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Hazing

Massasoit Hazing Policy Statement

Hazing, defined below, is prohibited by Massachusetts Law M.G.L. ch. 269, §§17 to 19. Institutions of higher education must provide a copy of the Massachusetts hazing law on an annual basis to every student, student group, student team, and student organization.

Hazing is a violation of the Massasoit Community College Code of Conduct.

Any person may report alleged hazing by completing the reporting form at the link below, filing a report with Massasoit Police, and/or as otherwise indicated in the Student Code of Conduct.

Code of Conduct Violation Reporting Form

Massasoit Community College investigates allegations of hazing according to the processes described in the Student Code of Conduct.

“Hazing” means any conduct or method of initiation into any student organization, whether on public or private property, which willfully or recklessly endangers the physical or mental health of any student or other person. Such conduct shall include whipping, beating, branding, forced calisthenics, exposure to the weather, forced consumption of any food, liquor, beverage, drug or other substance, or any other brutal treatment or forced physical activity which is likely to adversely affect the physical health or safety of any such student or other person, or which subjects such student or other person to extreme mental stress, including extended deprivation of sleep or rest or extended isolation.

Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 269, Sections 17, 18, and 19

An Act prohibiting the practice of hazing was enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives in General Court in 1985. Chapter 269 of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding the following three sections:

Section 17: Hazing; organizing or participating; hazing defined

Whoever is a principle organizer or participant in the crime of hazing as defined herein shall be punished by a fine of not more than three thousand dollars or by imprisonment in a house of correction for not more than one year or by both such fine and imprisonment.

The term ”hazing” as used in this section and in sections eighteen and nineteen, shall mean any conduct or method of initiation into any student organization, whether on public or private property, which willfully or recklessly endangers the physical or mental health of any student or other person. Such conduct shall include whipping, beating, branding, forced calisthenics, exposure to the weather, forced consumption of any food, liquor, beverage, drug or other substance, or any other brutal treatment or forced physical activity which is likely to adversely affect the physical health or safety of any such student or other person, or which subjects such student or other person to extreme mental stress, including extended deprivation of sleep or rest or extended isolation.

Notwithstanding any other provisions of this section to the contrary, consent shall not be available as a defense to any prosecution under this action.

Section 18: Failure to report hazing

Whoever knows that another person is the victim of hazing as defined in section seventeen and is at the scene of such crime shall, to the extent that such person can do so without danger or peril to himself or others, report such crime to an appropriate law enforcement official as soon as reasonably practicable. Whoever fails to report such crime shall be punished by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars.

Section 19: Copy of Secs. 17 to 19; issuance to students and student groups, teams and organizations; report

Each institution of secondary education and each public and private institution of post secondary education shall issue to every student group, student team or student organization which is part of such institution or is recognized by the institution or permitted by the institution to use its name or facilities or is known by the institution to exist as an unaffiliated student group, student team or student organization, a copy of this section and sections seventeen and eighteen; provided, however, that an institution’s compliance with this section’s requirements that an institution issue copies of this section and sections seventeen and eighteen to unaffiliated student groups, teams or organizations shall not constitute evidence of the institution’s recognition or endorsement of said unaffiliated student groups, teams or organizations.

Each such group, team or organization shall distribute a copy of this section and sections seventeen and eighteen to each of its members, plebes, pledges or applicants for membership. It shall be the duty of each such group, team or organization, acting through its designated officer, to deliver annually, to the institution an attested acknowledgement stating that such group, team or organization has received a copy of this section and said sections seventeen and eighteen, that each of its members, plebes, pledges, or applicants has received a copy of sections seventeen and eighteen, and that such group, team or organization understands and agrees to comply with the provisions of this section and sections seventeen and eighteen.

Each institution of secondary education and each public or private institution of post secondary education shall, at least annually, before or at the start of enrollment, deliver to each person who enrolls as a full time student in such institution a copy of this section and sections seventeen and eighteen.

Each institution of secondary education and each public or private institution of post secondary education shall file, at least annually, a report with the board of higher education and in the case of secondary institutions, the board of education, certifying that such institution has complied with its responsibility to inform student groups, teams or organizations and to notify each full time student enrolled by it of the provisions of this section and sections seventeen and eighteen and also certifying that said institution has adopted a disciplinary policy with regard to the organizers and participants of hazing, and that such policy has been set forth with appropriate emphasis in the student handbook or similar means of communicating the institution’s policies to its students. The board of higher education and, in the case of secondary institutions, the board of education shall promulgate regulations governing the content and frequency of such reports, and shall forthwith report to the attorney general any such institution which fails to make such report.

Student Code of Conduct Policy

  • 7.B.16 – Hazing: Hazing as defined by state or federal laws, including but not limited to any conduct or method of initiation into any student organization, whether on public or private property, which willfully or recklessly endangers the physical or mental health of any student or other person. For additional information, consult the Hazing Policy.

