Hazing

WCJC is committed to providing a safe environment for all members of our community and prohibits hazing by any student, student group or employee.

What is Hazing?

Hazing is any intentional, knowing, or reckless act, occurring on or off the campus of an educational institution, by one person alone or acting with others, directed against a student for the purpose of pledging, being initiated into, affiliating with, holding office in, or maintaining membership in an organization if the act:

1. Is any type of physical brutality, such as whipping, beating, striking, branding, electronic shocking, placing of a harmful substance on the body, or similar activity.
2. Involves sleep deprivation, exposure to the elements, confinement in a small space, calisthenics, or other similar activity that subjects the student to an unreasonable risk of harm or that adversely affects the mental or physical health or safety of the student.
3. Involves consumption of a food, liquid, alcoholic beverage, liquor, drug, or other substance, other than as described by item 5, that subjects the student to an unreasonable risk of harm or that adversely affects the mental or physical health or safety of the student.
4. Is any activity that induces, causes, or requires the student to perform a duty or task that involves a violation of the Penal Code.
5. Involves coercing, as defined by Penal Code 1.07, the student to consume a drug or an alcoholic beverage or liquor in an amount that would lead a reasonable person to believe that the student is intoxicated, as defined by Penal Code 49.01.

WCJC Hazing Policy

Hazing Prevention

WCJC has resources to help students and student groups prevent hazing. Contact the Dean of Students office or the Student Life office for information and resources.  Watch for activities and resources offered during National Hazing Prevention Week, as well.  Two nationally-based orgnaization also offer a host of resources:  StopHazing and Hazing Prevention.Org.  

Penalties for Hazing

Students or student groups may be disciplined and sanctioned for the misconduct of hazing under the WCJC Code of Student Conduct.  WCJC will discipline any student or student group found responsible for hazing.  Sanctions for students found responsible for hazing can include probation, loss of privileges, suspension or expulsion.  Sanctions for student groups can include probation, loss of privileges, and suspension.  Both students and student groups can also be assigned educational sanctions designed to change behvaior and reduct the risk of future misconduct.

When hazing happens within a student group, WCJC ma find both the student group and individual students responsible.  A student group can be found responsible if it condones or encourages hazing, or if its officers or members commit or assist in teh commission of hazing.

Hazing is not only against WCJC policy, it is also against the law.  The Texas Education Code, sections 51.936 and 37.157 make hazing a criminal offense.  Criminal penalties for hazing can include:

• Failing to report hazing - fine up to $1,000 and/or up to 180 days in jail and/or community service.
• Hazing not resulting in serious bodily injury - fine up to $500-$1,000 and/or 90-180 days in jail and/or community service.
• Hazing resulting in serious bodily injury - fine of $1,000-$5,000 and/or 180 days to 1 year in jail and/or community service.
• Hazing resulting in dealth - fine of $5,000-$10,000 and/or 1-2 years in jail

Student who commit hazing can be subject to both criminal prosecution and penalties as well as sanctions through the College conduct process.

How to Report Hazing

Anyone with knowledge of hazing should report the matter to WCJC by completing the online report from below.

Report Hazing

WCJC will investigate all reports of hazing involving students, whether the alleged misconduct took place on or off-campus and regardless of the victim's acquiescence to the allteged misconduct.  

Questions?  You may contact the following on-campus departments.

• Dean of Students - 979-532-6905
• Campus Security - 979-532-6523

You may also call the National Anti-Hazing Hotline at 1-888-NOT-HAZE (1-888-668-4293).

Campus Hazing Transparency Report

Student groups or organizations are those that are defined as groups regisered with the Student Life office, or groups who officially represent WCJC, including associations, societies, clubs, or student government, a band or musical group or an academic, athletic team, including any group or team that participates in National Collegiate Athletic Association competition, or a service, social, or similar group, whose members are primarily students.  Each student group must abivde by the Code of Student Conduct and the WCJC Hazing Policy.  Those found responsible for hazing will be listed below in accordance with Texas Educatin Code, sections 37.151 (5) an (6), as well as Section 485(f) of the Higher Education Act of 1965.

• Texas Education Code, sections 37.151 (5) and (6) requires public institutions to disclose a hazing report that will be continually updated.
• Section 485(f) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1092(f)) requires public institutions to disclose and maintain a Campus Hazing Transparency Report.
• Student groups will remain on the report for a period of 3 years.
• Student groups may have been investigated and found responsible for additional violations of the Student Code of Conduct that are not listed on this report because they are not required to be disclosed. Sanctions listed in this report may be reflective of all violations of the Student Code of Conduct, not just the hazing violation.
• Sanctioning is based on the severity of the behavior and any pattern of behavior the student group may have.