Hanover College prohibits hazing and any other activities that violate College policy, federal, state, or local law.
Hazing Definitions:
Hazing is defined as an act that endangers the mental or physical health or safety of a student, 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.
Policy:
Hazing is not permitted on or off campus by any student organization, team, its members, or any individual.
IFC and Panhellenic Council forbid hazing in member organizations. Each governing council has the authority to sanction any chapter found in violation of their policies .
Likewise, all of Hanover College chapter's Inter/National Headquarters strictly forbid hazing as part of new member education programs or chapter activities. Any allegation of hazing is grounds for investigation and disciplinary action from the chapter's Inter/National Council and Hanover College.
Hanover College policy is in compliance with the Stop Campus Hazing Act of 2024 and
IN Code § 35-42-2-2.5 (2024)
Sec. 2.5.
(a) As used in this section, "hazing" means forcing or requiring another person:
(1) with or without the consent of the other person; and
(2) as a condition of association with a group or organization; to perform an act that creates a substantial risk of bodily injury.
(b) A person who knowingly or intentionally performs hazing commits a Class B misdemeanor. However, the offense is a Level 6 felony if it results in serious bodily injury to another person, and a Level 5 felony if it is committed by means of a deadly weapon.
(c) A person, other than a person who has committed an offense under this section or a delinquent act that would be an offense under this section if the violator were an adult, who:
(1) makes a report of hazing in good faith;
(2) participates in good faith in a judicial proceeding resulting from a report of hazing;
(3) employs a reporting or participating person described in subdivision (1) or (2); or
(4) supervises a reporting or participating person described in subdivision (1) or (2);is not liable for civil damages or criminal penalties that might otherwise be imposed because of the report or participation.
(d) A person described in subsection (c)(1) or (c)(2) is presumed to act in good faith.
(e) A person described in subsection (c)(1) or (c)(2) may not be treated as acting in bad faith solely because the person did not have probable cause to believe that a person committed:
(1) an offense under this section; or
(2) a delinquent act that would be an offense under this section if the offender were an adult.