SUNY Potsdam believes that membership in student organizations is an important part of the SUNY Potsdam experience. However, being a part of an organization carries with it the responsibility to treat each member respectfully. Responsible behaviors are those that show respect for the dignity and self-esteem of each and every member. Practices that are physically, emotionally, psychologically, and/or spiritually damaging to others are not acceptable and will not be tolerated.
SUNY Potsdam prohibits hazing. SUNY Potsdam defines hazing as any activity expected of someone that humiliates, degrades, abuses, or which endangers the mental, emotional, physical health or safety of a student, or which destroys or removes public or private property, for the purpose of initiation, admission into, affiliation with, or as a condition for continued membership in an organization or team whose members are or include students at SUNY Potsdam.
Hazing may occur regardless of the person’s willingness to participate. It is possible for hazing to occur in any type of group, including but not limited to athletic teams, club sports, Greek organizations, arts/performance groups, academically focused groups, recreational groups, etc.
Note: A person commits a hazing offense if the person engages in hazing; solicits, encourages, directs, aids, or attempts to aid another engaging in hazing; or intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly permits hazing to occur.
If you believe that you or someone you know has been a victim of hazing, you may report the activity to the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards or University Police.
Note on anonymity and confidentiality: SUNY Potsdam will respect the privacy of reporters but cannot guarantee confidentiality for hazing reports. The information that is reported to a non-confidential resource will be relayed only as necessary to investigate and/or seek a resolution and /or to comply with other appropriate SUNY Potsdam policies and procedures, and any federal, state and/or local laws, rules and regulations. SUNY Potsdam will limit the disclosure as much as possible, even if the institution determines that the request for confidentiality cannot be honored. Offices and officials who are confidential resources will not report to law enforcement or university officials without a complainant/reporting party’s permission, except for extreme circumstances, such as a health or safety emergency. At SUNY Potsdam, the College Counseling Center and Student Health Center are considered confidential.
Amnesty Related to Hazing Reports: SUNY Potsdam recognizes that students are sometimes reluctant to report hazing activity due to fear of potential consequences for their own conduct. For this reason, SUNY Potsdam has adopted an amnesty policy which states that a student who acts in good faith to report activity that may fall within the definition of hazing and/or a victim who cooperates fully as a witness in the investigation and student conduct process may not be subject to conduct sanctions related to their won participation in hazing behavior and other behavior including related to alcohol and/or drug violations, as determined by SUNY Potsdam in its sole discretion.
In the event amnesty is granted for self-reported behaviors, if evidence is presented that the student has continued to engage in hazing behaviors or has knowledge of hazing activity that was not reported, they may be held accountable for past behavior. Students who choose to report and request amnesty for their own conduct should know that amnesty does not apply to any criminal or civil action that may be taken by any law enforcement agencies, including University Police.
Upon receiving a report of hazing, the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards will work with the appropriate office which has oversight of the student organization to conduct an investigation into the allegation.
If a report is criminal in nature, University Police and/or local law enforcement will be contacted.
If the report is deemed credible, the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards may issue a temporary order limiting the organization’s activities while the investigation is conducted.
The investigation will determine if there is enough credible information to charge the organization or members of the organization with a violation of the Student Code of Conduct. If there is not, any temporary order will be lifted, and the organization will be able to resume activities. If there is enough information to charge, the organization or its members will be charged through the process outlined in the Student Code of Conduct.
A finding of responsibility for a violation of the Student Code of Conduct may result in educational sanctions, restrictions for new member recruitment, restrictions on organizational activities, organizational probation and/or temporary or permanent loss of recognition by SUNY Potsdam.
Students are expected to be familiar with the campus hazing policy. The policy is distributed to incoming students as part of their Welcome Week materials. University staff share the policy through emails and presentations at student groups like Student Government Association, All Greek Council, etc.
Students involved in campus organizations are provided with information about hazing and bystander intervention. All student athletes attend a mandatory NCAA compliance meeting at which hazing is addressed. Leaders of Greek organizations are required to attend training on hazing, bystander intervention and alcohol and other drugs. All student organization leaders are invited to participate in a Fall Leadership Conference where topics such as ethical leadership, bystander intervention, and effective team building are offered.
Faculty and Staff are notified by email about the hazing policy. Faculty and Staff who serve as Clery Campus Security Authorities (CSA) are notified about their reporting responsibilities, including for reports of hazing. Student Group Advisors are also notified about the hazing policy.
The Stop Campus Hazing Act amends section 485 (f) of the Higher Education Act, otherwise known as the Jeanne Clery Campus Safety Act. The Stop Campus Hazing Act requires the campus to release a report at least twice a year that summarizes all hazing violations of the institution’s code of conduct by student organizations recognized by the institution. The first of these reports will be released in December 2025 and again prior to each fall and spring semester.
Other Applicable Laws
For reporting statistics for incidents of hazing, the Stop Campus Hazing Act establishes the following definitions:
‘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, a student organization; and
- 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), 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
‘Student Organization’ – Any organization at an institution of higher education (such as a club, society, association, varsity or junior varsity athletic team, club sports team, fraternity, sorority, band, or student government) in which two or more of the members are enrolled at the institution of higher education, whether or not the organization is established or recognized by the institution.
Effective November 1, 1988
120.16: Hazing in the first degree
A person is guilty of hazing in the first degree when, in the course of another person's initiation into or affiliation with any organization, he intentionally or recklessly engages in conduct which creates a substantial risk of physical injury to such other person or a third person and thereby causes such injury.
Hazing in the first degree is a class A misdemeanor.
120.17: Hazing in the second degree
A person is guilty of hazing in the second degree when, in the course of another person's initiation or affiliation with any organization, he intentionally or recklessly engages in conduct which creates a substantial risk of physical injury to such other person or a third person.
Hazing in the second degree is a violation.
In addition to the consequences of violating University policies and state law prohibiting hazing, both individuals and chapters can be sued in civil court for mental or physical harm that results from hazing. Individual group members (and their parents), group leaders, advisors, the organization, and national affiliates may be sued. Hazing on college campuses has resulted in numerous successful lawsuits.