Hazing Policy

At the University of Arkansas - Fort Smith, all students, faculty, staff, alumni, and volunteers should understand that hazing is not only unacceptable and a violation of the university’s rules and policies, but is also against the law.

Definition

"Hazing" means:

1. a willful act on or off the property of the university by one student, alumnus, or volunteer or employee of a fraternal organization if the volunteer or employee is acting on behalf of or in the name of the fraternal organization, acting alone, or acting with others when the conduct is directed against any other student and done for the purpose of intimidating the student attacked by threatening them with social or other ostracism or of submitting such student to ignominy, shame or disgrace among their fellow students and acts calculated to produce such results;
2. the playing of abusive or truculent tricks on or off the property of the university by one student, alumnus, or volunteer or employee of a fraternal organization if the volunteer or employee is acting on behalf of or in the name of the fraternal organization, acting alone, or acting with others upon another student to frighten or scare them;
3. a willful act on or off the property of the university by one student, alumnus, or volunteer or employee of a fraternal organization if the volunteer or employee is acting on behalf of or in the name of the fraternal organization, acting alone, or acting with others which is directed against any other student done for the purpose of humbling the pride, stifling the ambition, or impairing the courage of the student attacked or to discourage them from remaining in that school, college, university, or other educational institution or reasonably cause them to leave the institution rather than submit to such acts; or
4. a willful act on or off the property of the university by one student, alumnus, or volunteer or employee of a fraternal organization if the volunteer or employee is acting on behalf of or in the name of the fraternal organization, acting alone, or acting with others in striking, beating, bruising, or maiming; or seriously offering, threatening, or attempting to strike, beat, bruise, or maim; or to do or seriously offer, threaten, or attempt to do physical violence to any student of any such educational institution; or any assault upon any such student made for the purpose of committing any of the acts or producing any of the results to such student as defined in this section.

The term “hazing”

1. does not include customary athletic events or similar contests or competitions; and
2. is limited to those actions taken and situations created in connection with initiation into or affiliation with an organization, extracurricular activity, or sports program.

Reporting Incidents of Hazing

Complaints or concerns of hazing should be reported to the Office of the Dean of Students at 479-788-7310 or DeanOfStudentsFREEuafs or the University Police Department at 479-788-7140 or UPDFREEuafs).

Investigation Process

Complaints or concerns of hazing reported to the institution will be investigated and handled using the investigatory process identified in the Student Code of Conduct.

Investigation by Law Enforcement

Nothing in this policy should be construed as restricting the ability of campus law enforcement to investigate a possible criminal violation. If a law enforcement investigation has been initiated, the university will take reasonable measures to avoid undue interference with the law enforcement investigation. In most cases, the university’s investigation will not be halted due to the fact that a parallel law-enforcement investigation has commenced.

Primary Prevention Strategies

Hazing awareness and prevention programs will be provided to students, staff, and faculty related to hazing awareness and prevention education. These programs may be offered online or in person and will be targeted to reach all members of the university community, will be research-informed, and will include primary prevention strategies. For more information on hazing awareness and prevention programs, please review the Dean of Students webpage. Hazing awareness and prevention programs will be described in more detail and published on an annual basis in the UAFS Annual Security Report.

Campus Notification Procedure

Each fall and spring semester, the Office of the Dean of Students will send an email notification to the campus community including the Hazing Policy, training opportunities, reporting options, and a link to the Hazing Prevention Resources webpage.