ÎÞÂëרÇø

For purposes of ÎÞÂëרÇø’s annual reporting statistics on hazing, the Stop Campus Hazing Act defines hazing as:

any intentional, knowing, or reckless act committed by a person (whether individually or in concert with others) against another person or persons, regardless of the willingness of such person(s) to participate, that is 

1. committed in the course of an initiation into, an affiliation with, or the maintenance of membership in a student organization, and,
2. causes or creates a risk, above the reasonable risk encountered in the course of participation in the IHE or the organization (such as the physical preparation necessary for participation in an athletics team) of physical or psychological injury, including:

• Whipping, beating, striking, electronic shocking, placing of a harmful substance on someone’s body, or similar activity, and/or:
• Causing, coercing, or otherwise inducing any of the following:
  • Sleep deprivation, exposure to the elements, confinement in a small space, extreme calisthenics, or other similar activity;
  • Another person to consume food, liquid, alcohol, drugs, or other substances
  • Another person to perform sexual acts;
• Any activity that places another person in reasonable fear of bodily harm through the use of threatening words or conduct;
• Any activity committed against another person that includes a criminal violation of local, state, tribal, or federal law; or,
• Any activity that induces, causes, or requires another person to perform a duty or task that involves a criminal violation of local, state, tribal, or federal law

The Texas anti-hazing statute is found in the Texas Education Code, Chapter 37, Subchapter F at §37.151 and defines hazing as: 

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, for the purpose of pledging, being initiated into, affiliating with, holding office in, or maintaining membership in an organization if the act is:

• Any type of physical brutality, such as whipping, beating, striking, branding, electric shocking, placing of a harmful substance on the body or similar activity;
• Involves sleep deprivation, exposure to the elements, confinement in a small space, calisthenics, or other similar activity that subjects the student to an unreasonable risk of harm or that adversely affects the mental or physical health or safety of the student;
• Involves consumption of food, liquid, alcoholic beverage, liquor, drug or other substance, other than as described by Paragraph (E), that subjects the student to an unreasonable risk of harm or which adversely affects the mental or physical health of the student;
• Is any activity that induces, causes, or requires the student to perform a duty or task that involves a violation of the Penal code; or involves coercing, as defined by Section 1.07, Penal Code, the student to consume an alcoholic beverage, liquor, or drug in an amount that would lead a reasonable person to believe that the student is intoxicated, as defined by Section 49.01, Penal Code.

**The fact that a person consented or acquiesced to participation in a hazing activity is not a defense to prosecution for hazing under the law.

According to the law, a person can commit hazing by not only engaging in the activity, but also soliciting, encouraging, directing, aiding or attempting to aid in hazing; and by intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly allowing hazing to occur. Witnessing hazing or having first-hand knowledge that a hazing incident is planned or has occurred can also be considered hazing, as defined by law.

In an effort to encourage reporting of hazing incidents, the Texas law grants immunity from civil or criminal liability to any person who reports a specific hazing event in good faith and without malice to the Dean of Students or other appropriate University official, such as staff in the Office of Student Conduct & Community Standards. A person may also be granted amnesty for any potential liability in ÎÞÂëרÇø student conduct proceedings. Additionally, a doctor or other medical practitioner who treats a student who may have been subjected to hazing may make a good faith report of the suspected hazing activities to police or other law enforcement officials and is immune from civil or other liability that might otherwise be imposed or incurred as a result of the report. The penalty for the failure to report incidents of hazing is a fine of up to
$1,000, up to 180 days in jail, or both. Penalties for other hazing offenses vary according to the severity of the injury which results and include fines from $500 to $10,000 and/or up to two years of jail time.

Students who have knowledge of hazing activity can report it to the Office of Student Conduct & Community Standards by clicking or to the ÎÞÂëרÇø Police Department or both. Information about hazing may also be reported anonymously through the ÎÞÂëרÇø Police Department’s Silent Witness Program by calling 214-ÎÞÂëרÇø-2TIP or online at http://www.smu.edu/2tip. You can also report hazing anonymously  via Real Response by texting 205-TXT2ÎÞÂëרÇø where a member of the Dean of Students Office will respond to you. Anonymous reports of hazing activity may also be made through the ÎÞÂëרÇø Fraud Reporting Program, by calling 844-995-4895, or accessing the online portal at:  smu.ethicspoint.com or the mobile reporting site:  smumobile.ethicspoint.com. 

