Ï㽶ÊÓƵ Home > Student Life > Student Policies > Policy Against Hazing and Bullying

Policy Against Hazing and Bullying

This policy establishes Ï㽶ÊÓƵ’s commitment to providing a healthy and safe environment. Westminster prohibits bullying and/or hazing as defined in this policy. Bullying and/or hazing will not be accepted or tolerated, and the College will investigate and respond to all reports of bullying and/or hazing as outlined in this policy.

Persons Affected

This policy applies to all members of the Westminster community (students and employees).

Definitions

Bullying – Intimidation, unwanted aggressive behavior, or harassment that is repetitive or substantially likely to be repeated, causing a reasonable student to fear for his or her physical safety or property; substantially interferes with the educational performance, opportunities, or benefits of any student without exception; or substantially disrupts the orderly operation of the College. Bullying may consist of physical actions, including gestures, or oral, online/electronic, or written communication, and any threat of retaliation for reporting of such acts. Bullying of students is prohibited on College property, at any Westminster function, or on a college bus.

Hazing - Any intentional act or situation that is created on or off campus against someone joining, becoming a member, or maintaining membership in any group, which is humiliating, intimidating, or demeaning; which produces physical, mental, or emotional pain or discomfort; and/or which endangers the health and safety of the person. A person's willingness to participate in an act of hazing does not justify, exempt, or excuse the act. Hazing creates an environment/climate in which dignity and respect are absent.

Participation or cooperation by the person(s) being hazed does not excuse the violation. Failure by a group's or organization's executive officers to intervene to prevent, discourage, and/or report hazing of which they are aware or reasonably should be aware also will be deemed a violation of this policy.

Organization - An organization at an institution of higher education (such as a club, society, association, varsity or junior varsity athletic team, club sports team, fraternity, sorority, choir, or student government) in which two or more of the members are students enrolled at the institution of higher education, regardless of whether the organization is established or recognized by the institution.

Missouri Anti-Hazing Law

Missouri Anti-Hazing Law § 578.365. Hazing -- consent not a defense - penalties 1. A person commits the offense of hazing if he or she knowingly participates in or causes a willful act, occurring on or off the campus of a public or private college or university, directed against a student or a prospective member of an organization operating under the sanction of a public or private college or university, that recklessly endangers the mental or physical health or safety of a student or prospective member for the purpose of initiation or admission into or continued membership in any such organization to the extent that such person is knowingly placed at probable risk of the loss of life or probable bodily or psychological harm. Acts of hazing include: a. Any activity which recklessly endangers the physical health or safety of the student or prospective member, including but not limited to physical brutality, whipping, beating, branding, exposure to the elements, forced consumption of any food, liquor, drug or other substance, or forced smoking or chewing tobacco products; b. Any activity which recklessly endangers the mental health of the student or prospective member, including but not limited to sleep deprivation, physical confinement, or other extreme stress-inducing activity; or c. Any activity that requires the student or prospective member to perform a duty or task which involves a violation of the criminal laws of this state or any political subdivision in this state. 2. Public or private colleges or universities in this state shall adopt a written policy prohibiting hazing by any organization operating under the sanction of the institution. 3. Nothing in this section should be interpreted as creating a new private cause of action against any educational institution. 4. Consent is not a defense against hazing. Section 565.010 does not apply to hazing cases or to homicide cases arising out of hazing activity. 5. The offense of hazing is a class A misdemeanor, unless the act creates a substantial risk to the life of the student or prospective member, in which case it is a class D felony.

Policy Statement

Hazing, bullying, and cyberbullying and related misconduct are expressly prohibited by Ï㽶ÊÓƵ. Individual students, organizations, athletic teams, faculty, staff, or others who commit an act of hazing, bullying or cyberbullying or related misconduct will be subject to disciplinary action by the College up to and including dismissal as a student or termination of employment, and could be subject to prosecution under Missouri Law. This policy is effective from enrollment to commencement, including breaks in the academic year. This policy applies to conduct that occurs on or off campus, between two or more people who are affiliated with the College, or any student or other organization associated with the College. This policy also applies to volunteers acting in an official capacity that advises or coaches student organizations that have direct contact with students.

An individual violates this policy if the person:

An organization violates this policy if the organization's officer or any combination of members, new members, or alumni of the organization, team, or other group commits or assists in the commission of hazing, condones, or encourages hazing, or fails to prevent or report hazing.

Conditions That Create a Hazing Dynamic: Members often wish to be accepted into any group and will submit to hazing in order to be included. Because of this, consent to be hazed does not excuse hazing. Any activity that places members in a subservient position to experienced members of the group creates an unhealthy and unsafe power dynamic in which control has been yielded to the experienced member. Members in any organization may expect to be trained or oriented for a period of time, but membership in any group that puts any member in a lesser role, unrelated to the original conditions for membership, is inappropriate and unfair to the members. Hazing behaviors can emphasize a power imbalance and can cause humiliation as well as emotional and physical distress to students.

Regardless of severity, all hazing behaviors will be defined as hazing and result in a campus policy violation, with the possibility of involving law enforcement. Examples of hazing are included below; these examples are intended to be illustrative and not all-inclusive:

Examples of bullying behavior include, but are not limited to, the following: repeated and health-harming abuse; manipulation and sabotage by others, preventing work from being completed; verbal and written abuse; threatening conduct; intimidation and humiliation; persistent, ongoing, harsh, unreasonable, and unjustified criticisms; credit stealing; setting impossible deadlines; malicious gossiping and rumor-mongering; false accusations toward others; yelling, shouting, berating others; cyberbullying (lack of email etiquette, social media postings, etc.).

Procedures

Managers and supervisors will:

Employees should:

Other members of the College community and visitors should:

Westminster will maintain a report of all violations of this policy that are reported to the College and which result in a charge of violation of this policy. The College will update the report bi-annually in January and August of each year and will post the updated report on the College's website.

Grievance Procedure

If an individual becomes aware of conduct that is potentially prohibited by this policy, the individual should submit an Incident Report in a timely manner. The appropriate designees from Institutional Compliance, Student Services or Human Resources will receive the report, make an initial evaluation, and determine appropriate next steps based on the specific circumstances of the situation.

Consequence

When appropriate, Westminster will investigate. If a violation of this policy is found, the College will take steps to stop the prohibited conduct, remedy its effects, and prevent future recurrence. Students found to have violated this policy may be subject to disciplinary action up to and including expulsion from the College. Employees found to have violated this policy may be subject to disciplinary action up to and including termination of employment.

Questions about this policy or individuals seeking resources related to matters set forth herein should contact the Students Services or Human Resources.

At Ï㽶ÊÓƵ, we are called to make a positive impact.

Westminster is a small college that makes a big impact, and that impact aligns with our mission, where students are challenged to become critically aware, lifelong learners and leaders of character, committed to the values of integrity, fairness, respect, and responsibility. Together, we ensure our students life lives of success, significance, and service.