Background
The Stop Campus Hazing Act was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives in September 2023. The House passed the act in September 2024, and the Senate approved it in December 2024. President Joe Biden signed the act into law on December 23, 2024.
In compliance with the Stop Campus Hazing Act, McMurry University provides this webpage as the official hazing policy. It consolidates all relevant policies and procedures into one accessible location.
McMurry University’s Hazing Policy
Student Handbook definition:
Section 2 (23) Hazing:
Hazing is defined as any action taken or situation created, intentionally or unintentionally, whether on or off campus, to produce mental, physical, or psychological discomfort, degradation, embarrassment, humiliation or ridicule of group or individual, harassment, forced consumption of any substance, or which threatens the safety of the 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 a student group, organization, or athletic team. Such activities may include, but are not limited to, the following: placing an individual in danger; paddling in any form; forced calisthenics, sleep deprivation, kidnapping, branding, use of coffins, scavenger hunts, abandonment, or any other such activities carried on outside or inside the confines of the University. It also includes the wearing of apparel which is conspicuous and not normally in good taste or perceived as humiliating or embarrassing; engaging in public stunts and buffoonery; and morally degrading or humiliating games and activities. Any other activities that are not consistent with Greek life policy or the regulations stated within the McMurry University Hazing Policy and the Texas Education Code are also prohibited.
Note: All cases involving the alleged violation of hazing by an individual or group will first be heard by the Dean of Students and Campus Life or his/her designee.
Reporting a Hazing Incident
Employees of McMurry, including student employees, who have been designated as Campus Security Authorities (CSAs) via the Clery Act who have a reasonable cause to believe that hazing has occurred, are now required to report it. “Reasonable Cause” could mean that you personally witnessed or are the victim of hazing. It could also mean that you received a credible written or oral report alleging hazing or a potential or planned hazing activity. CSAs in general are defined as employees or student employees who receive wages from the University. They are in direct ongoing contact with students in a supervisory role or position of authority.
The University encourages all of its constituents, including students, faculty, staff, and members of the Abilene community, to report their hazing concerns. This will enable us to review and best determine if one of our student organizations or athletic teams has engaged in hazing behavior.
Hazing Investigation Procedures
- A report is submitted to the University.
- An investigator is assigned to the case.
- The investigator completes an intake meeting and/or fact gathering to determine next steps:
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- Option 1 – Not moving forward due to insufficient information/evidence.
- Option 2 – Charge(s) brought forward.
- Notice of investigation sent to the organization or athletic team leadership.
- Interviews with impacted parties are conducted.
- Following the interviews of impacted parties, the investigator will determine if there is enough information to charge the organization or athletic team for a violation of the student code of conduct regarding hazing:
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- Option 1 – No charge(s) towards the organization/team due to insufficient information/evidence.
- Option 2 – Charge(s) brought forward.
- Notice of charges/violations is sent to the organization/sports team leadership.
- The Dean of Students conducts a hearing with the organization’s or sports team’s leadership.
- Following the hearing, the Dean of Students will determine whether the organization/team has violated the Student Code of Conduct by utilizing the preponderance of evidence standard (“the proof need only show that the facts are more likely than not” ):
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- Option 1 – Preponderance is not met, thus the organization/team will be found not responsible for hazing
- Option 2 – preponderance is me, thus the organization/team will be found responsible for hazing and will be issued the appropriate sanction.
Each student organization or sports team is provided the opportunity to appeal against the decision of their case and will follow the appropriate appeals procedures indicated within The Student Handbook.
More Information
Positive Alternatives to Hazing
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Develop New Member Unity
Engage student organization or athletic team members in community service projects, plan social or athletic events with other groups, participate in intramurals, organize a retreat, or attend a ROPES course. -
Develop Problem-Solving Abilities
Ask new members to identify challenges facing the organization or team—such as education, apathy, or scholarship—and brainstorm solutions. -
Develop Social Skills
Host table manners and business etiquette seminars, or plan workshops on communication, body language, and eye contact. -
Develop Leadership
Assign new members to committees within the organization or team. Intentionally involve them in campuswide committees and projects such as MSG, Residence Life, athletics, theater, or band. -
Build Awareness of History
Invite alums to share stories about the group’s or team’s founding, traditions, and notable members, including those who advanced to professional sports or coaching. -
Develop Career Goals
Offer seminars on résumé writing and job interview skills, and invite alums to discuss career pathways. -
Improve Relations with Other Groups
Partner with other student organizations or athletic teams to plan joint community service projects.
Lawsuits
Many successful hazing lawsuits have been filed in the United States court system against organizations and individuals for activities and actions that resulted in mental or physical harm to a member or members.
Charges can be filed against the organization, the president and officers of each organization, the advisor, or other individuals associated with the incident, as well as the University.
The advisor and officers of each organization must be aware that the liability burden legally rests with them. Thus, the advisor and officers of the organization run the risk of legal action if all organizational activities and actions are not carefully monitored and if they do not take action to halt activities that, in the eyes of the law, can be construed as hazing when they are made aware of them.
Hazing Report
Texas Hazing Laws
SUBCHAPTER F. HAZING
(1) “Educational institution” includes a public or private institution:
(A) high school; or
(B) college, university, or other post-secondary educational establishments.
(2) “Pledge” means any person who has been accepted by, is considering an offer of membership from, or is in the process of qualifying for membership in an organization.
