University Policy Regarding Hazing

  1. Policy statement. As part of its commitment to promoting a safe and healthy campus environment for the university community and cultivating a culture that fosters respect for the dignity and rights of all its members, the university does not tolerate hazing activities by any members of the university community.

  2. Scope. This policy applies to Kent state university students, student organizations, student groups, and employees. This policy also applies to volunteers acting in an official capacity that advise or coach student organizations and/or student groups and who have direct contact with students. Kent state university has jurisdiction under this policy whether the conduct occurs on or off campus, between two or more people who are affiliated with the university, or any student or other organization associated with the university.

  3. Definition. Pursuant to Ohio law under section 2903.31 of the Revised Code, ("hazing") is defined as doing any act or coercing another, including the victim, to do any act of initiation into any student or other organization or any act to continue or reinstate membership in or affiliation with any student or other organization that causes or creates a substantial risk of causing mental or physical harm to any person, including coercing another to consume alcohol or a drug of abuse, as defined in section 3719.011 of the Revised Code. This applies to any act, intended or carried out, whether or not the act is voluntarily agreed upon.

    1. In addition to Ohio law, Kent state university defines "hazing" as any action or situation intentionally created, whether on or off university premises, to produce mental or physical discomfort, embarrassment, harassment or ridicule.

  4. Implementation. Kent state university students as individuals, members of registered student organizations or any other recognizable groups, teams, or associations of students are expressly prohibited from engaging in hazing. This may include but is not limited to intercollegiate athletic teams, bands, fraternities, reserve officer training corps, sororities, student clubs registered under rule 3342-4-11 of the Administrative Code, the undergraduate and graduate student governing bodies, and university housing student governing bodies.

  5. Enforcement. Enforcement of this policy is described in rules 3342-4-02.1 and 3342-4-02.101 of the Administrative Code.

  6. Sanctions.

    1. Students and/or student organizations. Students and/or student organizations accused of violating this rule are subject to disciplinary action under the code of student conduct, rule 3342-4-02 of the Administrative Code and this register.

    2. Violations of this policy by employees may result in corrective action or discipline in accordance with applicable university policies and procedures and/or collective bargaining agreements.

Policy Effective Date:

Jan 01, 2022

Policy Prior Effective Dates: 

7/18/1983, 2/1/2000, 6/1/2007, 3/1/2015

Hazing Prevention Training Requirements

In the state of Ohio, Collin’s Law (Senate Bill 126) effective October 2021, makes acts of hazing a second-degree misdemeanor and acts of hazing that include coerced consumption of alcohol or drugs or abuse that result in serious physical harm a felony of the third degree. Collin’s Law also requires reporting to law enforcement and prevention education offered from the university to students, employees, and advisors.

Ohio is one of 44 states with laws against hazing. Collin’s Law, also known as The Ohio Anti-Hazing Act, is taken extremely seriously at Kent State University. Fraternity and Sorority Life at Kent State University does not tolerate any instance of hazing across our councils and their member organizations. We believe that there is no place for hazing in our organizations, and true brotherhood and sisterhood is not cultivated by hazing one another.

All students interested in joining a fraternity or sorority at Kent State University should complete the training module titled, Hazing Prevention 101: College Edition on kent.prevent.zone by utilizing their KSU credentials to log in. Chapter and campus advisors should complete Hazing Prevention: It’s Everyone’s Responsibility - Faculty & Staff Edition through the same link. Email Michele at mcriss3@kent.edu if you do not have kent.edu login.

Students will not be permitted to join a fraternal organization until their hazing prevention training is complete. This training is a one-time requirement and will only need completed once throughout their collegiate years.

To report hazing at Kent State University, a person can:

Anonymous reports are accepted; however, the university’s ability to obtain additional information may be compromised and the ability to investigate anonymous reports may be limited. 

University Report on Hazing

In compliance with Ohio Senate Bill 126, known as “Collin’s Law” this report contains information regarded reported hazing at Kent State University for the previous five years. In accordance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), names of individuals have been redacted for this report. From the academic years 2017-2018 and through 2022-2023, accusations of hazing have not been reported or processed through the Kent State University Office of Student Conduct.