University of Redlands
Hazing Policy
The University of Redlands expects all members of the university community to comply with both the University’s policy prohibiting hazing and the State of California Penal Code requirements on hazing. Clarification of Hazing, as defined below, is incompatible with the goals and atmosphere of the academic community the University strives to maintain. It violates University policy and the laws of the State of California, poses unnecessary hazards to the health and well being of individual students, is damaging to the University’s academic program, and may in some cases subject the University, particular Greek organizations and athletic team, and individual students to criminal and/or civil law suits. Any organization or group found to be in violation of the University’s hazing policy will be subject to appropriate conduct proceedings. Individuals found to be in violation of this policy may, in addition, be subject to suspension or expulsion from the University. The University will not tolerate violations of its hazing policy and/or the state laws that pertain to hazing.
State of California Penal Code Section245.6Regarding Hazing:
(a) It shall be unlawful to engage in hazing, as defined inthis section.
(b) "Hazing" means any method of initiation or pre-initiation intoa student organization or student body, whether or not theorganization or body is officially recognized by an educationalinstitution, which is likely to cause serious bodily injury to anyformer, current, or prospective student of any school, communitycollege, college, university, or other educational institution inthis state. The term "hazing" does not include customary athleticevents or school-sanctioned events.
(c) A violation of this section that does not result in serious bodily injury is a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of not less thanone hundred dollars ($100), nor more than five thousand dollars($5,000), or imprisonment in the county jail for not more than oneyear, or both.
(d) Any person who personally engages in hazing that results indeath or serious bodily injury as defined in paragraph (4) ofsubdivision (f) of Section 243 of the Penal Code, is guilty of eithera misdemeanor or a felony, and shall be punished by imprisonment incounty jail not exceeding one year, or by imprisonment pursuant tosubdivision (h) of Section 1170.
(e) The person against whom the hazing is directed may commence a civil action for injury or damages. The action may be brought againstany participants in the hazing, or any organization to which thestudent is seeking membership whose agents, directors, trustees,managers, or officers authorized, requested, commanded, participatedin, or ratified the hazing.
(f) Prosecution under this section shall not prohibit prosecutionunder any other provision of law.
Reviewed and Updated: Summer 2013