Life at MVNU
Hazing Defined
MVNU is committed to providing a safe and healthy campus where members of our community have the right to be free from hazing, and all members of the MVNU community must conduct themselves in a manner that supports a hazing-free environment.
View our Biannual Anti-Hazing Report
The Law
Ohio is one of 44 states with an anti-hazing law. Individuals may be held criminally or civilly liable. Collin’s Law (Revised Code, Section 2903.31) prohibits any person from recklessly participating in the hazing of another, and provides that violation of the statute is a second-degree misdemeanor or a third-degree felony depending on the nature of the incident. The Ohio Revised Code, Section 2903.31 defines hazing as: "doing any act or coercing another, including the victim, to do any act of initiation into any student or other organization or any act to continue or reinstate membership in or affiliation with any student or other organization that causes or creates a substantial risk of causing mental or physical harm to any person, including coercing another to consume alcohol or a drug of abuse, as defined in section 3719.011 of the Revised Code.
Our Policy
MVNU considers hazing to be any act which endangers the mental or physical health or safety of a student, or which destroys or removes public or private property for the purpose of initiation, admission into, or affiliation with, or as a condition for continued membership in a group or organization, whether the person subjecting to such behavior participates willingly or not. Hazing acts may be physical, mental, emotional or psychological, which subjects another, to anything which may abuse, mistreat, degrade, humiliate, ridicule, harm, or intimidate. This regulation applies to all members of the University community, including faculty, staff, students, volunteers, organizations, and groups, as well as visitors and other licensees and invitees regardless of if it occurs on or off campus.
Listed below are a few of the activities we consider to be hazing. This list is not comprehensive.
Mental & Psychological Abuse
Forced Use of Alcohol or Drugs
Yelled/Cursed At by Team/Group Members
Running Errands & Menial Tasks
Public or Private Displays of Humiliation
Mandatory Training
All MVNU students, faculty, and staff must complete anti-hazing education. MVNU has introduced awareness courses for all campus community members that educate them on how to recognize, prevent, and report hazing. This education is required by the Ohio Anti-Hazing Act.
University Students
If a student does not complete this educational programming, they must be prohibited from participating in a recognized organization until the programming is completed.
- New Student Orientation/Institute, Fall 2022 & Spring 2023
- Residential Student Mandatory Meeting
- Athletics
- Clubs and Organizations
University Employees
Training will be provided for club advisors to administer to members, prospective members and anyone who is employed by or volunteers with the organization. The education may be provided in person, electronically, or both. Campus Life will maintain a record of individuals who have completed the program.
- Mandatory In-Person Training for Staff & Faculty, Fall 2022 & Spring 2023
Potential Sanctions
Hazing is a serious offense of the MVNU Community Policies and, therefore, is subject to the full range of sanctions (disciplinary notice, disciplinary probation, final notice, suspension, and dismissal). In addition, other educational activities may be required as conditions of the sanction. An individual, organization, or group may be subject to other outcomes in accordance with the applicable outside constituents or group in which the student is involved, or their governing bodies. The University has the right to act regardless of the actions of the governing body.
Criminal penalties for hazing in the State of Ohio include:
- Reckless participation in the hazing of another person or for recklessly permitting the hazing of another person is a fourth degree misdemeanor with the possibility of 90 days in jail and/or a fine of $750 per Ohio Revised Code §§ 2929.24 and 2929.28.
- Hazing that includes drugs or alcohol is a third-degree felony carrying a sentence of up to 3 years in prison and $10,000 in fines.
- Failure to report hazing is a first-degree misdemeanor carrying a sentence of up to 180 days in jail and $1,000 in fines.
Reporting Hazing
Student Reporting
Students may report hazing by contacting the Office of Student Life, Campus Safety, or via the online Hazing Reporting Form using the links in How to Report Hazing. In the event of an emergency, students should contact Campus Safety at 740-397-9111 or 911.
Employee Reporting
Immediately upon learning of potential hazing, all employees, volunteers, advisors, consultants, and alumni have a duty to report any alleged violation of hazing. Each mandated reporter must report to the University and to law enforcement.
How to Report Hazing
- Contact the Office of Student Life at 740-392-6868 ext. 4602 or via email at Matthew.Spraker@mvnu.edu.
- Contact Campus Safety at 740-399-8686.
- Students may submit anonymous reports of hazing online via the Hazing Reporting Form.
- In the event of an emergency, please contact Campus Safety at 740-399-8686 or 911.