Hazing Laws and Information:

Students should be aware that hazing violates campus policy, federal and state law. The following information has been posted by the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life for educational purposes and to inform prospective members and current members of our policies, state and federal laws as it pertains to hazing.

Ramapo College of New Jersey Hazing Policy

Ramapo College defines hazing as:

“Any action taken or situation created, intentionally, to produce mental or physical discomfort, embarrassment, harassment, or ridicule. Such activities may include but are not limited to the following: use of alcohol during potential new member activities; paddling in any form; creation of excessive fatigue; physical and psychological shocks; quests, treasure hunts, scavenger hunts, road trips or any other such activities carried on outside or inside of the campus; forced wearing of uniformed apparel as a group; engaging in public stunts and buffoonery; morally degrading or humiliating games and activities; and any other activities which are not consistent with academic achievement, fraternal law, ritual or policy or the regulations and policies of the educational institution or applicable state law.”

Depending upon circumstances, these activities have at one time or another been construed as hazing by the courts and/or institutions of higher education. Such actions are often required or implied as conditions of inclusion or exclusion from a group, formal or informal. Thus, hazing may be perpetrated by an individual(s), group(s), or part(s) of a group. 

Examples of Hazing Activities Prohibited by Ramapo College:

Requiring any form of exercise or physical activity (such as crunches, push-ups, running, lunges, carrying heavy items, standing for long periods of time)

Requiring a regimented public demeanor, i.e. marching, military-like demeanor, limiting use of automatic doors, restricting walking patterns, prescribing set walking formations, such as single file, or cutting corners.

Not permitting individuals to speak for extended periods of time and/or forced exclusion from social contact; prohibition from speaking with College officials, faculty, employers/clients, club membership or leadership or roommates or prohibition from speaking with family/friends even in emergency situations.

Requiring individuals to walk or march in formation of any kind

Forced wearing of uniforms or apparel

Not permitting individuals to speak for extended periods of time and/or forced exclusion from social contact

Requiring the ingestion of any substance i.e., spoiled food, drink, concoctions, water, hot sauce

Prolonged exposure to the elements

Physical assault/harassment i.e., branding, blindfolding or hand-tying, beating

Requiring dietary intake in any way i.e., food restrictions, limitations, designating diet, healthy or otherwise

Conducting activities that do not allow adequate time for study or sleep

Requiring prescribed greetings or recitation as part of pnm activities/pnm program in academic areas

Deprivation of or interference with the maintenance of a normal schedule of bodily cleanliness

Expecting certain items to always be in one’s possession that has no significance to the organization (as stated by the governing body) or that is physically burdensome or potentially dangerous i.e., pnm book, rock, bricks, pumpkin, stuffed animal etc.

Engaging in unauthorized activities which involve compelling an individual or group of individuals to remain at a certain location or transporting anyone anywhere, within or outside the township of Mahwah i.e., road trips, treasure and scavenger hunts, kidnapping, sneaks, drop-offs, etc.

Forcing new members to perform individual acts or acts as a group which are crude, degrading and meant to embarrass and/or humiliate, i.e., acting like an animal, simulating sexual acts

Assigning or endorsing pranks such as borrowing or stealing items, painting property and objects of others, or harassing other individuals or groups

Non-physical harassment including yelling and screaming or calling individuals demeaning names

Requiring any personal servitude to another individual or group such as running errands, cleaning, making food runs, cooking, performing someone else’s academic work, requiring a new member to be a designated driver even if not involved in the activity.

Questioning under pressure including using line-ups or drills

Simulating or requiring activity of a sexual nature, or threatening to do so

Expecting illegal activity or threatening to require illegal activity

Psychological games used to intimidate new members, isolating new members and/or abandoning or falsely imprisoning new members 

*Hazing is hazing regardless of consent. Agreeing to any of the aforementioned activities or any other unauthorized activity does not make it acceptable*

Organizations may not employ practices that are contrary to governing body policy. Activities banned by governing bodies are also considered banned by Ramapo College of New Jersey. Where organization and college policies differ, the College policies will prevail.

