Hazing

Appalachian State University, The State of North Carolina, Office of Campus Activities, and The Interfraternity, Panhellenic, Multicultural Greek, and National Pan-Hellenic Councils do not tolerate or encourage any activities that may constitute hazing according to the definitions below. We encourage any member that believes they have been a victim of hazing or witnessed or participated in hazing to report the alleged violation directly to the Office of Student Conduct so that the incident can be investigated immediately and appropriately.

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What is Hazing?

Stop Campus Hazing Act

20 U.S.C. 1092(f)(6)(A)(vi) (2024)
H.R. 5646

Hazing, regardless of an individual’s willingness to participate, is any intentional, knowing or reckless act committed by one person or a group against another individual in connection with initiation, admission or continued membership in a student organization or group that:

  • Causes or creates a risk (above the reasonable risk encountered in the course of participation in the institution or the student organization) of physical or psychological injury. It includes activities such as:
    • 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, Tribal 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, Tribal or Federal law.

Student Organization Definition for purposes of reporting under the Clery Safety Act

20 U.S.C. 1092(f)(6)(A)(vii) (2024)

Under the Stop Campus Hazing Act, a student organization an organization at an institution of higher education (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 institution of higher education, whether or not the organization is established or recognized by the institution.

North Carolina Hazing Law

§ 14-35 Hazing; Definition and Punishment

  • It is unlawful for any student in attendance at any university, college, or school in this State to engage in hazing, or to aid or abet any other student in the commission of this offense. Any violation of this subsection shall constitute a Class A1 misdemeanor.
  • It is unlawful for any school personnel, including, but not limited to, a teacher, school administrator, student teacher, school safety officer, or coach, at any university, college, or school in this State to engage in hazing or to aid or abet any other person in the commission of this offense. Any violation of this subsection shall constitute a Class I felony.
  • For the purposes of this section, hazing is defined as subjecting a student to physical or serious psychological injury as part of an initiation, or as a prerequisite to membership, into any organized school group, including any society, athletic team, fraternity or sorority, or other similar group. (1913, c. 169, ss. 1, 2, 3, 4; C.S., s. 4217; 1969, c. 1224, s. 1; 1993, c. 539, s. 19; 1994, Ex. Sess., c. 24, s. 14(c); 2003‑299, s. 1; 2025‑73, s. 1(b).)

App State Code of Student Conduct

Code of Student Conduct

Hazing is any intentional, knowing, or reckless act committed by one person or a group against another individual or group, regardless of willingness to participate that: is connected with an initiation into, an affiliation with, or the maintenance of membership in, a Student Organization or group; and causes or creates a risk (above the reasonable risk encountered in the course of participation in the institution or the student organization) of physical or psychological injury. It includes activities such as:

  1. whipping, beating, striking, electronic shocking, placing harmful substances on someone’s body, or similar activity; 15 2025-2026 Code of Student Conduct
  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 that may constitute personal servitude, including but not limited to expectations to provide beeping services, performing cleaning tasks, carry and present specific objects upon request, remain on call or continuously available, or running errands and complete tasks for another individual;
  7. any activity that may constitute personal servitude, including but not limited to expectations to provide beeping services any activity against another person that includes a criminal violation of local, State, Tribal, or Federal law; and
  8. 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. 

 

Examples of Hazing

Hazing can be intimidating, harassing, or violent in nature. It can manifest itself in the form of physical violence, forced physical activities, or psychological and/or emotional harm, which can be violations of law. There are a wide range of behaviors and activities that constitute hazing that often go unrecognized or unreported. Although it is impossible to list all possible hazing behaviors because many are context-specific, the list below provides some common examples of hazing behaviors. It is important to note, however, that these categories do not negate nor lessen an allegation of hazing. Regardless of category, hazing is hazing and is not welcome at Appalachian State University.

Intimidation

  • Deception (lies, tricks, or dishonesty)
  • Assigning demerits
  • Silence periods with implied threats for violation
  • Socially isolating new members
  • Demeaning names
  • Expecting certain items to always be in one’s possession

    Harassment

    • Verbal abuse
    • Threats or implied threats
    • Asking new members to wear embarrassing attire
    • Skit nights with degrading or humiliating acts
    • Sleep deprivation
    • Sexual simulations

        Violent

        • Forced consumption of alcohol or drugs
        • Beating, paddling, or other forms of assault
        • Branding
        • Forced ingestion of vile substances
        • Water intoxication
        • Abduction/kidnapping
        • Sexual assault

          Adapted from StopHazing and Arkansas State University.

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