Messiah University is committed to fostering a safe and respectful academic community in which all students are able to pursue their educational and extracurricular experiences free from harm, coercion, or intimidation.
Hazing is fundamentally inconsistent with the values of integrity, dignity, mutual respect, and personal responsibility that define the community expectations of Messiah University.
Regardless of intent, tradition, or group identity, hazing undermines individual well-being, erodes trust within the community, and poses serious physical, psychological, and emotional risks. Accordingly, the University strictly prohibits hazing by any student, student organization, athletic team, or other affiliated group.
This prohibition applies to all University-recognized and related student organizations and extends to activities conducted on or off campus, whether occurring before, during, or after official events. The University expects all members of its community to uphold these standards and to take an active role in preventing, reporting, and addressing behavior that may constitute hazing.
Hazing may occur across a spectrum of behaviors, varying in form, severity, and impact. All incidents of hazing involve 1) participation in an activity, 2) experienced by someone in a student organization or group that 3) risks humiliating, degrading, or harming someone in the group, 4) regardless of the person’s willingness to participate.