Hazing Prevention

Stevens is committed to providing an environment free from hazing. The safety and well-being of our students is a top priority. Hazing in all its forms by any member of the Stevens community is strictly prohibited as outlined in the Policy on Hazing and in accordance with New Jersey laws.

Report a Hazing Incident

Given the potential seriousness of the risks presented by hazing, each member of the Stevens community (i.e., faculty, staff and students) and each Organization is obligated by this Policy to (a) report any known or suspected violation of this Policy to Stevens as soon as possible and (b) immediately report any emergency situation involving hazing to Campus Police. In addition, any alumni, parent or other individual (whether or not directly connected with Stevens) may report a known or suspected violation of this Policy.

Reports under this Policy shall be directed to the Director of Community Standards and Title IX Coordinator in the Office of Student Affairs, Dean of Students, or the Assistant Vice President for Human Resources and Strategic Initiatives. In addition, reports may be submitted through Stevens’ hotline on an identified or anonymous basis at (855) 277-4065 or on the Compliance Hotline website at https://secure.ethicspoint.com/domain/media/en/gui/31028/index.html. Stevens is committed to reviewing all reports of hazing. 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.

Prompt reporting of hazing to Stevens and/or Campus Police will be considered by Stevens as a mitigating fact in any disciplinary process involving the reporter and may be relevant under NJ Law to mitigate the likelihood of criminal prosecution for certain drug crimes. Failure by any member of the University community or Organization to provide a timely report of suspected hazing may result in discipline and other consequences, including potential dismissal from University employment or expulsion.

If you or someone else is in danger, please contact the Stevens Police Department at 201-216-3911 or call 911 immediately.

Note: Those students who seek medical assistance for themselves or for an individual who is intoxicated or experiencing a drug-or alcohol-related emergency will not be subject to university disciplinary actions. Please refer to the Medical Amnesty (Good Samaritans) section below.

Please do not use email or online forms if you are currently in a situation where immediate medical, police, psychological, or other emergency services are needed.

Hazing Definitions:

Hazing in all its forms by any member of the Stevens community or Organization is strictly prohibited by this Policy. Under this Policy, hazing includes, but is not limited to, all behavior prohibited under Applicable Law as set forth below.

• Under the Stop Campus Hazing Act, the term `hazing' means any intentional, knowing, or reckless act committed by a person (whether individually or in concert with other persons) against another person or persons regardless of the willingness of such other person or persons to participate, that:

  • is committed in the course of an initiation into, an affiliation with, or the maintenance of membership in, an Organization; and

  • causes or creates a risk, above the reasonable risk encountered in the course of participation in higher education or the Organization (e.g., the physical preparation necessary for participation in an athletic team, ROTC, or drama club), of physical or psychological injury including:

    • 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.

• Under NJ Law, a person will be guilty of hazing if their conduct is in connection with initiation of applicants to or members of a student or fraternal Organization and the person knowingly or recklessly:

  • Causes, coerces, or otherwise induces another person to commit an act that violates federal or state criminal law; ii. Causes, coerces, or otherwise induces another person to consume any food, liquid, alcoholic liquid, drug, or other substance which subjects the person to a risk of emotional or physical harm or is otherwise deleterious to the person’s health; iii. Subjects another person to abuse, mistreatment, harassment, or degradation (a) of a physical nature including, without limitation, whipping, beating, branding, excessive calisthenics, or exposure to the elements, or (b) of a mental or emotional nature including, without limitation, activities adversely affecting the mental or emotional health or dignity of the individual, sleep deprivation, exclusion from social contact or conduct that could result in extreme embarrassment, or (c) of a sexual nature; or iv. Subjects another person to any other activity that creates a reasonable likelihood of bodily injury to the person.

• Under NJ law, a person will be guilty of hazing if their conduct is in connection with the initiation of applicants to or members of a student or fraternal Organization and the person knowingly or recklessly:

  • Causes, coerces or otherwise induces another person to commit an act that violates federal or state criminal law;

  • Causes, coerces or otherwise induces another person to consume any food, liquid, alcoholic liquid, drug or other substance which subjects the person to a risk of emotional or physical harm or is otherwise deleterious to the person’s health;

  • Subjects another person to abuse, mistreatment, harassment, or degradation

    • of a physical nature including, without limitation, whipping, beating, branding, excessive calisthenics, or exposure to the elements or

    • of a mental or emotional nature including, without limitation, activities adversely affecting the mental or emotional health or dignity of the individual, sleep deprivation, exclusion from social contact or conduct that could result in extreme embarrassment or

    • of a sexual nature, or

    • Subjects another person to any other activity that creates a reasonable likelihood of bodily injury to the person.