Sinclair Community College Anti-Hazing Policy

(Board Approved February 3, 2022)

The Policy is separate from the Student Code of Conduct. Sinclair Community College prohibits hazing as defined in this policy. Sinclair will investigate and respond to all reports of hazing as outlined in this policy. __________________________________________________________________________________________

Definition:

For purposes of this policy,"hazing" has the same definition as contained in Ohio Revised Code Section 2903.31(A)(1):

"Hazing" means 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.

Jurisdiction:

This policy applies to Sinclair students, recognized student organizations (including intramural and intercollegiate athletic and esport teams), and employees. This policy also applies to volunteers acting in an official capacity who advise or coach student organizations and who have direct contact with students.

This policy applies to conduct that occurs on or off-campus, between two or more people who are affiliated with Sinclair, any Sinclair student, or any organization associated with Sinclair.

Process:

Alleged violations of this policy are subject to referral to appropriate law enforcement or Sinclair's office of Student Judicial Affairs, and to regional, national, or international affiliated offices of student organizations, for action and prosecution.

Student Judicial Affairs will investigate and adjudicate all hazing allegations involving student respondents. Alleged violations of this policy by students and/or recognized student organizations will be processed in accordance with the Student Code of Conduct.(https://www.sinclair.edu/services/conduct-safety/student-judicial-affairs/student-code-of-conduct-handbook/)

Student Judicial Affairs will also assess the need for interim measures.

Student Judicial Affairs may charge an individual or a recognized student organization with a violation of this policy. Those found in violation of this policy will be subject to sanctions established within the Student Code of Conduct, up to and including dismissal for individuals and loss of charter for organizations.

When appropriate, other college offices may handle certain aspects of the College response, e.g., Provost Office, Sinclair Police, and Title IX Office.

Every effort will be taken to complete the investigation in a timely manner.

Reporting:

Campus safety is Sinclair's top priority, and Sinclair takes all reports of misconduct seriously to protect everyone's health and well-being. Sinclair depends on administrators, faculty, staff, and students to identify and report behaviors of concern so that the College can provide distressed students and employees with appropriate support services and resources. All are responsible for campus safety.

Sinclair is committed to reviewing all reports of hazing. Anonymous reports are accepted; however, the ability to obtain additional information may be compromised, and the ability to investigate anonymous reports may be limited.

Immediately upon learning of potential hazing, any individual with a duty to report violations of this  policy who receives a complaint of hazing or who observes or learns of conduct that is reasonably believed to be in violation of this policy is required to report the alleged conduct to Student Judicial Affairs here.(https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?SinclairCC&layout_id=6)

Individuals with a duty to report violations of this policy include all employees and students enrolled at Sinclair. In addition to the duty to report hazing as identified in the prior paragraph, there is also a duty to report allegations of criminal conduct to law enforcement in some circumstances under Ohio Revised Code Sections 2903.311(B) and 2903.31(C)(2).

Section 2903.311(B) states:

No administrator, employee, faculty member, teacher, consultant, alumnus, or volunteer of any organization, including any primary, secondary, or post-secondary school or any other public or private educational institution, who is acting in an official and professional capacity shall recklessly fail to immediately report the knowledge of hazing to a law enforcement agency in the county in which the victim of hazing resides or in which the hazing is occurring or has occurred.

Section 2903.31(C)(2) states:

No administrator, employee, faculty member, teacher, consultant, alumnus, or volunteer of any organization, including any primary, secondary, or post-secondary school or any other educational institution, public or private, shall recklessly permit the hazing of any person associated with the organization when the hazing includes coerced consumption of alcohol or drugs of abuse resulting in serious physical harm to that person.

Bi-Annual Hazing Report:

Sinclair will maintain a report of all violations of this policy reported to the College, resulting in a charge of violation of this policy. The College will update the report bi-annually on January 1 and August 1 of each year and will post the updated report on the College's website.

Training:

All students seeking membership in a recognized student organization at Sinclair must complete the anti-hazing training provided by Sinclair. Failure to complete the training will result in the student being denied the ability to join any recognized student organization or group. If a student is unsure if they have completed the required program, they should contact the Student and Community Engagement Office at 937-512-2509 or studentandcommunity@sinclair.edu to verify their eligibility to join a student organization.