Texas Chiropractic College believes that true human development can best occur in an atmosphere of social and ethical responsibility. TCC does not consider hazing as a contributing factor to the positive development or welfare of the individual. Therefore, TCC recognizes acts of hazing as irresponsible, intolerable, and inconsistent with the principles of higher education and basic human development. If anyone suspects that hazing has occurred, please report immediately to the Office of Student Services.
Definition of Hazing
Effective September 1, 1987, the Legislature of the State of Texas amended the Texas Education Code to provide criminal penalties for hazing. The following is a brief summary of the provisions. The full text of the act is published in the Texas School Law Bulletin 4.51 (Texas Education Agency, 1990). Hazing means 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, that endangers the mental or physical health or safety of a student for the purpose of pledging, being initiated into, affiliating with, holding office in, or maintaining membership in any organization whose members are/or include students at an educational institution.
The term includes but is not limited to: any type of physical brutality, such as whipping, beating, striking, branding, electronic shocking, placing a harmful substance on the body, or similar activity; any type of physical activity, such as sleep deprivation, exposure to the elements, confinement in a small space, calisthenics, or other activity that subjects the student to an unreasonable risk or harm or that adversely affects the mental or physical health or safety of the student; any activity involving consumption of a food, liquid, alcoholic beverage, liquor, drug, or other substance which subjects the student to an unreasonable risk or harm or which adversely affects the mental or physical health or safety of the student; any activity that intimidates or threatens the student with ostracism, that subjects the student to extreme mental stress, shame, or humiliation, or that adversely affects the mental health or dignity of the student or discourages the student from entering or remaining registered in an educational institution, or that may reasonably be expected to cause a student to leave the organization or the institution rather than submit to acts described in this subsection; any activity that induces, causes or requires the student to perform a duty or task which involves a violation of the Penal Code.
- Examples of actions and activities that are explicitly prohibited include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Compelling individuals to consume alcohol or drugs
- Paddling in any form, shoving, or otherwise striking individuals
- Compelling individuals to engage in sexual behaviors, sexual or racial harassment or slurs, or exhibitionism
- Compelling individuals to wear or carry unusual, uncomfortable, degrading, or physically burdensome articles or apparel
- Depriving individuals of the opportunity for sufficient sleep, decent edible meals, or access to means of maintaining bodily cleanliness
- Activities which impair an individual’s academic efforts by causing exhaustion, loss of sleep, or loss of reasonable study time, or by preventing an individual from attending class
- The creation of excessive fatigue by participation in physically demanding activities (calisthenics, runs, etc.)
- Compelling individuals to eat or drink unusual substances or compelling the consumption of undue amounts of odd preparations of food
- Having substances thrown at, poured on, or otherwise applied to the bodies of individuals
- Morally degrading or humiliating games or any other activities that make an individual the object of amusement, ridicule, or intimidation
- Transporting individuals against their will, abandoning individuals at a distant location, or conducting any “kidnap,” “ditch,” or “road trip” that might in any way endanger or compromise the health, safety, or comfort of any individual
- Causing an individual to be indecently exposed or exposed to the elements
- Causing an individual to remain in a fixed position for a long period of time
- Compelling an individual to be branded or tattooed
- “Line-up” involving intense, demeaning intimidation or interrogation, such as shouting obscenities or insults
- Compelling individuals to participate in activities (pranks, scavenger hunts, etc.), which encourage the defacement of property, engage in theft, harass other individuals, groups of individuals, or organizations, or disrupt the normal activities of the College
- Tests of courage, bravery, stamina, or sexuality
- Intentionally deceiving new members, prior to initiation, to make them believe that they will not be initiated
- Intentionally deceiving members (pledges, associates, etc.) to make them believe that they will be struck or hurt
- Excluding an individual from social contact for prolonged periods of time
- Compelling an individual to engage in acts of personal servitude
- Personal Hazing Offense
- A person commits a hazing offense if he/she engages in hazing; solicits, encourages, directs, aids, or attempts to aid another in engaging in hazing; intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly permits hazing to occur, or has firsthand knowledge of the planning of a specific hazing incident involving a student in an educational institution, or firsthand knowledge that a specific hazing incident has occurred, and knowingly fails to report said knowledge in writing to the Dean of Student Affairs or other appropriate official of the institution.
- Organization Hazing Offenses
- An organization commits a hazing offense if the organization condones or encourages hazing or if an officer or any combination of members, pledges, or alumni of the organization commit or assist in the commission of hazing.
- Consent Not a Defense
- It is not a defense from prosecution of an offense that the person against whom the hazing was directed, consented to or acquiesced in the hazing activity.
- Immunity from Prosecution
- The court may grant immunity from prosecution to each person who is subpoenaed and does testify for the prosecution. Any person reporting a specific hazing incident to the Dean of Student Affairs or other appropriate official and/or participated in any judicial proceeding as a result of the report is immune from liability, civil or criminal. Medical practitioners reporting treatment of students who have been subjected to hazing activities shall be immune from civil or other liability. Persons reporting in bad faith or with malice are not protected.
- Penalties
- Individuals and/or organizations accused of hazing are subject to immediate expulsion from TCC and criminal investigation and prosecution from the State of Texas.