Stop Campus Hazing Act:

Under federal law, Hazing is 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 (e.g., a club, athletic team, fraternity, or sorority); and,
• Causes or creates a risk, above the reasonable risk encountered in the course of participation in the institution of higher education or affiliated student organization, of physical or psychological injury.

Student Organizations:
The Stop Campus Hazing Act defines a student organization as 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, band, or student government) in which two or more of the members are students enrolled at the institution of higher education, whether or not the organization is established or recognized by the
institution.

New York State: Penal Law § 120.16 and § 120.17 – Hazing the First and Second Degree:
Hazing in the First Degree:
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, including, but not limited to, making physical contact with or requiring physical activity of such other person, 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.

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, including, but not limited to, making physical contact with or requiring physical activity of such other person, which creates a substantial risk of physical injury to such other person or a third person. Hazing in the second degree is a violation.

Hartwick College Code of Community Standards:
The Code of Community Standards defines hazing as any act that endangers the mental or physical health or safety of a person, or that destroys or removes public or private property, for the purpose of initiation, admission into, affiliation with, or as a condition for continued membership in a group or organization.

Participation or cooperation by the person(s) being hazed does not excuse the violation. Failing to intervene to prevent and/or failing to discourage and/or failing to report those acts may also violate this policy and subject the student to the community standards process.

The College highly encourages reporting hazing to the College using the methods described below:

For Any Emergency:
Call 911 if you or someone else is in immediate danger.

Reporting Online:
Online Reporting Form
Anonymous reporting through our Silent Witness Form

Campus Security Authorities: Reporting Requirements
Under the Clery Act and the Stop Campus Hazing Act, Campus Security Authorities (CSAs) are now required to report suspected hazing violations to the College, and may do so using the following form:
Clery Act: Campus Safety Authority Reporting Form

The Campus Safety Authority Reporting Form (the Form) should only be completed by a
CS), and when a CSA is made aware of a Clery Act reportable crime occurring within a
Clery Act jurisdictional location. The Form does not replace or supersede any existing
requirements or procedures for mandatory reporting of child abuse/neglect, sexual
misconduct involving a minor, or violations of this Policy, Hartwick College’s Title IX,
Bias, Discrimination, and Harassment Policy, or the Code of Community Standards.

Reporting Contacts: Reports of hazing can also be made to the contacts listed below:

Campus Safety:
Phone: 607-431-4111 (Available 24/7)
3 rd Floor, Dewar Union
Reporting Crimes and Emergencies Webpage

Student Experience/Dean of Students:
Cary M. Dresher, Ed.D.
Phone: 607-431-4532
Email: [email protected]

Director of Residential Life and Housing, and Community Standards
Colleen Bunn, Ph.D.
4 th Floor, Dewar Union
Phone: 607-431-4504
Email: [email protected]

Title IX Coordinator/College Compliance Officer
Geoffrey P. Gabriel
Shineman, 102
Phone: 607-431-4293
Email: ga[email protected]

The Stop Campus Hazing Act requires institutions of higher education that participate in federal student aid programs to report incidents of hazing. It also renames the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act as the Jeanne Clery Campus Safety Act (Clery Act).

Annual Security and Fire Safety Report:
Institutions of higher education receiving federal financial aid must include the following in their Annual Security and Fire Safety Reports.

• A statement of current policies relating to hazing, how to report hazing incidents, the process used to investigate hazing incidents, and information on applicable laws on hazing; and
• A statement of policy regarding prevention and awareness programs related to hazing, including a description of the prevention program.
• Statistics and data of any Clery Act reportable hazing crimes, or policy violations committed through the act of hazing. 1

Campus Security Authorities: Reporting Requirements:

Under the Clery Act, Campus Security Authorities (CSAs) are now required to report suspected hazing violations to the College, and may do so using the following form:

Clery Act: Campus Safety Authority Reporting Form

The form should only be completed by a Campus Security Authority (CSA) when the CSA is made aware of a crime in which the victim/witness does not wish to report the incident to Hartwick College Campus Safety. This form is solely to track crime statistics to comply with federal law. The form does not replace or supersede any existing requirements or procedures for mandatory reporting of child abuse/neglect or sexual misconduct involving a minor.

Statistics and data of any Clery Act reportable hazing crimes, or policy violations
committed through the act of hazing. 1

Hartwick College strictly prohibits any retaliatory conduct by any campus community member.

Retaliation is any reprisal, adverse action, or negative action taken against any individual or group for reporting incidents of hazing to the college. Additionally, retaliation includes any reprisal, adverse action, or negative action taken against an individual or group because the individual or group participated in an investigation or proceeding relating to allegations of hazing.

Hartwick College’s comprehensive training and prevention plan encompasses research-based education for its campus community members as a means to create and maintain a culture of respect, responsibility, and positive traditions.

Prevention Programs and Activities Include:

• Mandatory Anti-Hazing Training: Required for all student organization leaders.
• First Year Student Orientation: Hazing awareness and prevention.
• Educational Campaigns: Posters, digital campaigns, and testimonial events.
• Bystander Intervention: Encouraging individuals to speak up and report hazing.

Research-Based Educational Resources:

Additional resources are available through:

• Hazing Awareness and Prevention for Students – Vector Solutions
• Hazing Prevention Network
• Stop Hazing
• Inside Hazing Anti-Hazing Education
• We Don’t Haze: A Clery Center Documentary

Hazing Transparency Reports are mandated under the Stop Campus Hazing Act. The reports are designed to enhance public awareness of hazing incidents in higher education and help create a system of accountability. All colleges and universities participating in federal financial aid programs must collect and publicly disclose information about student organizations found responsible for hazing violations.

Hazing Transparency Report Requirements:

Collection of Data: 

• Institutions must begin gathering hazing incident data by July 1, 2025.
• These data must include details about any student organization that was found responsible for hazing.

Public Availability:

• Reports must be made available on the institution’s public website, the first of which must be published by December 23 rd , 2025. 2
• Reports must be updated at least twice a year to reflect new incidents.
• Reports must remain publicly available for at least five (5) years after publication.

Hazing Violations:

For each hazing violation, reports must include:

• The name of the student organization involved.
• When the alleged incident occurred.
• When the investigation started and concluded.
• When the institution notified the student organization of its findings.
• A description of the violation, including whether it involved alcohol or drugs.
• The College’s findings and any related sanctions imposed on the student organization.

Data Privacy:

• Reports must not include personally identifiable information about individual students, ensuring compliance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).

Data Exemptions: 

• Institutions are not required to create a report until they have a finding of a hazing violation.
• If there are no new hazing violations that occur during an update period, no update is necessary.

2 The date range of the data collected and referenced in the initial Hazing Transparency Report reflects the Stop Campus Hazing Act’s July 1 st , 2025, effective date to the date on which the initial report is published.

The grievance procedures for a student or student organization charged with one or more acts of hazing are outlined in Section 6: Community Standards Status & Educational Outcomes of the Code of Community Standards.

The grievance procedures for an employee of Hartwick College charged with or otherwise accused of committing one or more acts of hazing are outlined in the Title IX, Bias, Discrimination, and Harassment Policy, under Process A or Process B, as applicable.

• Campus Safety: Reporting Crimes & Emergencies
• Hartwick College Student Handbook
• FAQs – Title IX, Bias, Discrimination, and Harassment Policy
• Campus Organizations, Fraternity & Sorority Life
• Residential Life & Housing Policies