Please note: This list by no means covers all activities and actions that can be considered hazing. Should you have questions or desire clarification on any of these items, please contact the Center for Student Involvement, Student Center Room 200, or call 201-684-7593.

College Response to Hazing:

Any chapter found guilty of hazing will be subject to immediate charter revocation and to college, local, state, and federal charges (individual culpability will also be established whenever possible). When the College suspects hazing is occurring or have reasonable evidence that hazing has occurred, the College will contact national and/or regional officers of the organization(s) involved as well as consult with the Ramapo College Public Safety, Mahwah Police Department and/or County.

New Jersey “Timothy J. Piazza” Hazing Law

2C:40-3  Hazing.

1. a. A person is guilty of hazing, if, in connection with initiation of applicants to or members of a student or fraternal organization, whose membership is primarily students or alumni of the organization or an institution of higher education, the person knowingly or recklessly:

(1)   causes, coerces, or otherwise induces another person to commit an act that violates federal or State criminal law;

(2)   causes, coerces, or otherwise induces another person to  consume any food, liquid, alcoholic liquid, drug or other substance which subjects the person to a risk of emotional or physical harm or is otherwise deleterious to the person’s health;

(3)   subjects another person to abuse, mistreatment, harassment, or degradation of a physical nature, including, but not limited to, whipping, beating, branding, excessive calisthenics, or exposure to the elements;

(4)   subjects another person to abuse, mistreatment, harassment, or degradation of a mental or emotional nature, including, but not limited to, activity adversely affecting the mental or emotional health or dignity of the individual, sleep deprivation, exclusion from social contact, or conduct that could result in extreme embarrassment;

(5)   subjects another person to abuse, mistreatment, harassment, or degradation of a sexual nature; or

(6)   subjects another person to any other activity that creates a reasonable likelihood of bodily injury to the person.

Hazing shall not include any reasonable and customary athletic, law enforcement, or military training; contests; competitions; or events.

b.   Hazing is a crime of the third degree if an actor commits an act prohibited in subsection a. of this section which results in death or serious bodily injury to another person and is a crime of the fourth degree if the actor commits an act prohibited in subsection a. of this section which results in bodily injury to another person.  Otherwise, hazing is a disorderly persons offense.

c.   In addition to any other sanctions or penalties that may be imposed, a student or fraternal organization described in subsection a. of this section, or an institution of higher education, that knowingly or recklessly promotes or facilitates a person to commit an act of hazing prohibited in this section shall be subject to a fine of not less than $1,000 or more than $5,000 for an initial violation of subsection a. of this section, and a fine of not less than $5,000 or more than $15,000 for each subsequent violation.

d. (1) A person, student or fraternal organization, or institution of higher education, and another person acting in concert with the person, organization, or institution, shall be immune from prosecution under this section if the person, or an employee, officer, or other agent acting on behalf of the organization or institution, as the case may be:

(a)   called 9-1-1, or otherwise contacted campus security, police, or emergency services, and reported that a person was in need of medical assistance due to an act of hazing as described in this section;

(b)   the caller provided the caller’s name and, if applicable, the name of the person acting in concert with the caller to the 9-1-1 operator or other recipient of the emergency contact;

(c)   the caller was the first to make the 9-1-1 report or other emergency report; and

(d)   the caller and, if applicable, the person acting in concert with the caller remained on the scene with the person in need of medical assistance until assistance arrived and cooperated with the emergency services on the scene.

(2)   In addition to any other applicable immunity or limitation on civil liability, a law enforcement officer or other official empowered to act as an officer for the arrest of offenders against the laws of this State, or a prosecutor, who, acting in good faith, arrested or charged a person who is thereafter determined to be entitled to immunity from prosecution under this subsection shall not be subject to any civil liability for the wrongful arrest or charge.
L.1980, c.169, s.1; amended 2021, c.208, s.7.

