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3.2.2 Hazing

TCU Hazing Policy

Texas Christian University (TCU) believes safety is essential to maximizing the University community’s potential. It  prohibits hazing by any individual or group affiliated with it, whether the individual or group is recognized officially by TCU in any form.

Hazing is defined as engaging in any intentional, knowing, or reckless act occurring on or off campus of an educational institution, by one person alone or acting with others, directed against a student (including those who have accepted an offer of admission but not yet enrolled, or otherwise intends to attend after a period of vacation) for the purpose of pledging, being initiated into, affiliating or considering affiliating with, holding office in, developing group cohesion, training, or maintaining membership in any university organization, whether that organization is recognized in any way by TCU or not, whose members are, or include, students at TCU. Some examples of organizations include:

  • Any registered student organization
  • Any group of 2 or more students acting as a group and representing themselves as a group to the broader campus community
  • Organizations of students in any University department
  • Band and spirit organizations
  • Athletic teams
  • Intramurals
  • NCAA
  • Clubs
  • RAs
  • Orientation Leaders
  • ROTC
  • Greek letter organizations
  • Rec sports teams
  • Student staff groups
  • Religious organizations
  • Scholarship groups

A person, alone or acting with others, commits an offense if they engage in hazing; solicit, encourage, direct, aid, or attempt to aid another engaging in hazing; intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly permit hazing to occur; have first-hand knowledge of the planning of a specific hazing event or have firsthand knowledge that a specific hazing event has occurred and knowingly fail to report that knowledge to appropriate University officials (Dean of Students, advisors who are  employed by TCU, TCU Police Department, Hazing hotline 817.257.HAZE (4293), Residence Hall Staff, and campus security authorities (CSAs), Professional staff in Student Activities, etc.) Generally, hazing is any activity or activities that 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).  Acquiescence or consent by the student against whom the hazing was directed is not a defense for this prohibited conduct. Specific hazing examples include, but are not limited to:

  1. Physical brutality such as paddling, whipping, beating, striking, branding, electrical shocking, placing of a harmful substance on the body, or similar activities;
  2. Activities that put students at risk, such as sleep deprivation, exposure to the elements, confinement in a small or darkened space, calisthenics, or other similar activity which may subject the student to an unreasonable risk of harm or that may adversely affect the mental or physical health or safety of the student;
  3. Any act involving either deprivation or consumption, including coerced consumption, of a substance such as food, liquid, alcoholic beverages, liquor, drugs, or other substances that may subject the student to an unreasonable risk of harm, that may affect the student’s mental or physical health or safety, or would lead a reasonable person to believe that the student is intoxicated;
  4. Activities that induce, cause, or require a student to perform an act violating local, state, or federal laws, any other University rule, policy or regulation, or this Code.
  5. Activities that intimidate or threaten a student with ostracism;
  6. Activities that subject a student to extreme mental stress, shame, or humiliation;
  7. Activities that affect the mental health or dignity of the student including, but not limited to, compelling a student to perform acts of personal servitude or to participate in treasure hunts, road trips, scavenger hunts, or other activities which purposefully single out, isolate, or distinguish another student from their peers; or
  8. Activities that jeopardize students’ ability to fulfill academic requirements by requiring such things as late work sessions, depriving students of ample study time, or preventing class or study session attendance;
  9. Activities that discourage the student from entering or remaining registered at the University, or that may reasonably be expected to cause a student to leave the organization or University rather than submit to the activities;
  10. Causing, coercing, or otherwise inducing another person to perform sexual acts.

Procedures

Reporting Hazing

Texas law criminalizes failing to report firsthand knowledge of hazing under the Education Code Chapter 37 at  § 37.152, (https://texas.public.law/statutes/tex._educ._code_section_37.152) which notes: “A person commits an offense if the person: has firsthand knowledge of the planning of a specific hazing incident involving a student in an educational institution, or has firsthand knowledge that a specific hazing incident has occurred, and knowingly fails to report that knowledge to the dean of students or other appropriate official of the institution, a peace officer, or a law enforcement agency.”

Any member of the community suspecting hazing shall report it as promptly as possible through one of the methods below.

  • Emergency:
    • TCU Police Department at 817-257-7777 if it is an emergency
  • Nonemergency:
    • Dean of Students by phone at 817-257-7926
    • TCU Police Department by phone at 817-257-8400
    • TCU Public Safety online by filing a CSA report form at https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?TexasChristianUniv&layout_id=4
    • Calling the Hazing Hotline at 817-257-HAZE (4293)

Investigating Hazing

TCU will investigate all reports of hazing and will disclose information to comply with both the Texas and United States laws and regulations in its Hazing Transparency Report. As provided for in federal law, some of these instances may not be included in the TCU police department’s Clery Act required daily crime log or publication of crime statistics.  Investigations will typically include; interviews with victims, accused, witnesses; examination of forensic evidence such as electronic access records, phone and text records, emails, video recordings; and other common investigative techniques. TCU will undertake these investigations through appropriate offices or departments determined on a case-by-case basis.

Preventing Hazing

Beginning with the 2025-2026 compliance cycle, all employees and students will be required to complete “Hazing Awareness and Prevention for Faculty and Staff,” a course developed by Vector Solutions, to comply with the Stop Campus Hazing Act. In subsequent years, all new employees and students will be required to complete the same online course.
Additional hazing prevention programs may be offered or required of members of the TCU community, such as athletes or member of Greek letter organizations.