STUDENT HAZING | Policy Manual | Mauston, School District of

5516 - STUDENT HAZING

The Board believes that hazing activities of any type are inconsistent with the educational process and may in some circumstances be a violation of State law. It prohibits all such activities at any time in school facilities, on school property, and at any District-sponsored activity or event.

Hazing shall be defined for purposes of this policy as performing any act or coercing another, including the victim, to perform any act of initiation into any class, group, or organization that causes or creates a risk of causing mental, emotional, or physical harm. Permission, consent, or assumption of risk by an individual subjected to hazing shall not lessen the prohibitions contained in this policy.

Administrators, faculty members, and other employees of the District shall be alert to possible situations, circumstances, or events that might include hazing. If hazing or planned hazing is discovered, the students involved shall be informed by the discoverer of the prohibitions contained in this policy and shall be ordered to end all hazing activities or planned activities immediately. All hazing incidents shall be reported immediately to the Principal or to the Superintendent. The individual informed of the situation shall immediately do the following:

Write all information concerning the reported activity or planned activity received from the person reporting the incident to create a complete record of the initial contact with the administration.
Determine if any potential criminal activity has occurred, and if so, contact law enforcement immediately.
Determine whether the information received illustrates hazing behavior that is based on the student’s or any group of students sex (including transgender status, change of sex, or gender identity), race, color, national origin, religion, creed, ancestry, marital or parental status, sexual orientation or physical, mental, emotional or learning disability, or any other characteristic protected by Federal or State civil rights laws ("Protected Classes"). If the conduct reported appears to be based on one (1) or more Protected Class, the Administrator shall inform the District Compliance Officer and refer to Policy 5517 – Student Anti-Harassment and proceed accordingly.
If the hazing or planned hazing does not appear to be based on any Protected Classes, then the Administrator shall proceed to conduct an investigation consistent with the procedures found in Policy 5517.01 - Bullying. If at any point, information surfaces indicating that hazing activity was based on one (1) or more Protected Class, the Administrator or designee conducting the investigation shall contact the Compliance Officer and consult Policy 5517 – Student Anti-harassment.

Students, administrators, faculty members, and other employees who fail to abide by this policy may be subject to disciplinary action and may be held personally liable for civil or criminal penalties. Disciplinary action for students may include, but is not limited to, suspension and/or expulsion. Disciplinary action for staff members may be issued up to and including termination from employment. (See Policy 3139 – Staff Discipline or Policy 4139 – Staff Discipline).