Please visit this website for more detailed information on what hazing it, the law in Michigan, how to report, FAQs and additional resources here: Hazing Information and Resources | Office of Student Support & Accountability (msu.edu)
Hazing Defined
Hazing is defined as “requiring or encouraging any act, whether or not the act is voluntarily agreed upon, in conjunction with initiation, affiliation with, continued membership, or participation in any group, that causes or creates a substantial risk of causing mental or physical harm or humiliation.” See General Student Regulations, Appendix A.
Examples of hazing include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Any physical act of violence or intimidation.
- Forced physical activities (e.g. working out excessively).
- Peer-pressuring or coercing someone to consume any legal or illegal substance.
- Placing foreign substances on one’s body or that of another (e.g., using a permanent marker on the body).
- Not allowing someone to use or possess certain items.
- Depriving individuals of sleep, meals, ways to keep their body clean, or means of communication (e.g., restricting access to cell phones).
- Forcing an individual to create and/or distribute digital content to cause ridicule or embarrassment (e.g., posting photos or videos to social media).
- Forcing someone to expose themselves to weather.
- Activities such as scavenger hunts, pledge ditches, kidnapping, forced road trips, or abandonment (e.g., leaving someone in a field with no way to get home or contact anyone), which result in illegal or otherwise prohibited conduct.
- Requiring someone to possess specific items (e.g., carry a brick).
- Servitude (e.g., expecting a new member to do the tasks of an existing member).
- Changing appearance (e.g., wearing a costume or shaving head).
- Line-ups and berating.
- Coerced lewd/sexually explicit conduct (e.g., nudity) or sexual acts.
- Engaging in games, activities or public stunts that are purposely degrading or intend to cause embarrassment.
- Interference with academic pursuits (e.g., not permitting someone to attend class or exams)
- Violation of University policies.
- Requiring illegal and/or unlawful activities.
State of Michigan Law on Hazing
The State of Michigan has criminalized certain types of hazing at educational institutions under “Garret’s Law”. See MCL 750.411t.
Under Garret’s Law, hazing means “an intentional, knowing, or reckless act by a person acting alone or acting with others that is directed against an individual and that the person knew or should have known endangers the physical health or safety of the individual, and that is done for the purpose of pledging, being initiated into, affiliating with, participating in, holding office in, or maintaining membership in any organization.”
Garret’s Law does not apply to an activity that is normal and customary in an athletic, physical education, military training, or similar program sanctioned by the educational institution.
Whether the individual against whom the hazing was directed consented or acquiesced in the hazing is not a defense to a crime under Garret’s Law.
SUMMARY:
Don’t single out freshmen, rookies or any subset of your team. Any activity you have them do should be done by everyone else on the team. Teach, educate, work alongside your new members rather than embarrass and ostracize them. Hazing is a serious issue. Make your club experience fun, and do not engage in potentially dangerous activity. Consider community service as a bonding exercise that can bring your team together. Check out https://communityengagedlearning.msu.edu/ and get your team involved in some serious team building by donating time and volunteering to make the world a better place (and becoming a more cohesive team at the same time!).