Hazing is any intentional, knowing, or reckless action taken as part of an initiation, re-initiation, or maintenance of membership in “any student or other organization” that causes or creates an unreasonable risk of mental or physical harm to another person , including coercing or inducing another person to consume alcohol or drugs. The harmful action can either be action directly harming the victim or action coercing or inducing the victim to act in a way that leads to a substantial risk of, or actual physical or mental harm to themselves or others.

This hazing policy applies if the hazing takes place between two or more people who are affiliated with the University, and applies to behavior whether on or off campus.

Further, this hazing policy applies regardless of an individual’s willingness to participate, the activity’s actual bearing on the individual’s membership status, or whether the organization’s event was or was not officially approved by the organization or University.

The harmful action can either be an action directly harming the victim or an action coercing the victim to act in a way that leads to the risk of, or actual physical or mental harm to themselves, or others. Denison’s hazing policy covers knowing,intentional, and reckless behavior. Acting recklessly means acting without regard to a substantial and unjustified risk that action/inaction will result in harm or the substantial risk of harm.