By Emily Blackner
News Editor
Although every student receives a copy when he or she checks in to campus, very few actually read the student handbook. The handbook contains information regarding important campus policies, including those related to hazing. Currently, Washington College officials are responding to reports of a recent hazing incident.
This incident was included in the Public Safety report filed for the Feb. 24 issue of the Elm. “Public Safety received information that hazing had allegedly occurred at an off-campus location” on Feb. 7, the report said. “Investigation is ongoing.”
Beth Anne Langrell, director of student development, would not comment on any specific incidents, but reminded students about WC’s hazing policy in general.
“I think it is good for every student to review the hazing policies,” she said. “These can be accessed online by searching ‘student handbook.’”
Director of Public Safety Jerry Roderick said, “The case is still being reviewed by the student affairs office [so] I can’t really tell you [much].” He did provide information about the investigation process, although he refused to name the group that was involved in the incident.
“[Back in February] the allegation that was brought forward suggested hazing off campus,” he said. “Hazing is a pretty broad statement. If you read Maryland law, hazing is reckless and dangerous behaviors that can cause bodily harm. The College’s policy is much broader than that.”
WC’s policy describes hazing as “any action taken, created, or intended to produce mental or physical discomfort, embarrassment, harassment, or ridicule that is directed at new or prospective members of a recognized student organization.”
The Maryland Anti-Hazing Law Roderick mentioned defines hazing as an action that “subjects a student to the risk of serious bodily injury for the purpose of initiation into a student organization of a school, college, or university.”
The policy applies to all student groups on campus, including sports teams and Greek organizations. It also notes that the definition of hazing can be applied to actions perpetrated by individuals against organizations or other individuals and not just those done by organizations. The handbook lists several examples of actions that are considered hazing, although the definition also applies to applicable actions that are not listed.
Still, the definition is very broad, said Roderick. “[Students] need to understand what it means on this campus.”
Public Safety has been investigating this incident since the second week of February.
“Anything with hazing becomes a very extensive investigation,” Roderick said. “There are a lot of people to interview and document information from. When you have allegations like this, you have to determine exactly what took place. Our piece in a process such as this is when an allegation comes in we evaluate the information and we are the ones who go out and investigate the occurrence. We’re basically the fact finders. It’s a lengthy process. Our final report still hasn’t been forwarded to student affairs. When they do get it, they will review it internally and then with the Honor Board.”
According to the student handbook, possible consequences for hazing perpetrators can include accountability sanctions, such as fines, loss of privileges, and suspension or expulsion of the organization as well as disciplinary actions.
Roderick said the investigation should be completed by the end of the school year.
Across the country, hazing incidents in both high schools and colleges have gotten a lot of attention in recent years. At WC itself, an incident occurred in the spring of 2010 involving the lacrosse team.
“In my time, hazing has been brought to the forefront as a more serious occurrence each year,” Roderick said. “There was a time when if the lax team all went out and got the same haircut it was considered a lax tradition; now it’s hazing.”
Questions about activities that could qualify as hazing can be directed to Langrell or Roderick, or to others listed in the handbook, including student affairs or residence life.
Roderick also said that Public Safety takes notice when possible hazing behaviors are noted even without reports.
“Certainly those issues are discussed between my office and student affairs,” he said. “The red flag goes up that this group is active and it is borderline hazing. Usually outreach is done to that group to express our concern.
“We’d much rather work with these organizations to create healthy environments then spend our time [conducting] investigations.”
Additional reporting by staff writer Andrea Clarke.