Stop Hazing

STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT

The UNK Student Code of Conduct approved by the University of Nebraska Board of Regents Specifically Addresses Hazing in Section 2 -10.

10. Hazing Students or Individuals, which means:

a. Any action taken or situation created that intentionally or recklessly endangers the physical or mental health or safety of a student or other individual or which destroys public or private property when that activity is performed:

i) in the course of a student organization member considering the student or other individual for membership, continued membership, or affiliation with the organization;

ii) in the course of a student organization considering the student or other individual for membership, continued membership, or affiliation with the organization; 

iii) in response, either in whole or in part, to an expression of interest by the student or other individual in becoming a member of the organization;

iv) or during the course of student organization activities when a power differential exists.

b. Hazing is a violation regardless of whether it occurs on or off campus. 

c. Permission or approval of the student or other individual being hazed is not a defense to hazing.

D. Examples of hazing activity include, but are not limited to, paddling, beating, or branding an individual, depriving an individual of sleep for a prolonged period, sexually penetrating an individual or touching the individual in a lewd manner, subjecting the individual to prolonged exposure to the elements, depriving the individual of food or water, activities that unreasonably interfere with academic pursuits,  leaving the individual in a remote location without a means of return, subjecting the individual to conduct designed to shock the individual or having the individual engage in criminal conduct, engage in humiliating conduct, perform prolonged calisthenics, consume items that are not normally consumed by people, consume items in quantities that are not normally consumed by people, or consume alcohol.

TITLE IX

NEBRASKA REVISED STATUTE 28-311.06

28-311.06.

Hazing, defined; penalty.

(1) For purposes of this section, hazing means any activity by which a person intentionally or recklessly endangers the physical or mental health or safety of an individual for the purpose of initiation into, admission into, affiliation with, or continued membership with any organization. Such hazing activity includes whipping, beating, branding, an act of sexual penetration, an exposure of the genitals of the body done with intent to affront or alarm any person, a lewd fondling or caressing of the body of another person, forced and prolonged calisthenics, prolonged exposure to the elements, forced consumption of any food, liquor, beverage, drug, or harmful substance not generally intended for human consumption, prolonged sleep deprivation, or any brutal treatment or the performance of any unlawful act which endangers the physical or mental health or safety of any person or the coercing of any such activity.

(2) It is unlawful to commit the offense of hazing. Any person who commits the offense of hazing is guilty of a Class II misdemeanor.

(3) If the offense of hazing is committed for the purpose of initiation into, admission into, affiliation with, or continued membership with an organization of student members operating under the sanction of a postsecondary educational institution and such offense is committed by members of such organization, such organization shall be punished by a fine of not more than ten thousand dollars. Such organization shall not include the alumni organization or any corporation which owns the house or real estate of such organization.

NEBRASKA REVISED STATUTE 28-311.07

Hazing; consent not a defense.

Notwithstanding any provisions to the contrary, consent shall not be a defense to a prosecution pursuant to section 28-311.06.

STOP HAZING ACT

Per federal guidelines in the Stop Campus Hazing Act, hazing “means any intentional, knowing, or reckless act committed by a person (whether individually or in concert with other persons) against another person or persons regardless of the willingness of such other person or persons to participate, that:

1. is committed in the course of an initiation into, an affiliation with, or the maintenance of membership in, a student organization; and
2. causes or creates a risk, above the reasonable risk encountered in the course of participation in the institution of higher education or the organization (such as the physical preparation necessary for participation in an athletic team), of physical or psychological injury including—
   1. whipping, beating, striking, electronic shocking, placing of a harmful substance on someone’s body, or similar activity;
   2. causing, coercing, or otherwise inducing sleep deprivation, exposure to the elements, confinement in a small space, extreme calisthenics, or other similar activity;
   3. causing, coercing, or otherwise inducing another person to consume food, liquid, alcohol, drugs, or other substances; d
   4. causing, coercing, or otherwise inducing another person to perform sexual acts;
   5. any activity that places another person in reasonable fear of bodily harm through the use of threatening words or conduct; The University of Nebraska at Omaha shall not discriminate based upon age, race, ethnicity, color, national origin, gender-identity, sex, pregnancy, disability, sexual orientation, genetic information, veteran's status, marital status, religion, or political affiliation.
   6. any activity against another person that includes a criminal violation of local, State, Tribal, or Federal law; and
   7. any activity that induces, causes, or requires another person to perform a duty or task that involves a criminal violation of local, State, Tribal, or Federal law.”

All UNK students, faculty, staff, parents and stake holders have to report instances of hazing.  Any person having knowledge of any activity or conduct which may constitute hazing should report their concerns.  The University offers different vehicles to report hazing.

