Anti-Hazing Policy

St. Mary’s University Anti-Hazing Policy

St. Mary’s University’s Anti-Hazing Policy is guided by the University’s Catholic identity, Marianist values, and Mission. As such, any act of hazing goes against the ideas of community and family spirit at St. Mary’s University.  Such acts, and the impact of these acts, are detrimental to the type of leaders the institution strives to mold and develop. Additionally, St. Mary’s University’s Anti-Hazing Policy is guided by the Stop Campus Hazing Act (2024) and the Texas Anti-Hazing Statute (2019).  The University’s anti-hazing policy applies to all enrolled students, employees, registered student organizations, athletic teams, and other student groups at St. Mary’s University (such as band, honor societies, and departmental clubs). The policy also applies to programs and activities both on and off University property.

Specific examples of hazing include, but are not limited to:

• Physical brutality, which is whipping, beating, striking, paddling, branding, shocking, placing a harmful substance on the body or other similar activities;
• Physical activities involving sleep or food deprivation, exposure to the elements, confinement to a small space, physical bondage or calisthenics or similar activity that subjects the student to an unreasonable risk of harm or adversely affects the mental or physical health of the student;
• Forced or coerced consumption of alcoholic beverages or liquor, or consumption of other substances such as food, large quantities of non-alcoholic beverages, or other substances that subjects the student to an unreasonable risk of harm or adversely affects the mental or physical health of the student;
• Taking of a student to an outlying area and leaving him/her;
• Activities that induce, cause or require a student to perform an act in violation of the Penal Code or the Student Code of Conduct; or
• Involves coercing, as defined by Section 1.07, Penal Code, the student to consume a drug, alcoholic beverage or liquor in an amount that would lead a reasonable person to believe that the student is intoxicated, as defined by Section 49.01, Penal Code.

Personal Offenses

A person commits an offense under the St. Mary’s University Hazing Policy if s/he:

• Engages in hazing;
• Solicits, encourages, directs, coerces, aids or attempts to aid another person engaged in hazing;
• Intentionally, knowingly or recklessly permits hazing to occur; or
• Has firsthand knowledge of the planning of a specific hazing event or has firsthand knowledge that a specific event has occurred and fails to report that knowledge, in writing, to the appropriate University official, thereby misusing authority by virtue of one’s class rank or leadership position.

How to Report a Hazing Incident

How to Report?

Any member of the St. Mary’s University community, visitor, or guest may report a policy violation(s) by any student for misconduct under this Code of Student Conduct to the Vice President for Student Development/Dean of Students, Assistant Director for Student Integrity and Welfare, Assistant Dean for Law Student Affairs, University Police, Residence Life, or the University’s Title IX Coordinator(s).

Reports of hazing can be made through the following channels:

1. Hazing Report Form
2. St. Mary’s University Police Department (For immediate threats or emergencies)
   • Location: Treadaway Hall or Cremer Hall Substation
   • Emergency Phone: 210-431-1911 (for immediate danger)
   • Non-Emergency Phone: 210-436-3330
3. Office of Dean of Students
   • Location: Student Development Suite, 2^nd Floor of the University Center
   • Email: deanofstudents@stmarytx.edu
   • Phone: 210-436-3331

What to Include in a Report?

When reporting hazing, please provide as much detail as possible, including:

• Names of individuals and organizations involved
• Date, time, and location of the incident
• Description of the activities or behaviors observed
• Any evidence (photos, messages, etc.), if available
• Names of potential witnesses

Amnesty and Immunity from Civil or Criminal liability:

Students who report hazing before being contacted by the Dean of Students’ office, who cooperate in good faith, and provide complete and factual accounts may be eligible for amnesty from university discipline. Code of Student Conduct, Section 6: Conduct Procedures, subsection 3: Amnesty.

Under Texas Education Code, Chapter 37 (F) Hazing (Sec. 37.155), any person who voluntarily reports a specific hazing incident in writing to University Police or the Dean of Students or other appropriate University official is immune from civil or criminal liability that might otherwise be imposed as a result of the reported incident if the person:

1. reports the incident before being contacted by the institution concerning the incident or otherwise being included in the institution’s investigation of the incident; and
2. as determined by the Dean of Students or other appropriate University official of the institution designated by the institution, cooperated in good faith throughout any institutional process regarding the incident.

Protection from Retaliation

The University takes all reports of hazing seriously and will investigate in accordance with the Code of Student Conduct and applicable laws. Individuals who report hazing in good faith are protected from retaliation. Retaliation against anyone who reports hazing, participates in an investigation, or refuses to participate in hazing activities is strictly prohibited and may result in disciplinary action.

Investigation Process

All reports are investigated by the Office of Student Integrity and Welfare, following the conduct process outlined in the Code of Student Conduct, Section 6: Conduct Procedures.

