SAY NO TO HAZING!

We encourage students to that advantage of the many opportunities for getting involved in campus activities while at UTEP.  There are several benefits of being involved in campus organizations such as being part of a community, establishing friendships, networking with local business leaders and developing leadership skills.  Unfortunately, some students experience hazing during the process of joining or being involved in a student group.  At UTEP, hazing is expressly prohibited in accordance with state law, Regents’ Rules and Regulations (http://www.utsystem.edu/bor/rules/), and the University’s Handbook of Operating Procedures (http://admin.utep.edu/Default.aspx?alias=admin.utep.edu/hoop) and the UTEP Course Catalog http://catalog.utep.edu/content.php?catoid=1&navoid=18#Hazing_Policy.

Hazing with or without the consent of a student whether on or off campus is prohibited, and a violation renders the person inflicting the hazing, the organization with which the offenders are affiliated, and the person submitting to the hazing subject to discipline.  The University regards any form of hazing as a major violation. Any individual and/or any registered student organization participating or involved in hazing activities will be held responsible for those actions (and may result in criminal sanctions or penalties).  It is important to understand that a person can commit a hazing offense both by engaging in the activity and by soliciting, directing, encouraging, aiding or attempting to aid another engaging in hazing; by intentionally knowingly, or recklessly allowing hazing to occur; or failing to report to the appropriate university officials first-hand knowledge that a hazing incident is planned or has occurred.

Hazing is defined as actions or activities that endanger the mental and/or physical health or safety of a student for the purpose of pledging, being initiated into, affiliating with, holding office in, or maintaining membership in any organization whose members are or include students at a college or university.  Hazing can be done alone or with a group of other people and is directed at a student.

Some examples of hazing include:

• Spanking, whipping, beating, striking, and/or branding.
• Sleep deprivation, exposure to the elements, confinement, calisthenics, or other activity that subjects the student to harm including also sexual contact that is not welcome or appropriate.
• Activities that include the consumption of food, liquid, alcoholic beverage, drug, or other substances that subject the student to risk of harm or which affect the mental or physical health of a student.
• Activities that intimidate or threaten the student with ostracism that subjects the student to extreme mental stress, shame, or humiliation, or affects the mental health of the student.

Although most people associate hazing with Greek Life organizations, research has found that hazing also occurs on athletic teams (men and women), within performing arts organizations (university bands), academic clubs and honor societies as well as service organizations.

If you or a friend is being hazed, please contact the Office of Student Life at (915) 747-5648 or the UTEP Police Department at (915) 747-5611.  If you and/or your friend are in immediate danger, call 9-1-1 immediately.