Hazing
Navarro College is committed to the safety and welfare of its students and prohibits any action taken or situation created whether on or off College property to produce mental or physical discomfort, embarrassment, harassment or ridicule. As such, hazing, as defined in detail below, is strictly prohibited.
Definition
Hazing, according to state law (Chapter 37, subchapter F. (§§ 37.151-157) of the Texas Education Code), is defined as 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:
- Any type of physical brutality, such as whipping, beating, striking, branding, electronic shocking, placing of a harmful substance on the body, or similar activity;
- 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;
- Any activity involving 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;
- 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
- Any activity that induces, causes, or requires the student to perform a duty or task that involves a violation of the Penal Code.
A person commits an offense if the person:
- Engages in hazing
- Solicits, encourages, directs, aids, or attempts to aid another in engaging in hazing
- Recklessly permits hazing to occur
- 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 to an appropriate authority (See “How to Report Hazing” below).
College Disciplinary Rules
The law does not restrict the right of Navarro College to enforce its own rules against hazing, and the College will take disciplinary action for conduct that constitutes hazing regardless of whether public authorities prosecute students under the state hazing law.
Hazing with or without the consent of the student is prohibited by Navarro College. Both the individual(s) inflicting the hazing and the person submitting to the hazing are subject to disciplinary action. The fact that an individual consented to a hazing activity is not a defense to prosecution of an offense under the hazing law, and neither will it be under the College’s disciplinary process
Initiations or activities by organizations may not include any action or situation which is dangerous, harmful, or degrading to the student. A violation of this prohibition renders both the organization and participating individuals subject to discipline.
The disciplinary actions assigned/determined in a particular case will vary dependent on the nature of the conduct involved, the circumstances and conditions that existed at the time and the results that followed such conduct. Possible sanctions may include but are not limited to disciplinary warning, disciplinary probation, removal from residence life, disciplinary suspension or withdrawal, and expulsion from the College.
How to Report Hazing
To report an act of hazing, please contact the Vice President of Student Services, (903) 875-7375, the Dean of Students (903) 875-7414, or the Navarro College Department of Public Safety (903) 875-7500.