This law does not affect or in any way limit the right of the university to enforce its own rules against hazing. Hazing is a violation of Section IV.B.4. of the ÎÞÂëרÇø Student Code of Conduct and is subject to potential proceedings in the Conduct Review Process.

In accordance with Texas and federal law, universities have a duty to report to the campus community all organizations that have been disciplined for hazing, on or off campus, during the preceding three years.

In accordance with the federal Stop Campus Hazing Act, if a recognized student organization is found responsible for hazing, the annual Transparency Report must include:

• Name of organization
• Description of the hazing activity/violation, including whether the incident involved illegal use of drugs or alcohol
• Date of the incident
• Start and end dates of the investigation
• Date the organization was notified of the findings

View ÎÞÂëרÇø’s Hazing Transparency Report

Texas Education Code § 51.936 requires all institutions of higher education distribute information to the campus at least twice each year:
(c) Not later than the 14th day before the first class day of each fall or spring semester, each postsecondary educational institution shall distribute to each student enrolled at the Institution:

1. a summary of the provisions of Subchapter F, Chapter 37; 
2. a copy of, or an electronic link to a copy of, the report required under Subsection (c-1)

1. Date of Incident(s): February 26 and March 2, 2020
   Date Investigation was Initiated: March 10, 2020
   General Description of Incident: Beta Theta Pi was allegedly hazing new members of their organization by requiring members to send pornographic images to other members of the chapter. It was also reported that new members were required to engage in activities that can be considered servitude. Beta Theta Pi was charged with violating the following policies: Hazing, Alcohol, Irresponsible Conduct, and Harassment.
   Resolution: Beta Theta Pi was found responsible for violating the following policies: Hazing, Alcohol, Irresponsible Conduct, and Harassment. Resolution includes Conduct Probation through December 31, 2021 and the completion of an Organization Accountability Agreement, which outlines several educational programs and requirements.
   Date Investigation Concluded: March 12, 2020
   
   
2. Date of Incident(s): Between January 24, 2021 and January 31, 2021
   Date Investigation was Initiated: February 1, 2021
   General Description of Incident: Beta Theta Pi was allegedly hazing new members of their organization by requiring new members to perform calisthenics, consume distasteful food, and perform acts of servitude. New members were also exposed to activities that adversely affected their physical health and safety.
   Beta Theta Pi was charged with violating the following policies: Hazing, Irresponsible Conduct, and Laws and University Policy.
   Resolution: Resolution includes an Organization Accountability Agreement, which outlines several educational programs and requirements effective until May 15, 2023.
   Date Investigation Concluded: May 11, 2021
   
   
3. Date of Incident(s): Between January 15, 2023 and February 9, 2023
   Date Investigation was Initiated: February 10, 2023
   General Description of Incident: Beta Theta Pi was allegedly hazing by requiring new members to perform calisthenics, consume distasteful food, and perform acts of servitude. New members were also exposed to activities that adversely affected their physical health and safety. 
   Beta Theta Pi was charged with violating the following policies: Hazing, Irresponsible Conduct, Failure to Comply, and Laws and University Policy.
   Resolution: The national organization Beta Theta Pi entered into a mutual agreement with ÎÞÂëרÇø through May 15, 2026, that includes the deferred suspension of the ÎÞÂëרÇø chapter through May 15, 2026 and additional educational programs and requirements.
   Date Investigation Concluded: June 28, 2023

Date of Incident: February 26, 2021
Date Investigation was Initiated: March 25, 2021
General Description of Incident: Delta Delta Delta was allegedly hazing by subjecting new members to activities that caused shame or humiliation. Delta Delta Delta was charged with violating the following policies: Hazing, Alcohol, Irresponsible Conduct, Laws and University Policy, and Failure to Comply.
Resolution: Delta Delta Delta was found responsible for violating the following policies: Hazing, Alcohol, Irresponsible Conduct, Laws and University  Policy, and Failure to Comply. Resolution includes an Organization Accountability Agreement, which outlines several educational programs and requirements effective through May 15, 2023.
Date Investigation Concluded: May 4, 2021