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18A:3-25.      Pledge’s Bill of Rights  

2.    The Attorney General shall develop a “Pledge’s Bill of Rights” which outlines acceptable and unacceptable behavior and activities in regard to the pledge or rushing activities of college and university fraternities and sororities and other similar campus organizations.  In developing the bill of rights, the Attorney General shall review the existing pledge and anti-hazing policies and procedures of public and independent institutions of higher education within the State and shall, as appropriate, incorporate those policies into the bill of rights.  The Attorney General shall make the “Pledge’s Bill of Rights” available to each institution of higher education within the State.
L.1991,c.388,s.2; amended 1994,c.48,s.40.

18A:3-26. Information on hazing included  

3.    The bill of rights developed by the Attorney General pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.388 (C.18A:3-25) shall include information on the criminal penalties for hazing and aggravated hazing established pursuant to P.L.1980, c.169 (C.2C:40-3 et seq.).
L.1991,c.388,s.3; amended 1994,c.48,s.41.

18A:3-27.1  Definitions relative to hazing.   

1.   As used in sections 2 through 4 of P.L.2021, c.208 (C.18A:3-27.1 through C.18A:3-27.4):

“Hazing” means conduct in connection with an initiation of applicants to or members of a student or fraternal organization as described in section 1 of P.L.1980, c.169 (C.2C:40-3).

“Organization” means a fraternity, sorority, association, corporation, order, society, corps, club or service, social or similar group, whose members are primarily minors, students, or alumni of the organization or an institution of higher education; or a national or international organization with which such a group is affiliated.

“Student” means an individual who attends or has applied to attend or has been admitted to an institution of higher education.
L.2021, c.208, s.1.

18A:3-27.2  Adoption of written policy against hazing.   

2.   Each public and independent institution of higher education shall adopt a written policy against hazing and, pursuant to that policy, adopt rules prohibiting students or other persons associated with an organization operating under the sanction of, or recognized as, an organization by the institution from engaging in hazing.  The institution of higher education shall post the policy at a publicly accessible location on the institution’s Internet website and shall provide a copy of the policy, including the institution’s rules, penalties, and program of enforcement, to each organization within the institution.
L.2021, c.208, s.2.

18A:3-27.3  Program for enforcement of policy against hazing.   

3. a. Each public and independent institution of higher education shall provide a program for the enforcement of the policy against hazing required under section 2 of P.L.2021, c.208 (C.18A:3-27.2) and shall adopt appropriate penalties for violations of the policy to be administered by the individual or agency at the institution responsible for the sanctioning or recognition of the organization covered by the policy or by such other individual or agency deemed appropriate by the institution.

b.   The penalties for violations of the policy may include:

(1)   imposition of fines;

(2)   the withholding of diplomas or transcripts pending compliance with the rules or payment of fines;

(3)   the rescission of permission for the organization to operate on campus or to otherwise operate under the sanction or recognition of the institution; and

(4)   the imposition of probation, suspension, dismissal, or expulsion.

c.   A penalty imposed under this section shall be in addition to a penalty imposed for a violation of any other institutional rule to which the violator may be subject.

d.   A policy adopted under section 2 of P.L.2021, c.208 (C.18A:3-27.2) shall apply to each act conducted on or off-campus if the acts are deemed to constitute hazing.
L.2021, c.208, s.3.

18A:3-27.4  Report on violations.   

4. a. Each public and independent institution of higher education shall maintain a report which shall include information on all violations of the institution’s anti-hazing policy and federal and State laws related to hazing that are reported to the institution.  Information on a reported violation shall be retained by the institution for five years.

b.   The report shall include:

(1)   the date when the subject was charged with a violation of the institution’s anti-hazing policy or a federal or State law related to hazing;

(2)   a general description of the violation, any investigation and findings by the institution and, if applicable, penalties imposed; and

(3)   the date the matter was resolved.

c.   An institution shall post the initial report at a publicly accessible location on the institution’s Internet website by January 15, 2022.  The initial report shall include information concerning violations that have been reported to the institution for the five consecutive years prior to the effective date of this act, to the extent the institution has retained information concerning the violations.  An institution shall post an updated report biannually on January 1 and August 1.

d.   The report shall not include the personal identifying information of an individual.
L.2021, c.208, s.4.

