Filing a Hazing Report
Who Can File a Hazing Report?
Anyone who is aware of or participates in hazing, including if they are hazed, and Campus Security Authorities (CSAs) have the responsibility to report hazing incidents in a timely manner. A CSA is anyone who has significant responsibility for students and campus activities, such as the Department of Safety and Security, student affairs staff, and residential life staff, including Undergraduate Advisors (UGAs).
After receiving information about a suspected hazing incident, CSAs should report the incident to the Office of Equal Opportunity, Accessibility, and Title IX (EOATIX) or the Department of Safety and Security. Each department will notify the other, as well as the applicable police department.
CSAs should take down as much information as possible from the reporting party to facilitate the reporting process, but are not permitted to investigate the incident, reach out to others involved, or determine whether the incident qualifies as hazing or not. Reports should be made even if there’s uncertainty about whether or not the event officially qualifies as a hazing incident.
When to File a Hazing Report
It can be challenging to understand what does and does not qualify as a hazing incident. When in doubt, reach out to a dean, a coach, or another College employee who works with student organizations to discuss the incident and get additional examples of both hazing and positive group-building activities.
In general, if the incident causes or has the potential to cause physical or psychological harm to those involved and the incident occurs as part of an initiation into, admission into, or requirement for continued membership in a student organization, it’s likely that the event is a hazing incident.
How to Report Hazing
There are multiple options for filing a report of hazing. Individuals who would like to report a hazing incident may use any of the options listed below.
Submit a Report through the Online Hazing Reporting Form
- Report to the Department of Safety and Security at 603-646-4000 or safety.and.security@dartmouth.edu.
- Reach out to a Campus Security Authority (CSA), such as student affairs staff, dean(s) of student housing, residential advisors, Greek Life staff (GLASS), athletic directors and coaches, or faculty advisors to student groups.
- Reach out to the Office of Equal Opportunity, Accessibility, and Title IX (EOATIX) at 603-646-0922 or equal.opportunity.accessibility.and.title.ix@dartmouth.edu.
- Report the incident through the LiveSafe Security App
- Submit an anonymous report through the Dartmouth Integrity Helpline.
Report to the Hanover Police Department at 603-643-2222. In the case of an emergency, please dial 911.
Please aim to answer the following questions when filing a report:
- Which individuals or organizations were involved in the incident?
- Who reported the incident?
- What happened during the incident?
- When did the incident happen?
- Where did the incident happen?
- What is the contact information of the individuals or organizations involved (if available)?
When it comes to filing a report, it’s important to include as much information as possible to support the investigation process.
What Happens After Filing a Report?
After receiving a hazing report, EOATIX will review the report and conduct an initial assessment, collecting additional information through interviews and outreach as appropriate and necessary. The purpose of the initial assessment is to determine whether the allegations, if true, potentially violate Dartmouth hazing policies.
When determining whether or not an incident potentially violates Dartmouth hazing policies, OIS takes the answers to the following questions into account:
- Did the incident occur in the course of an initiation into, affiliation with, or maintenance of membership in a student organization?
- Did the incident involve psychological or physical abuse?
- Did the incident involve sleep deprivation, exposure to the elements, confinement in small spaces, extreme calisthenics, physical strain, whipping, electronic shocking, placing of a harmful substance on someone’s body, hitting, slapping, or insertion of or striking with an object?
- Was there inducing or coercion to consume liquids, foods, alcohol, or drugs? Were alcohol or drugs consumed?
- Was there reasonable fear of bodily harm or injury?
- Was safety at risk? Could it have been?
- Was there an injury? Bodily harm? Damage or interference with personal property?
- Is there the possibility of psychological effects from the event?
- Did any activity involve or potentially involve a criminal violation of state or federal laws?
- Is the respondent an individual covered by this policy?
- Has the complainant or third-party reporter provided sufficient information to determine whether the conduct would be covered under this policy?
- Did the reported incident occur within a Dartmouth education program or activity?
In the event that the incident does potentially violate Dartmouth hazing policy, OIS will launch an official investigation into the incident and, upon completion, prepare a report to summarize findings and reach a final decision regarding the incident. Additionally, OIS may share the report with the appropriate office or department for further disciplinary action.
Dartmouth is required to update the Campus Hazing Transparency Report (CHTR) at least twice per year and findings of hazing policy violations will be added to this report. The report does not include personally identifiable information about individual students and complies with all Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) regulations.
Privacy and Immunity
Dartmouth is committed to making reasonable efforts to protect the privacy of those involved in hazing incidents and to protect all participants from retaliation. In general, identifying information will only be shared on a “need to know” basis. In the event of imminent threat of harm to self or others, information will promptly be shared with the Department of Safety and Security and/or local law enforcement.
Dartmouth has a non-retaliation policy that we strictly enforce. Dartmouth will not retaliate against any person who, in good faith, has reported a suspected violation of law or made a complaint against Dartmouth or another individual or entity with which Dartmouth has a business relationship.
Students who fully cooperate as witnesses during hazing incident investigation processes are able to request immunity from Dartmouth disciplinary actions, including immunity for the personal ingestion of alcohol or other drugs in violation of Dartmouth Standards of Conduct. As long as the student witnesses did not directly or indirectly cause physical or psychological harm or property damage to another individual, students can still request immunity even if they were directly involved in the incident.
It’s important to note that student witnesses may still be liable for criminal or civil penalties that are beyond the control of the College.