing Transparency Report Page.
The Campus Hazing Transparency Report (CHTR) (Section 485(f) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C.1092(f)) is a disclosure that applies only to student organizations established or recognized by the institution. The transparency report is intended to disclose incidents of hazing for which student organizations have been found responsible of violating the institution’s standards of conduct addressing hazing. The entries concerning findings of hazing inputted in the Campus Hazing Transparency Report must remain in the report for 5 years.
The Camps Hazing Transparency Report includes:
- Name of student organization
- General description of the violation
- Hazing involved abuse of illegal use of alcohol or drugs
- Incident date
- Start date of Investigation
- End date of investigation (determination of responsibility)
- Date of Outcome notification to student organization
- Rationale for the determination of responsibility
- Sanctions imposed.