(3) “Pledging” means any action or activity related to becoming a member of an organization.
(4) “Student” means any person who:
(A) is registered in or in attendance at an educational institution;
(B) has been accepted for admission at the educational institution where the hazing incident occurred; or
(C) Intends to attend an educational institution during any of its regular sessions after a period of scheduled vacation.
(5) “Organization” means a fraternity, sorority, association, corporation, order, society, corps, club, or service, social, or similar group, whose members are primarily students.
(6) “Hazing” means any intentional, knowing, or reckless act, occurring on or off the campus of an educational institution, by one person alone or acting with others, directed against a student, that endangers the mental or physical health or safety of a student for the purpose of pledging, being initiated into, affiliating with, holding office in, or maintaining membership in an organization. The term includes:
(A) any type of physical brutality, such as whipping, beating, striking, branding, electronic shocking, placing of a harmful substance on the body, or similar activity;
(B) any type of physical activity, such as sleep deprivation, exposure to the elements, confinement in a small space, calisthenics, or other activity that subjects the student to an unreasonable risk of harm or that adversely affects the mental or physical health or safety of the student;
(C) any activity involving the consumption of a food, liquid, alcoholic beverage, liquor, drug, or other substance that subjects the student to an unreasonable risk of harm or that adversely affects the mental or physical health or safety of the student;
(D) any activity that intimidates or threatens the student with ostracism, that subjects the student to extreme mental stress, shame, or humiliation, that adversely affects the mental health or dignity of the student or discourages the student from entering or remaining registered in an educational institution, or that may reasonably be expected to cause a student to leave the organization or the institution rather than submit to acts described in this subdivision; and
(E) any activity that induces, causes, or requires the student to perform a duty or task that involves a violation of the Penal Code.
(1) A person commits an offense if the person:
(A) engages in hazing;
(B) solicits, encourages, directs, aids, or attempts to aid another in engaging in hazing;
(C) recklessly permits hazing to occur; or
(D) has firsthand knowledge of the planning of a specific hazing incident involving a student in an educational institution, or has firsthand knowledge that a specific hazing incident has occurred, and knowingly fails to report that knowledge in writing to the dean of students or other appropriate official of the institution.
(2) The offense of failing to report is a Class B misdemeanor.
(3) Any other offense under this section that does not cause serious bodily injury to another is a Class B misdemeanor.
(4) Any other offense under this section that causes serious bodily injury to another is a Class A misdemeanor.
(5) Any other offense under this section that causes the death of another is a state jail felony.
(6) Except if an offense causes the death of a student, in sentencing a person convicted of an offense under this section, the court may require the person to perform community service, subject to the same conditions imposed on a person placed on community supervision under Section 11, Article 42.12, Code of Criminal Procedure, for an appropriate period of time in lieu of confinement in county jail or in lieu of a part of the time the person is sentenced to confinement in county jail.
(1) An organization commits an offense if the organization condones or encourages hazing or if an officer or any combination of members, pledges, or alumni of the organization commits or assists in the commission of hazing.
(2) An offense under this section is a misdemeanor punishable by:
(A) a fine of not less than $5,000 nor more than $10,000; or
(B) if the court finds that the offense caused personal injury, property damage, or other loss, a fine of not less than $5,000 nor more than double the amount lost or expenses incurred because of the injury, damage, or loss.
It is not a defense to prosecution of an offense under this subchapter that the person against whom the hazing was directed consented to or acquiesced in the hazing activity.
In the prosecution of an offense under this subchapter, the court may grant immunity from prosecution for the offense to each person who is subpoenaed to testify for the prosecution and who does testify for the prosecution. Any person reporting a specific hazing incident involving a student in an educational institution to the dean of students or other appropriate official of the institution is immune from civil or criminal liability that might otherwise be incurred or imposed as a result of the report. Immunity extends to participation in any judicial proceeding resulting from the report. A person reporting in bad faith or with malice is not protected by this section.
This subchapter does not affect or repeal any penal law of this state. This subchapter does not limit or affect the right of an educational institution to enforce its own penalties against hazing.
A doctor or other medical practitioner who treats a student who may have been subjected to hazing activities:
(1) may report the suspected hazing activities to police or other law enforcement officials; and
(2) is immune from civil or other liability that might otherwise be imposed or incurred as a result of the report, unless the report is made in bad faith or with malice.
Sec. 51.936 HAZING
(a) Subchapter F, Chapter 37, applies to a postsecondary educational institution under this section in the same manner as that subchapter applies to a public or private high school.
(b) For purposes of this section, “postsecondary educational institution” means:
(1) an institution of higher education as defined by Section 61.003;
(2) a private or independent institution of higher education as defined by Section 61.003; or
(3) a private postsecondary educational institution as defined by Section 61.302.
(c) Each post-secondary educational institution shall distribute to each student during the first three weeks of each semester:
(1) a summary of the provisions of Subchapter F, Chapter 37; and
(2) a list of organizations that have been disciplined for hazing or convicted for hazing on or off the campus of the institution during the preceding three years.
(d) If the institution publishes a general catalogue, student handbook, or similar publication, it shall publish a summary of the provisions of Subchapter F, Chapter 37, in each edition of the publication.
(e) Section 1.001(a) does not limit the application of this section to postsecondary educational institutions supported in whole or in part by state tax funds.