Laws and Policies

Wake Forest University Definition of Hazing:  

Anti-Hazing Policy

Wake Forest University prohibits hazing and any conduct that aids, abets, assists, or supports another in hazing. “Hazing” is any action taken or situation created for the purpose of initiation, admission into, affiliation with, or as a means of maintaining continued membership or favor in a group, organization, or team that: (1) endangers the mental or physical health or safety of any student; (2) unreasonably interferes with a student’s academic, professional, or personal obligations; (3) humiliates, demeans, disgraces, or degrades a student; (4) is not relevant to a student’s development within the context of the group, organization or team; or (5) the action taken or situation created is excessive and unreasonable within the context of the group, organization or team.

The consent or willingness of the person subjected to hazing, either expressed or implied, is not a defense to hazing.

Wake Forest prohibits retaliation against any person who acts in good faith to stop, prevent, or report potential hazing activity, or who participates in an investigation involving hazing allegations. Wake Forest encourages reports of potential hazing or retaliation, and reports can be made at this website: https://hazing.wfu.edu/report-hazing/ or by calling 336.758.HAZE (4293).

Persons who cause physical injury by hazing, or who aid or abet others in physical injury by hazing, are also subject to arrest and criminal liability under North Carolina law.

Violations of this policy may result in sanctions under the Student Code of Conduct, up to and including Disciplinary Suspension and Disciplinary Expulsion. The Student Conduct Office will coordinate hazing investigations with other appropriate University units and a proceeding may determine outcomes for alleged violations of this policy and other University policies. 

Hazing results from a power imbalance between members of a group, organization or team. Hazing due to this imbalance can impact any member of the group, organization, or team, regardless of status. Hazing can take place in various forms, including Intimidation Hazing, Harassment Hazing, and/or Violent Hazing.

Click here for the full Anti-Hazing Policy.

North Carolina State Hazing Law:

Statute: 14-35 Definition
Hazing is defined as follows: “to subject another student to physical injury as part of an initiation, or as a prerequisite to membership, into any organized school group, including any society, athletic team, fraternity or sorority, or other similar group.”

Prohibition
Prohibits: any student in attendance at any university, college, or school in this State to engage in hazing, or to aid or abet any other student in the commission of this offense.

Misdemeanor
Any violation of this section shall constitute a Class 2 misdemeanor.

For more information refer to hazingprevention.org