Roles, Responsibilities, and Hazing Prevention Programs

  • The Vice President of Student Services and Enrollment Management (herein “VPSSEM”) or their designee shall deliver to all enrolled students at Massasoit Community College, before or at the start of enrollment annually, a copy of M.G.L. Chapter 269 § 17 to 19.
  • The Coordinator of Student Activities or their designee shall issue to every student club, group, or organization, through their designated officer(s), a copy of M.G.L. Chapter 269 § 17 to 19. The Coordinator of Student Activities or their designee shall also deliver annually to the VPSSEM or their designee an attested acknowledgement stating that those groups have received a copy of M.G.L. Chapter 269 §§ 17 to 19, that each of its members has received through its designated officer a copy M.G.L. Chapter 269 §§ 17 to 19, and that those groups understand and agree to comply with the provisions of M.G.L. Chapter 269 §§ 17 to 19.
    • It shall be the duty of each such student club, group, or organization, acting through its designated officer(s), to issue to each of its members, pledges, or applicants for membership a copy of M.G.L. Chapter 269 §§ 17 to 19.
    • It shall be the duty of each student club, group, or organization, acting through its designated officer, to deliver annually to the Coordinator of Student Activities an attested acknowledgement stating that such student club, group, or organization has received a copy of M.G.L. Chapter 269 § 17 to 19, and that those groups understand and agree to comply with the provisions of M.G.L. Chapter 269 §§ 17 to 19.
    • The designated officer(s) as it pertains to these groups would typically be that group’s advisor(s).
  • The Athletics Director or their designee shall issue to every team, through their designated officer(s), a copy of M.G.L. Chapter 269 § 17 to 19. The Athletics Director or their designee shall also deliver annually to the VPSSEM or their designee an attested acknowledgement stating that those teams have received a copy of M.G.L. Chapter 269 §§ 17 to 19, that each of its members has received through its designated officer a copy M.G.L. Chapter 269 §§ 17 to 19, and that those teams understand and agree to comply with the provisions of M.G.L. Chapter 269 §§ 17 to 19.
    • It shall be the duty of each such team, acting through its designated officer(s), to issue to each of its members, pledges, or applicants for membership a copy of M.G.L. Chapter 269 §§ 17 to 19.
    • It shall be the duty of each such team, acting through its designated officer, to deliver annually to the Athletics Director or their designee an attested acknowledgement stating that such student club, group, or organization has received a copy of M.G.L. Chapter 269 § 17 to 19, and that those groups understand and agree to comply with the provisions of M.G.L. Chapter 269 §§ 17 to 19.
    • The designated officer(s) as it pertains to these teams would typically be that team’s coach(es).
  • The Vice President of Academic Affairs (herein “VPAA”) or their designee shall issue to all Academic Affairs student groups, through their designated officer(s), a copy of M.G.L. Chapter 269 § 17 to 19. These groups include but are not limited to Commonwealth Honors, Phi Theta Kappa, Alpha Beta Gamma, STEM Scholars, and Psi Beta. The VPAA or their designee shall also deliver annually to the VPSSEM or their designee an attested acknowledgement stating that those groups have received a copy of M.G.L. Chapter 269 §§ 17 to 19, that each of its members has received through its designated officer a copy M.G.L. Chapter 269 §§ 17 to 19, and that those groups understand and agree to comply with the provisions of M.G.L. Chapter 269 §§ 17 to 19.
    • It shall be the duty of each such group, acting through its designated officer(s), to issue to each of its members, pledges, or applicants for membership a copy of M.G.L. Chapter 269 §§ 17 to 19.
    • It shall be the duty of each such group, acting through its designated officer(s), to deliver annually to the VPAA or their designee an attested acknowledgement stating that such student club, group, or organization has received a copy of M.G.L. Chapter 269 § 17 to 19, and that those groups understand and agree to comply with the provisions of M.G.L. Chapter 269 §§ 17 to 19.
    • The designated officer(s) as it pertains to these groups would typically be that group’s advisor(s).
  • The Code of Conduct Administrator shall maintain a disciplinary policy with regard to the organizers and participants of hazing and set forth that policy with appropriate emphasis in the student handbook or similar means of communicating the institution’s policies to its students.
  • The Code of Conduct Administrator shall annually train stakeholders on the definitions of “Hazing” and “Student Organizations” and the need to report “Hazing.”

The VPSSEM or their designee shall file, at least annually, a report with the regents of higher education certifying that Massasoit Community College has complied with the provisions of M.G.L. Chapter 269 §19 and also certifying that said school has adopted a disciplinary policy with regards to those organizers and participants of hazing.