HAZING
The purpose of this policy is to maintain a safe, positive environment for students and staff that is free from hazing. Hazing activities of any type are inconsistent with the educational goals of the district and are prohibited at all times.
This policy applies to all hazing incidents during the school year, both on Owen J. Roberts School District property and at activities sponsored by Owen J. Roberts at locations outside of the Owen J. Roberts School District. In addition, this policy applies to all school-sanctioned practices during the summer and summer activities that are not district-sponsored, but involve Owen J. Roberts students and school personnel (i.e. voluntary athletic camps in the summer sponsored or supervised by OJR coaches).
Hazing occurs when a person recklessly, knowingly or intentionally, for the purpose of initiating, admitting or affiliating a student with an organization, or for the purpose of continuing or enhancing membership or status in an organization, causes, coerces or forces a student , to do any of the following:
Violate federal or state criminal law.
Endure brutality of a physical nature, such as whipping, beating, branding, calisthenics or exposure to the elements.
Endure brutality of a mental nature, including activity adversely affecting the mental health or dignity of the individual, sleep deprivation,exclusion from social contact or conduct that could result in extreme embarrassment.
Forced willful destruction or removal of public or private property.
Forced consumption of any food, liquid, alcoholic liquid, drug or other substance which subjects the student to a risk of emotional or physical harm.
Endure any other activity which could adversely affect the physical health or safety of the individual or creates a reasonable likelihood of bodily injury to the student.
Endure brutality of a sexual nature.
Aggravated hazing occurs when a person commits an act of hazing that results in serious bodily injury or death to the student and:
The person acts with reckless indifference to the health and safety of the student; or
The person causes, coerces or forces the consumption of an alcoholic liquid or drug by the student.
Organizational hazing occurs when an organization intentionally, knowingly or recklessly promotes or facilitates hazing.
Any activity, as described above, shall be deemed a violation of this policy regardless on whether:
The consent of the student was sought or obtained, or
The conduct was sanctioned or approved by the school or organization.
For purposes of this policy, any activity, as described above, upon which the initiation or admission into or affiliation with or continued membership in an organization is directly or indirectly conditioned shall be presumed to be a "forced" activity, the willingness of an individual to participate in such activity notwithstanding.
For purposes of this policy, student activity or organization is defined as any activity, corps, organization, team, club, society, or service, social or similar group operating under the sanction of or recognized as an organization by the district, whose members are primarily students or alumni of the organization.
For purposes of this policy, bodily injury shall mean impairment of physical condition or substantial pain.
For purposes of this policy, serious bodily injury shall mean bodily injury which creates a substantial risk of death or which causes serious, permanent disfigurement, or protracted loss or impairment of the function of any bodily member or organ.
Authority The district prohibits hazing in connection with any student activity or organization regardless of whether the conduct occurs on or off school property or outside of school hours.
No student, parent/guardian, coach, advisor, sponsor, volunteer or district employee shall engage in, condone or ignore any form of hazing.
The district will investigate all complaints of hazing and will administer appropriate discipline to any individual who violates this policy.
The district encourages students who believe they, or others have been subjected to hazing to promptly report such incidents to the building principal or designee. If the building principal is involved directly or supports the hazing activity, then the students should report such incidents to the Director of Human Resources.
Title IX Sexual Harassment and Other Discrimination
Every report of alleged hazing that can be interpreted at the outset to fall within the provisions of policies addressing potential violations of laws against discrimination shall be handled as a joint, concurrent investigation into all allegations and coordinated with the full participation of the Compliance Officer and Title IX Coordinator. If, in the course of a hazing investigation, potential issues of discrimination are identified, the Title IX Coordinator shall be promptly notified, and the investigation shall be conducted jointly and concurrently to address the issues of alleged discrimination as well as the incidents of alleged hazing.
Delegation of Responsibility
Students, parents/guardians, coaches, advisors, sponsors, volunteers, and district employees shall not engage in, condone or ignore any form of hazing.
District administrators shall investigate promptly all complaints of hazing and administer appropriate discipline to any individual or student activity or organization found to be in violation of this policy.
Students, parents/guardians, coaches, sponsors, advisors, volunteers, and district employees shall be alert to incidents of hazing and shall report such conduct to the building principal or designee.
Complaint Procedure
When a student believes that s/he has been subject to hazing, the student is encouraged to promptly report the incident, orally or in writing, to the building principal or designee. If the building principal is involved directly or supports the hazing activity, then the student should report the incident to the Director of Human Resources. Students are encouraged to use the district's report form, available from the building principal, or to put the complaint in writing; however, oral complaints shall be accepted and documented. The person accepting the complaint shall handle the report objectively, neutrally and professionally, setting aside personal biases that might favor or disfavor the student filing the complaint or those accused of a violation of this policy.
The Board directs that verbal and written complaints of hazing shall be provided to the building principal or designee, who shall promptly notify the Superintendent or designee of the allegations and determine who shall conduct the investigation. Allegations of hazing shall be investigated in a timely, impartial, thorough, and comprehensive manner, and appropriate corrective or preventative action be taken when allegations are substantiated. The Board directs that any complaint of hazing brought pursuant to this policy shall also be reviewed for conduct which may not be proven to be hazing under this policy but merits review and possible action under other Board policies.
The principal shall prepare a written report summarizing the investigation and recommending disposition of the complaint. Copies of the report shall be provided to the district Superintendent, the Director of Human Resources, the complainant, the accused, and others directly involved, as appropriate.
The district shall document the corrective action taken.