Anti-Hazing

Hazing Prevention

Sam’s Law is the name of anti-hazing legislation adopted in 2022 in Washington State. It is named after Sam Martinez, a freshman at Washington State University who died of alcohol poisoning at a fraternity party in November 2019. The law requires institutions of higher education to implement anti-hazing programming for employees and students. It also requires institutions of higher education (IHEs) to publish an annual report identifying student organizations, athletic teams, and living groups found responsible for engaging in hazing.

What is Hazing?

Hazing is any act committed as part of a person's recruitment, initiation, pledging, admission into, or affiliation with a student organization, athletic team, or living group, or any pastime or amusement engaged in with respect to such an organization, athletic team, or living group that causes, or is likely to cause, bodily danger or physical harm, or serious psychological or emotional harm, to any student or other person attending a public institution of higher education in this state, including causing, directing, coercing, or forcing a person to consume any food, liquid, alcohol, drug, or other substance which subjects the person to risk of such harm, regardless of the person's willingness to participate. "Hazing" does not include customary athletic events or other similar contests or competitions.

Hazing Prevention Policy at Cascadia College

Hazing is prohibited within the Cascadia College community. Hazing is any conduct committed as part of a person’s recruitment, initiation, pledging, admission into, or affiliation with a student organization, athletic team, or living group (collectively “student groups”) or any pastime or amusement engaged in with respect to such a student group that causes, or is likely to cause, bodily danger or physical harm, or serious psychological or emotional harm, to any student or other person attending Cascadia College, including causing, directing, coercing, or forcing a person to consume any food, liquid, alcohol, drug, or other substance which subjects the person to risk of such harm, regardless of the person's willingness to participate.

"Hazing" does not include customary athletic events or other similar contests or competitions.

This prohibition applies to conduct that may occur both on and off campus.

In compliance with 2SHB 1751 (2022), the College will implement procedures and programs, including offering students and employees hazing prevention training and programming, implementation of a mandatory reporting procedure, creation of a hazing prevention committee, and publication of a hazing report.

Anti-Hazing Policy for Groups, Clubs, and Organizations

Purpose

Cascadia College (herein after named as “college”) is committed to and maintains an atmosphere of social and ethical responsibility. It is the College's belief that learning and working occurs in environments where learners, employees, and visitors feel safe, secure, and welcome. The College regards responsible pre-initiation activity or extra- and co-curricular activities as a positive educational approach to preparation for student group or organization membership and affiliation, who maintain different purposes and process. These purposes and process may have traditions and the College supports traditions that match the College’s core values. The College further recognizes that a student organization or group may belong to a national oversight organization that also holds students accountable to expectations and standards (e.g., the national organization for a local fraternity chapter). The College is committed to partnering with these outside affiliates to address hazing allegations and will communicate with them as appropriate.

Policy

Faculty, staff, learners, volunteers (e.g., advisors and volunteer coaches), organizations, groups, alumni, and consultants are members of the “College community” for purposes of this policy. This policy addresses hazing activity by any party, regardless of the existence of consent, and recognizes the act of hazing as illegal, irresponsible, intolerable, and inconsistent with the principles of higher education and basic human development. Hazing is antithetical to this College’s commitment to maintaining a positive educational environment. Participation in hazing activities is against the law [Chapter 132Z-115 WAC]. This policy applies to hazing that takes place between two or more people who are affiliated with the college regardless of whether it occurs at sanctioned or non-sanctioned events, on- or off-campus.

This policy applies to student organizations, groups, and individuals and is effective from enrollment to commencement, including breaks in the academic year.

Violation of the stated hazing policy may subject participants, including students and organizations, to arrest, prosecution and/or disciplinary action, including, but not limited to, suspension or expulsion of students and the revocation of an organization’s registration and/or recognition at the college. Consent to or acquiescence in hazing activity is not a defense.

If college community members are asked to take part in hazing activities, or if they are uncomfortable with the instructions given as a new member, they have the right to say no. If the organization engages in behaviors that college community members believe are hazing, they do not have to participate or support such activities and need to report them.

The College holds students accountable for their behavior both on and off-campus and addresses behavior that is a violation of the "Student Code of Conduct."

The group or organization, regardless of chartered status, has the responsibility to ensure its activities are acceptable under this policy. Questions regarding the acceptability of a proposed organization activity should be discussed with the Cascadia Student Life Office.

College community members have a duty to report violations of this policy of which they become aware in the course of their duties when these duties include responsibility for the safety and wellbeing of other members of campus community or if they have supervisory, evaluative, grading, or advisory responsibility over other members of the campus community.

Cascadia's Student Code of Conduct

Cascadia expects that all students will conduct themselves as responsible members of the college community both on campus and while attending off campus activities. Cascadia has adopted policies governing student conduct, including disciplinary procedures and procedures for resolving conflicts related to student discipline.

To learn more, visit this Cascadia section of the Washington Administrative Code

Cascadia's Student Training Program for Hazing Prevention

Cascadia College is partnering with Get Inclusive to provide an anti-hazing prevention course to students, student organizations, and employees. Take the Hazing & Intimidation module.

Instances of Hazing (Quarterly Report)

Hazing Prevention Committee

The Cascadia College Hazing Prevention Committee shall promote and address hazing prevention. The committee shall have a minimum of six members including a designated chair appointed by the president of the institution. Fifty percent of the committee positions shall include students currently attending the higher education institution with at least one position filled by a student from a student organization, athletic team, or living group. The other fifty percent of the committee positions shall include at least one faculty or staff member and one parent or legal guardian of a student currently enrolled at the institution. Student input shall be considered for committee membership. A student who is a member of a student organization, athletic team, or living group that was affiliated with a finding of a hazing violation within the last twelve months may not participate in or be a member of the hazing prevention committee.