Hazing Policy and Transparency Report

Policy Statement

Rose State College, in accordance with 21 OK Stat § 1190 (2024), strictly prohibits hazing by any individual or organization affiliated with the College, whether occurring on or off campus.

No student, employee, or organization recognized or operating under the authority of the College shall engage in, condone, assist, encourage, or fail to report acts of hazing.

This prohibition applies regardless of an individual’s willingness or consent to participate in such activities.

Applicability

This policy applies to:

• All students, student organizations, faculty, staff, and volunteers acting on behalf of the College;
• Conduct that occurs on College-owned or controlled property;
• Conduct that occurs during off-campus activities sponsored, sanctioned, or affiliated with the College; and
• Conduct that, regardless of location, has a substantial connection to the College community or adversely affects its members.

Both individuals and organizations may be held accountable for violations of this policy.

How to Report

Any person who experiences, witnesses, or suspects hazing is strongly encouraged to report it. Reports may be submitted:

• Online: via the Rose State College Incident Reporting Form https://rosestatecollege.formstack.com/forms/tabit
• In Person: to the Office of Student Accountability (SSB 208) or the office of Safety, Security, and Risk Management (SLC 100B);
• By Phone: Student Accountability (405) 736-0355, Coordinator of Safety, Security, and Risk Management (405) 736-0329;
• By Email: Student Accountability [email protected], Coordinator of Safety, Security, and Risk Management [email protected];

Anonymous reports will be accepted; however, anonymity may limit the College’s ability to investigate.

Nothing in this policy prevents an individual from reporting hazing directly to law enforcement authorities.

Definitions

For the purposes of this policy, hazing is defined as any intentional, knowing, or reckless act committed by one or more persons, whether individually or in concert with others, against another person or persons, that:

1. Is committed in connection with initiation into, affiliation with, or the maintenance of membership in any student organization or group; and
2. Causes or creates a substantial risk, beyond that inherent in sanctioned College activities, of physical, emotional, or psychological harm.

Consent or willingness to participate does not negate the definition of hazing.

Examples of Prohibited Hazing Conduct

Examples include, but are not limited to:

• Physical acts such as whipping, beating, branding, forced physical activity, or exposure to extreme conditions;
• Coercing individuals to consume alcohol, drugs, food, or other substances;
• Acts causing sleep deprivation, personal servitude, isolation, or confinement;
• Conduct that humiliates, degrades, or endangers the mental health or dignity of an individual;
• Any activity that violates local, state, or federal law.

Student Organization

Any student group with two or more members enrolled at Rose State College, including but not limited to clubs, associations, athletic teams, fraternities or sororities, honor societies, and other registered or affiliated groups, whether officially recognized or not.

Prohibited Conduct

The following actions constitute violations of this policy:

• Planning, directing, committing, or being present during hazing activities;
• Knowingly failing to intervene or report a planned or suspected act of hazing;
• Attempting to conceal, destroy, or withhold information or evidence related to hazing;
• Retaliating against any person for reporting hazing or participating in an investigation;
• Authorizing or condoning hazing by an organization, team, or group under College oversight.

Oklahoma State Law Regarding Hazing (21 O.S. § 1190)

Prohibition

Under Oklahoma law, “no student organization or any person associated with any organization sanctioned or authorized by the governing board of any public or private school or institution of higher education in this state shall engage or participate in hazing.” (21 O.S. § 1190(A))

Definition

“Hazing” means any activity that recklessly or intentionally endangers the mental or physical health or safety of a student for the purpose of initiation, admission into, or affiliation with any organization sanctioned or authorized by the College.

Endangering the physical health includes, but is not limited to, physical brutality such as whipping, beating, branding, forced calisthenics, exposure to the elements, or forced consumption of any substance.

Endangering the mental health includes activities that subject an individual to extreme mental stress such as sleep deprivation, forced isolation, humiliation, or other acts that degrade dignity or mental well-being.

Criminal Penalties

• Organizations found guilty of hazing may be charged with a misdemeanor and fined up to $1,500 and lose all rights and privileges of operation for at least one year.
• Individuals found guilty of hazing may be charged with a misdemeanor and fined up to $500, imprisoned for up to 90 days, or both.

Federal Requirements: Stop Campus Hazing Act of 2024

Rose State College complies with the Stop Campus Hazing Act of 2024 (Public Law 118-173) and related federal regulations, which require institutions of higher education to:

1. Collect and publish statistics on hazing incidents annually in the College’s Clery Act Annual Security Report;
2. Publish a Campus Hazing Transparency Report summarizing findings of responsibility for hazing by recognized student organizations; and
3. Implement hazing prevention and awareness programs for students, faculty, and staff.

Hazing Transparency Report

Consistent with federal law, Rose State College will maintain a Hazing Transparency Report identifying student organizations found responsible for hazing violations.

The report will include:

• Organization name;
• General description of the violation;
• Key incident and resolution dates; and
• Sanctions imposed (if any).

The report will exclude personally identifiable information and will be updated semi-annually. Records will remain available for five (5) years.

Prevention and Education

Rose State College implements a comprehensive prevention and awareness program that includes:

• Annual hazing prevention training for students, employees, and organization leaders;
• Bystander intervention and ethical leadership education;
• Resources on healthy group development and alternative bonding activities; and
• Distribution of this policy to all student organizations and College departments.

Participation in hazing prevention training may be a prerequisite for organizational registration or renewal.