UCO Student Life

Hazing Policy

Hazing and / or any solicitations to engage in hazing are strictly prohibited at
the University of Central Oklahoma. Hazing is an act which recklessly or
intentionally endangers the mental or physical health or safety of a student,
which may degrade any person or lead to the destruction or removal of public
or private property, for the purpose of initiation, admission into, affiliation with,
or as a condition for continued membership in, a group or organization. No
student organization or any person associated with any organization sanctioned
or authorized by the University shall engage or participate in hazing. Any
penalties imposed by the University for hazing are separate from, and in addition
to, penalties imposed by criminal statutes.
Regardless of the incident location(s), any student(s) and / or student
organization(s) found responsible for any form of hazing may be subject to
immediate suspension and / or expulsion. The expressed or implied consent of
the victim shall not be considered as a defense. Apathy and / or consent in the
presence of hazing are not neutral acts; they shall be considered violations of
this policy.

Oklahoma Law Against Hazing:
A. No student organization or any person associated with any organization
sanctioned or authorized by the governing board of any public or private school
or institution of higher education in this state shall engage or participate in
hazing.
B. Any hazing activity described in subsection F of this section upon which the
initiation or admission into or affiliation with an organization sanctioned or
authorized by a public or private school or by any institution of higher
education in this state is directly or indirectly conditioned shall be presumed to
be a forced activity, even if the student willingly participates in such activity.
C. A copy of the policy or the rules and regulations of the public or private school
or institution of higher education which prohibits hazing shall be given to each
student enrolled in the school or institution and shall be deemed to be part of
the bylaws of all organizations operating at the public school or the institution
of higher education.
D. Any organization sanctioned or authorized by the governing board of a public
or private school or of an institution of higher education in this state which
violates subsection A of this section, upon conviction, shall be guilty of a
misdemeanor, and may be punishable by a fine of not more than One Thousand
Five Hundred Dollars ($1,500.00) and the forfeit for a period of not less than
one (1) year all of the rights and privileges of being an organization organized
or operating at the public or private school or at the institution of higher
education.
E. Any individual convicted of violating the provisions of subsection A of this
section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and may be punishable by
imprisonment for not to exceed ninety (90) days in the county jail, or by the
imposition of a fine not to exceed Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00), or by both
such imprisonment and fine.
F. For purposes of this section:
a) “Hazing” means an activity which recklessly or intentionally endangers the
mental health or physical health or safety of a student for the purpose of
initiation or admission into or affiliation with any organization operating
subject to the sanction of the public or private school or of any institution of
higher education in this state:
b) “Endanger the physical health” shall include but not be limited to any
brutality of a physical nature, such as whipping, beating, branding, forced
calisthenics, exposure to the elements, forced consumption of any
food, alcoholic beverage or intoxicating liquor as defined in Sectionn 506 of
Title 37 of the Oklahoma Statutes, non-intoxicating beverage as defined in
Section 163.2 of Title 37 of the Oklahoma Statutes, drug, controlled
dangerous substance, or other substance, or any other forced physical activity
which could adversely affect the physical health or safety of the individual;
and “Endanger the mental health” shall include any activity, except those
activities authorized by law, which would subject the individual to extreme
mental stress, such as prolonged sleep deprivation, forced prolonged
exclusion from social contact, forced conduct which could result in extreme
embarassment, or any other forced activity which could adversely affect the
mental health or dignity of the individual.

Reporting Hazing Activity
The entire University community shares the challenge and responsibility of reporting
hazing activity. Indeed, hazing may occur in academic, Greek, student athletic,
band, military, cultural, and / or other interest organizations. Apathy and / or
consent in the presence of hazing are not neutral acts; they shall be considered
violations of this policy. If you are aware of or reluctantly participating in any form
of hazing, then please contact one (1) of the following offices to report the
matter(s):
Greek Life Office, Nigh University Center, 212, (405) 974-2580,
Office of Student Conduct, Lillard Administration Building, 211 (405) 974-2361 or
The UCO Police Department, Public Safety Building, (405) 974-2345

Social Functions
1. All students and faculty members of the University of Central Oklahoma are
invited to attend any all-school functions. Closed functions may be limited.
2. All organized social functions sponsored by student organizations must be
chaperoned by a University faculty or staff sponsor. The members of the various
organizations have the responsibility of obtaining chaperones for their
activities. Chaperones should arrive before the activities begin and remain until
all participants depart. During the time they are present, the staff / faculty
sponsor / chaperone are the representatives of the University and assist
students with compliance of University policies and the rules and regulations of
the facility in which the activity is located. The Director of Campus Life reserves
the right to require additional chaperones for any activity.
3. Each group will be held responsible for any property damage and for the
conduct of individuals (members or guests) attending its social functions. In
keeping with University policy, the use or possession of drinks that have
alcoholic content is not permitted at any University on campus function. All
student organizations that wish to hold an off campus event where alcohol will
be served must send a representative to an alcohol management training
session each academic year. (Please refer to Section VI. K, for more
information.)
4. Any group sponsoring an activity on campus is responsible for removing all
decorations and returning all properties immediately after the function. The use
of hay and other flammable materials is not permitted in campus facilities
without prior approval.
5. In case a scheduled event is cancelled, the Director of Campus Life and Directors
of facilities involved are to be notified by an organizational officer.
6. All student organizational meetings and activities, which are held in the
evening on Sunday through Thursday, must conclude by a reasonable hour. All
events held on the weekend must conclude by a reasonable hour. The
Department of Campus Life should be consulted regarding dates and activities
previously scheduled to avoid conflict with other school programs.

UCO Off Campus Alcohol Event
Registration Guidelines:
1. All student organizations that wish to hold an off campus event where alcohol
will be served must send a representative to an alcohol management training
session each academic year. These sessions will be offered by the Department
of Campus Life and the Student Health Center during the first two (2) weeks of
the fall and spring semesters. Only students that have attended an alcohol
management training session may serve as event hosts. These guidelines apply
to fall, spring, summer, and interim semesters.
2. The event host must meet with the Director of Campus Life or his / her designee
at least three (3) weeks prior to the event to review the UCO Off Campus
Alcohol Event Registration Form and UCO Off Campus Alcohol Event
Registration Checklist.
3. The UCO Off Campus Alcohol Event Registration Form and UCO Off Campus
Alcohol Event Registration Checklist must be submitted to the Department of
Campus Life at least two (2) weeks prior to the event.
4. The following items must be submitted to the Department of Campus Life at
least one (1) week prior to the event:
a) Menu of food and nonalcoholic beverages to be served at the event.
b) Copies of the valid driver’s license and proof of insurance for all event
designated drivers.
c) List of those individuals who will be attending the event.
5. Upon receipt of all above materials, the event host and activity chapter one (1)
will be contacted by the Department of Campus Life. At this time the
Department of Campus Life will inform the event sponsor as to one (1) of the
following:
a) Official approval of the event
b) Required changes to the event. Once required changes have been made,
details should be submitted immediately to the Department of Campus
Life so the event may be reconsidered for approval.
c) Notification that the event will not be approved and may not take
place.
6. Students and student organizations that hold alcohol events that have not
received official approval from the Department of Campus Life or that do
not follow the policies agreed to on the UCO Off Campus Alcohol Event
Registration Form and UCO Off Campus Alcohol Event Registration
Checklist will be considered in violation of the UCO Code of Student
Conduct and subject to disciplinary action.
7. Student organizations are not permitted to have alcohol on campus.