 Attempting to intimidate or coerce an individual from reporting potential violations will be considered a violation of the code of conduct and investigated by the University.

Report Hazing OnlineON CAMPUS

• Campus Recreation, Cushing Coliseum W120, (308) 865-1732
• Director of Bands, Fine Arts Building 228, (308) 865-8607
• Fraternity and Sorority Life, Nebraska Student Union 142, (308) 865-5047
• Student Affairs, Memorial Student Affairs building 180, (308) 865-8528
• Student Conduct, Warner Hall 2146, (308) 865-1619
• Title IX and Compliance, Warner 2134, (308) 865-8400
• University Police,  Facilities Building (308) 865-8911

Anonymous reports are accepted; however, it may restrict the investigation or the ability for the University to conduct a full investigation.  Every attempt will be made to ensure anonymity when information is provided to address hazing behaviors.

Online Training

Available for all students, staff, and faculty in Fall 2025.

Green Dot Training

Green Dot is a bystander intervention program focused on preventing power-based personal violence including dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. It empowers individuals to take action to help contribute to creating a safer community and challenge violence-supportive norms. UNK and S.A.F.E. Center of Kearney have partnered up to bring Green Dot bystander intervention to UNK and the Kearney community. Request Green Dot Training for your Organization.

The Student Code of Conduct outlines how potential violations of the Code of Conduct are to be investigated which include Hazing.   Hazing is considered a violation of state statute and federal law, so UNKPD may be involved with conducting an investigation if the incident could be for prosecution by the State of Nebraska.   UNK also reserves the right to outsource the invitation to a private firm depending on resources and the scope of the incident being investigated.   

 STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT - Investigating Potential Violations  

1. When the University receives information about a potential violation of the Standards, a Conduct Officer may conduct an investigation to determine if there is a reasonable basis to believe that a student or a student organization has engaged in conduct that violates the Standards
2. In the course of the investigation, the Conduct Officer may contact the student or the officers of the student organization that is the subject of the investigation. Before discussing the alleged violation(s) with the student or officers, the Conduct Officer must state in writing:
   1. that the Conduct Officer is investigating an alleged violation of the Standards;
   2. what the alleged violation is;
   3. that the student or officer is not required to discuss the alleged violation with the Conduct Officer;
   4. that the student or officer has the right to be accompanied by an advisor when the student meets with the Conduct Officer;
   5. that the student or the organization may choose as the advisor anyone, including an attorney, but that the student or the organization is responsible for any fees that the advisor may charge. The student’s advisor may provide guidance to the student, but may not otherwise directly participate in the conduct process.
3. The Conduct Officer must complete the investigation within sixty (60) University days after written notice about a possible violation was first received by the Conduct Officer. The Vice Chancellor responsible for student conduct or their designee may grant the Conduct Officer extensions of no more than an additional thirty (30) University days if the Conduct Officer applies in writing for an extension within the initial sixty (60) day period and shows that exceptional circumstances exist that warrant an extension of time. More than one (1) extension may be granted.
4. If the Conduct Officer determines that there is not a reasonable basis to believe that the student or student organization violated the Standards, the Conduct Officer should not take any further action in the matter.
5. If the Conduct Officer determines that there is a reasonable basis to believe that the student or the student organization engaged in conduct that violates the Standards, the Conduct Officer has the discretion:
   1. to take no further action in the matter;
   2. to seek an administrative resolution of the matter or other University provided resolution options;
   3. or to set the matter for hearing.
   4. In exercising discretion, the Conduct Officer should consider all the relevant circumstances, including the nature and seriousness of the alleged violation, any sanctions that may have been imposed pursuant to procedures other than those authorized by this Code (for example, sanctions imposed by a faculty member or by the civil authorities), the past conduct of the student or student organization, the ease or difficulty of proving the alleged violation, the interests of fairness, the interests of those harmed by the alleged violation, and the interests of the University.
6. If the Conduct Officer determines that University suspension or University expulsion may be an appropriate University response, and unless an administrative resolution is agreed upon, the Conduct Officer must set the matter for hearing before the University Conduct Board. If University suspension or University expulsion is not a potential University response, the matter will be set before a Hearing Officer unless either the Conduct Officer or the student requests the matter be set before a University Conduct Board.
   1. During the week preceding final examinations and the week(s) of final examinations, University breaks, and summer sessions a University Conduct Board may not be available. Accordingly, a Respondent may waive their right to a hearing before a University Conduct Board.
7. When a matter is set for hearing before a University Conduct Board the Chair of the Conduct Board is responsible for conducting the hearing and resolving any procedural and evidentiary issues that may arise. The Conduct Board shall select its own Chair. All members of the Conduct Board possess voting privileges.