UW-River Falls Hazing Policy
UW-River Falls is committed to promoting a safe and healthy campus environment where individuals are free from hazing. The purpose of this policy is to define hazing at UWRF and establish requirements for hazing education, reporting and response in accordance with the Stop Campus Hazing Act and Wis. Stat. § 948.51.
UW-River Falls defines hazing as any intentional, knowing or reckless act against an individual that endangers the physical, mental, emotional or psychological health of that individual for the purposes of initiation or admission into, affiliation with or the maintenance of membership in any organization or group, and that causes or creates a risk of physical or psychological injury, regardless of the individual’s willingness to participate.
Hazing can include, but is not limited to:
- Brutality of a physical nature or the threat of bodily harm such as assault, whipping, beating, branding, forced calisthenics, exposure to elements, sleep deprivation, confinement, or any other activity which could adversely affect the physical, mental, emotional or psychological health or safety of the individual.
- Forced consumption of any alcohol, food, liquid, drug, or other substance which could adversely affect the physical, mental, emotional or psychological health or safety of the individual.
- Soliciting a person to participate in or being actively involved in the planning of any act meeting the definition of hazing.
- Any activity that constitutes the violation of university policies and/or federal, state, or local law, or that causes another person to commit such a violation.
- Acts that degrade, humiliate, embarrass, ridicule, or isolate such as requiring servitude, taking away cell phones or other devices, not allowing class attendance, requiring costumes or other apparel unless that apparel is part of a uniform for employment or a university or athletic program, confinement, or any other activity which could adversely affect the physical, mental, emotional or psychological health or safety of the individual.
- Causing, coercing, or otherwise inducing another person to perform sexual acts.
Related Definitions
- In this section "forced activity" means any activity which is a condition of initiation or admission into or affiliation with an organization, regardless of a student's willingness to participate in the activity.
- No person may intentionally or recklessly engage in acts which endanger the physical health or safety of a student for the purpose of initiation or admission into or affiliation with any organization operating in connection with a school, college or university. Under those circumstances, prohibited acts may include any brutality of a physical nature, such as whipping, beating, branding, forced consumption of any food, liquor, drug or other substance, forced confinement or any other forced activity which endangers the physical health or safety of the student.
- Whoever violates sub. (2) is guilty of: (a) A Class A misdemeanor if the act results in or is likely to result in bodily harm to another. (b) A Class E felony if the act results in great bodily harm or death to another
A group meeting certain eligibility requirements that is registered with Student Involvement and confirmed by the Student Government Association. Eligibility criteria are:
- has at least four members;
- 3/4 of the members are students enrolled at UWRF;
- has an adviser; and
- has followed all steps in the formal registration process.
A group of at least two students that is established or recognized by the university, but the group does not meet the definition of a Registered Student Organization. Examples include but are not limited to athletic teams (e.g., varsity sports, intramural sports), spirit groups, military organizations, honor societies, musical or theatrical ensembles and university bands (e.g., concert, marching, athletic).
Reporting Alleged Incidents of Hazing
Students, faculty, staff and others can report allegations of hazing via the Hazing Incident Report form.
Reports of alleged hazing are also sent to University Police so they can include statistics for incidents of hazing in the institution's Annual Security Report if the incident(s) occurred on Clery Act-defined geography.
Hazing Investigations
- The Dean of Students Office is responsible for investigating and adjudicating allegations of hazing.
- Hazing allegations involving individuals who are not students will be referred to the appropriate office.
Resources
- Create a campus/community scavenger hunt.
- Participate in a ropes course.
- Participate in and/or plan a community service project.
- Host a new member surprise party hosted by members.
- Have a resume writing workshop presented by Career Services.
- Invite a faculty adviser to lunch with new members.
- Dinner and a movie.
- Shadow an officer and assist in the planning of a program/event.
- Plan a fundraiser to pay for initiation fees.
- Plan and present a speaker on a health/wellness topic.
- Require active membership in at least one organization outside the group..
- Have new members take the Meyers-Briggs Personality Type Inventor and discuss.
- Ask a faculty member discuss ethical decision making.
- Ask a campus health educator to do a presentation on eating disorders or depression.
- Discuss risk management and liability with the university risk manager.
- Brainstorm ways to improve scholarship (other than study hours).
- Attend a theatrical production or athletic event of a new member's choosing.
- Ask the library to give a lecture on effective research methods.
- Attend a program or event that another organization is sponsoring.
- Have a discussion about membership standards and expectations.
- Have a team, group or chapter goal-setting retreat.
- Attend a campus leadership conference or workshop.
- Deconstruct past hazing activities to determine intent and brainstorm alternatives.
- Develop a faculty adviser appreciation gesture.
- Give highest new member GPA recipient a plaque or $25 gift certificate to nice restaurant.
- Allow new members time for themselves to do and be what they want. Don’t monopolize their time.
- Invite a campus fitness specialist or dietician to discuss dietary fads-pros and cons.
- Attend the Etiquette Dinner together.
- Have lunch together once a week in a dining hall with the entire organization.
- Invite your faculty adviser to new member meetings.
- Ask for help with other teambuilding activities. University Center and other campus professionals have access to hundreds of these activities.
Campus Hazing Transparency Report
The Campus Hazing Transparency Report summarizes the outcome of the student behavioral misconduct process for recognized student organizations found responsible for hazing as defined on this page through the Chapter 17 process. UWRF is not required to publish or update this report if there are no findings of responsibility.
Updated July 1, 2025.
| Organization | Description of Violation | Alcohol or Drugs (Y/N) | Incident Date | Investigation Started Date | Investigation Findings Date | Organization Notification Date | Finding and Sanctions |
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Statistics on hazing are available annually through publication of the Annual Security Report beginning October 2026.
It is the policy of UW-River Falls to offer research-informed programming consisting of primary prevention and hazing awareness activities designed to reach students. Programs include information on the institutional policies on hazing, how to report incidents, investigation processes and information intended to stop hazing before it occurs.
- Hazingprevention.org is a leading national organization dedicated to providing current information related to hazing and hazing prevention to individuals and organizations. Resources offered on their website include information about what you can do, links to videos, personal stories, newsletters, and National Hazing Prevention Week initiatives.
- StopHazing.org provides accurate, up-to-date hazing information for students, parents, and educators, and a list of hazing laws by state. It includes informative articles on hazing in various contexts, including high schools, the military, athletic teams, and fraternities and sororities. The website also provides information about the National Study of Student Hazing and the Hazing Prevention Consortium, a multi-year research-to-practice initiative led by StopHazing to build an evidence base for hazing prevention on college campuses in the U.S. and beyond.
- The Greek Anti-Hazing Hotline, established in 2007 by a consortium of national fraternities and sororities, is currently sponsored by 47 national and international Greek organizations. This hotline and website offer opportunities to file hazing reports directly with a fraternity's or sorority's inter/national office.
