Wednesday August 29, 2001 |

New policy cracks down on teachers as well as students involved in hazing

The UA Dean of Students office will soon begin revising its current hazing policy in accordance with the new state hazing policy passed Aug. 9.

Veda Hunn, associate dean of students, presented the new policy to the Associated Students of the University of Arizona at its weekly meeting last night.

The new policy includes a more specific definition of hazing, a statement requiring staff and faculty - as well as students - to report all incidences of hazing and a description of the circumstances under which hazing is to be reported to the authorities, Hunn said.

"(This policy) has a very different impact for us in the future as far as how we respond to hazing issues on campus," Hunn said. "We need to bring (our) policy to be more consistent with (the state's) policy."

Hazing, defined by the new policy as "any intentional, known or reckless act committed by a student against another student," is a ritual often associated with greek life on campus. However, Hunn made it clear that hazing is by no means limited to greek-affiliated events as it includes any organization that participates in some form of initiation.

Though the UA's current policy nearly mirrors the new state policy, Hunn said its broader focus on involving teachers in anti-hazing policy will have a substantial effect on faculty and staff.

"Our next step is to educate the campus community (about the policy)," she said.

Under the new policy, faculty and staff found to be withholding information about hazings will be reported as failing to follow the proper anti-hazing procedures. Also, severe cases of hazing must be reported to law enforcement.

The current hazing-report system at the UA allows for all relevant complaints to be filed directly through the Dean of Students office. However, the new policy will implement a complaint system to be direct through the Provost's Office, one that will strictly handle complaints against faculty that have failed to report hazing incidents.

"Not all complaints are necessarily done with an official police report," Hunn said. "(The reports) can be a parent calling in concerned with the safety and welfare of their child."

According to the UA's Web site, the most recent revision to the university's hazing policy took place in 1995. The policy maintains a zero-tolerance standard on all hazing incidents.