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18A:17-43.2  New Jersey School Safety Specialist Academy, Certification programs.   

1. a. There is established in the Department of Education the New Jersey School Safety Specialist Academy.  It shall be the purpose of the academy to serve as a central repository for best practices, training standards, and compliance oversight in all matters regarding school safety and security, including prevention efforts, intervention efforts, and emergency preparedness planning.  The academy shall: provide, free of charge, ongoing professional development on national and State best practices, as well as the most current resources on school safety and security; assume a lead role in setting the vision for school safety and security in the State; and provide a coordinated and interdisciplinary approach to providing technical assistance and guidance to schools throughout the State.

b.   The academy shall develop and implement a School Safety Specialist Certification Program.  A school safety specialist appointed pursuant to section 2 of this act shall be required to acquire the certification.  The certification program shall provide training, free of charge, to newly-appointed school safety specialists in the areas of bullying, hazing, truancy, Internet safety, emergency planning, emergency drills, drugs, weapons, gangs and school policing, and any other areas deemed necessary by the academy.  The academy shall also offer annual training sessions for certified school safety specialists.  The academy shall develop training modules in both traditional and online formats.
L.2017, c.162, s.1.

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18A:62-5.  Violence and hazing;  monitor of incidence;  uniform record-keeping system   

The Chancellor of Higher Education shall establish standards and promulgate rules and regulations to monitor the incidence of violence and hazing in the institutions of higher education in New Jersey and shall establish a uniform record-keeping system for the purpose of gathering information pertaining to such offenses.  As used in this act,  “violence” means any crime against  person or property which creates a risk of causing bodily harm.
L.1982, c. 223, s. 1, eff. Dec. 30, 1982; per s.4, act to “remain in effect for a period of 3 years.

18A:62-6.  Report by employee;  filing;  forwarding of report and action taken to state department of higher education   

Any employee of an institution of higher education observing or having direct knowledge from a participant or victim of an act of violence or hazing shall, in accordance with standards established by the chancellor, file a report describing the incident to the chief executive officer of the institution in a manner prescribed by the chancellor, and a copy of the report shall be forwarded to the State Department of Higher Education.

The chief executive officer of the institution shall notify the State Department of Higher Education of the incident and of the action taken regarding the incident.
L.1982, c. 223, s. 2, eff. Dec. 30, 1982; per s.4, act to “remain in effect for a period of 3 years.

18A:62-7.  Annual report   

The Chancellor of Higher Education shall include in his annual report to the  Governor and the Legislature, pursuant to N.J.S. 18A:3-21, a section detailing the extent of violence and hazing in the institutions of higher education,  explaining the measures being taken to counter the problem, and making recommendations to alleviate the problem.
L.1982, c. 223, s. 3, eff. Dec. 30, 1982; per s.4, act to “remain in effect for a period of 3 years.

Additional information on hazing prevention:

• http://www.hazinglaw.com/
• http://www.stophazing.org/
• http://www.hazingprevention.org

Ramapo College of New Jersey (RCNJ) and the Center for Student Involvement (CSI) make no guarantees about the external resources or organizations listed as assistance options. While CSI has done initial vetting related to resources listed, RCNJ and CSI are not responsible for the quality, accuracy, safety, or outcomes of services provided by these external organizations. It is the responsibility of students to research and evaluate the integrity of any organization or resource they choose to utilize. Students are advised to exercise caution and good judgment when engaging with external resources.

For additional support or information, please contact the Center for Student Involvement.