1.
Purpose:Club Management Washington County School District
- 1. Purpose
- 2. Policy
- 3. Procedure
- 3.1. Definitions
- 3.2. Prohibited Conduct
- 3.3. Reporting Requirement
- 3.4. Policy Dissemination
1.
Purpose:Hazing and initiation activities that involve hazing are abusive and illegal behaviors that harm victims and negatively impact the school environment by creating an atmosphere of fear, distrust, and mean-spiritedness. Because the District is committed to providing a safe and orderly environment for all students that promotes respect, civility, and dignity, it is the purpose of this policy to create and preserve an educational environment free from any type of hazing or initiation activities that involve hazing.
2.
Policy:The District strictly prohibits students from engaging individually or collectively in any form of hazing or related initiation activity on school property, in conjunction with any school activity, or involving any person associated with the school, regardless of where it occurs. Any student who participates in hazing or related initiation activity, or conspires to engage in hazing will face immediate disciplinary action, up to and including suspension, expulsion, exclusion, and loss of participation in extra-curricular activities. Suspensions and expulsions are handled as per District Safe Schools Policy. In addition, students who participate in hazing may be referred to appropriate law enforcement authorities and may face subsequent prosecution.
3.
Procedure:3.1.1. "Hazing" means any action taken or situation created that causes, or is reasonably likely to cause, harassment, bodily danger or physical harm, serious mental or emotional harm, extreme embarrassment or ridicule, or personal degradation or loss of dignity to any student or other person associated with the school.3.1.1.1. Consent is no defense to hazing: i.e., the implied or expressed consent of a person or persons to hazing shall not be a defense to discipline under this policy.3.1.2. "Related initiation activity" means any method of initiation or pre-initiation into a student organization, club, or team, or any past-time or amusement engaged in with respect to such organization, club, or team, that causes or is reasonably likely to cause, bodily danger or physical harm, serious mental or emotional harm, extreme embarrassment or ridicule, or personal degradation or loss of dignity to any student or other person associated with the school.
3.1.2.1. The ordinary physical activity of customary athletic events, intramural activities, or other similar student contests or competitions does not constitute hazing.3.1.3. "Conspire to engage in hazing" means to plan, encourage, fail to prevent, or fail to report hazing and related initiation activities prohibited by this policy.
3.2.1. Activities that may be construed as hazing under this policy include, but are not limited to, the following:3.2.1.1. Any act that involves physical aggression that causes or is reasonably likely to cause bodily danger or physical harm to an individual;3.2.1.2. Any act that involves forced consumption of food, alcohol, drugs, or other substance, or any other forced physical activity that could adversely affect the physical health or safety of an individual;
3.2.1.3. Any activity that would subject an individual to extreme mental stress, embarrassment, or emotional harm, or any other forced activity that could adversely affect the mental health or dignity of the individual.
3.3.1. School personnel who become aware of hazing or related initiation activities, or who reasonably believe such may have occurred, shall report such incident immediately to the school Principal or District Superintendent so that prompt and appropriate action can be taken. Principals who receive such a report shall submit a report of the alleged incident, and actions taken in response, to the District Superintendent or the Superintendent's designee within ten working days after receipt of the report. School personnel who fail to report incidents of hazing to school or District administrators may face disciplinary action.3.3.2. Students who observe hazing activities and fail to intervene or report the hazing to school officials may face disciplinary action for conspiring to engage in hazing.
3.4.1. This policy shall be posted in a prominent place in each school in the District. The policy shall also be published in student registration materials; student, parent, and employee handbooks; and other appropriate school publications as directed by the Superintendent.3.4.2. Each District Principal, athletic coach, cheerleading advisor, and other extra-curricular supervisor shall inform his/her students about this policy at the beginning of each school year, and prior to the beginning of each team or group's activities for the year.
Distribution: Board Members, Superintendent, Associations, Assistant Superintendents, Administrators and Principals.