Definitions of Hazing Activities

The University has defined incidents and activities that may be interpreted as hazing according to the Student Code of Conduct. These activities include, but are not limited to the following:

• Activity that requires the violation of federal, state, or local law or the Code of Student Conduct.
• Allowing for less than eight successive hours per day away from organization activities;
• Any type of personal servitude which is demeaning or is of personal benefit only to individual members;
• Assigning of pranks such as stealing property, painting objects, harassing other groups or scavenger hunts;
• Blindfolding, psychological shocks or tests which may inspire fear;
• Calisthenics or any other forms of physical exercise or abuse;
• Confining individuals in an area which is uncomfortable or dangerous (high temperatures, too small, no or strobing lights, repetitive noise, etc.);
• Disruption of normal hygiene or diet schedules;
• Eating or ingesting any unwanted substance;
• Forced or coerced consumption of alcoholic beverages or liquor either by threat or peer pressure;
• Forced or coerced consumption of large quantities of non-alcoholic beverages either by threat or peer pressure;
• Intentionally messing up areas for new members to clean up; Lineups intended to demean or humiliate;
• Paddle swats, including trading swats;
• Requiring participation in quad beyond normal quad hours.
• Sexist or sexually related duties, tasks or punishments;
• Throwing oil, syrup, flour or any other substance on a person;
• Total or partial nudity at any time;
• Transportation and abandonment, including road trips, kidnapping, walks, rides, or drops;
• Use of demeaning names or slurs;
• Wearing or carrying any obscene, burdensome, or unnecessary article;
• Wearing of embarrassing, uncomfortable or abnormal clothing;
• Yelling or screaming at persons for the purpose of humiliation or embarrassment; or
• Tying or binding or otherwise restricting the free movements of an individual.

Questions regarding the legitimacy or liability of any event or activity or to report a possible incident should be directed to the Dean of Students.

Prevention and Awareness Programs

St. Mary’s provides comprehensive educational programming focused on the prevention of hazing. The following is a list of training programs offered by St. Mary’s University that are designated to meet the SCHA training requirements and promote a safe co-curricular experience:

• Fraternity and Sorority Life – New Member 101
• Registered Student Organization’s Annual Risk Management Compliance
• Incoming Student Rights and Responsibilities Presentation
• Faculty and Staff Annual Campus Security Advisor Compliance Training
• Athletics – presentation led by Clery Compliance  

Responsibilities of Institutions

St. Mary’s University Federal and State Compliance: Hazing
Federal	State
Under Federal Law, H.R. 5646: Stop Campus Hazing Act Institutions of Higher Education (IHE) must develop a Campus Hazing Transparency Report (CHTR) that summarizes findings concerning any student organization found to be in violation of the IHE’s standards of conduct relating to hazing.   The CHTR shall be reviewed at least twice a year. Updates to the CHTR are required only when there is a new finding of a hazing violation involving an established, recognized student organization.   The CHTR must be maintained for at least 5 calendar years.	Under Texas SB 51, Sec. 51.936. Hazing   St. Mary’s University must publish a summary of the Texas hazing law and distribute or provide a link on the university’s website to a detailed report of organizations that have been disciplined for hazing or convicted of hazing on or off-campus during the previous three years.   This report must be made available to the entire Rattler student community no later than the 14th day before the first-class day of each fall or spring semester.
The CHTR must include: A statement notifying the public of the annual availability of hazing statistics in the ASR, as well as a link to the ASR; Information on the institution’s policies relating to hazing; Applicable local, state and tribal laws on hazing; and Information about student organizations that are found responsible for a hazing violation, including: The name of the student organization; A general description of the violation, including whether it involved the abuse or illegal use of alcohol or drugs, the findings of the institution, and any sanctions issued; Date of the hazing incident(s); Date the investigation was initiated; Date the investigation ended with a finding that hazing occurred; and Date that the notice of the outcome was issued to the student organization.	This report must contain the following items: The name of the organization disciplined or convicted The date on which the incident occurred, or the citation was issued The date on which the institution’s investigation into the incident, if any, was initiated A general description of the incident, the violation of the University’s Code of Student Conduct or the criminal charges as applicable, the findings of the institution or court, and any sanctions imposed by the institution, or any fines imposed by a court, on the organization The date on which the institution’s disciplinary process was resolved or on which the conviction became final, no later than 30 days after the date the incident was resolved
The report may include additional information required by other applicable reporting laws or as determined by the institution to be necessary.	In addition to being prominently posted on the University’s website, St. Mary’s University must also provide information about the nature and availability of this report to all incoming students during their Zaragoza orientation sessions.

Hazing Violations Within the Last Three Years

Hazing investigations were conducted on the following student organizations in the preceding three years prior to July 1, 2023:

• Alpha Sigma Tau (Beta Theta Chapter), Spring 2023