Date of Incident: n/a
Date Investigation was Initiated: September 13, 2017
General Description of Incident: Kappa Alpha Order was allegedly hazing new members of their organization through paddling, servitude, forcing new members to consume alcohol, forcing new members to participate in calisthenics, forcing new members to consume various food items and liquids until vomiting was induced, forcing new members to wear clothing soiled with vomit, sleep deprivation, and "underground" membership. Kappa Alpha Order was charged with violating the following policies: Irresponsible Conduct, Laws & University Policy, Interference, Harassment, and Hazing.
Resolution: Kappa Alpha Order was found responsible for violating the following policies: Irresponsible Conduct, Laws & University Policy, Interference, Harassment, and Hazing. The resolution includes the suspension of the organization until Fall 2021.
Date Investigation Concluded: October 4, 2017

1. Date of Incident: October 28, 2020
   Date Investigation was Initiated: November 11, 2020
   General Description of Incident: Kappa Alpha Theta was allegedly hazing potential new members through forced consumption of alcohol at an off-campus location. Kappa Alpha Theta was charged with violating the following policies: Alcohol, Irresponsible Conduct, and Hazing.
   Resolution: Kappa Alpha Theta was found responsible for violating the following policies: Irresponsible Conduct, Alcohol, and Hazing. The resolution includes the completion of an Organization Accountability Agreement, which outlines several educational programs and requirements effective through May 15, 2023.
   Date Investigation Concluded: December 18, 2020
   
   
2. Date of Incident: February 10, 2022
   Date Investigation was Initiated: April 8, 2022
   General Description of Incident: Kappa Alpha Theta was allegedly hazing new members through forced consumption of alcohol at an off-campus location. New members were also exposed to activities that adversely affected their physical health and safety. 
   Resolution: The national organization Kappa Alpha Theta entered into an Organizational Accountability Agreement with ÎÞÂëרÇø through May 15, 2026, which includes removal from campus for a period of time and additional educational programs and requirements.
   Date Investigation Concluded: July 24, 2022

Date of Incident: Between January 15, 2023 and February 2, 2023
Date Investigation was Initiated: February 8, 2023
General Description of Incident: Pi Beta Phi was allegedly hazing new members of their organization by subjecting them to activities that caused shame or humiliation. Pi Beta Phi was charged with the following policies: Hazing and Irresponsible Conduct.
Resolution: Pending
Date Investigation Concluded: August 2, 2023

Date of Incident: February 9, 2018
Date Investigation was Initiated: February 9, 2018
General Description of Incident: Pi Kappa Alpha was allegedly hazing new members of their organization through forced consumption of distasteful substances. Pi Kappa Alpha was charged with violating the following policy: Hazing.
Resolution: Pi Kappa Alpha was found responsible for violating the following policies: Hazing. Resolution includes the suspension of the organization until Fall 2022.
Date Investigation Concluded: March 26, 2018

Date of Incident: Between February 1, 2023 and February 28, 2023 
Date Investigation was Initiated: September 1, 2023
General Description of Incident: Sigma Chi was allegedly hazing new members by exposing their new members to activities that affected their physical health and safety. Sigma Chi was charged with violating the following policies: Hazing, Irresponsible Conduct, and Failure to Comply.
Resolution: Sigma Chi was found responsible for violating the following policies: Hazing, Irresponsible Conduct, and Failure to Comply. The resolution includes the completion of an Organization Accountability Agreement, which outlines several educational programs and requirements effective through December 15, 2025.
Date Investigation Concluded: November 13, 2023

Date of Incident: September 28, 2021
Date Investigation was Initiated: November 19, 2021
General Description of Incident: Sigma Nu was allegedly hazing new members by forcing new members to participate in calisthenics and imposing required methods of communication and attire. Sigma Nu was charged with violating the following policies: Hazing and Irresponsible Conduct.
Resolution: Sigma Nu was found responsible for violating the following policies: Hazing and Irresponsible Conduct. Resolution includes several educational program and requirements and Deferred Suspension through December 31, 2022.
Date Investigation Concluded: December 3, 2021