Recent news stories serve to remind us that hazing on college campuses continues, despite its many dangers and despite the fact that college policies forbid it and, in many cases, it's against the law.

A story from April 2022 describes an ongoing case at Baylor University where Pi Kappa Phi was ultimately sanctioned for a hazing ritual that involved depriving students of sleep. In fact, students and parents have alleged worse behavior, including force-feeding students sardines and then making them eat their own vomit when they became ill.

If you're in a fraternity (or even a sorority) that still practices these rituals or other concerning rituals, it's important you know the specific consequences you may face, and these aren't just limited to campus sanctions.

Facing the Consequences

Of course, the very worst possibility when it comes to hazing is that someone will be seriously injured or even killed. The human body isn't always as resilient as we like to think, and what we put it through can do more physical and mental damage than we expect.

Beyond this possibility, though, there are at least three governing bodies that you must answer to for hazing offenses. The first of these is your college or university. Virtually all schools prohibit hazing. Your organization is obviously subject to sanctions, but you can be subject to sanctions yourself if you're found responsible for participating in hazing. Such sanctions can include probation, suspension, or even expulsion.

In addition, as the students at Baylor discovered, you are also subject to investigation and disciplinary action by your fraternity's national organization. In today's political climate, no fraternity wants to risk a national scandal over its members' behaviors, and more and more organizations are starting to hand down severe penalties for misbehavior.

Students often forget, though, that their actions can also be subject to state and federal laws. It's easy to get into the mindset that you exist in the protective bubble of your university. The fact is, Texas, and many other states, have laws against hazing. Hazing itself in Texas is a Class-B misdemeanor, even if it causes no bodily injury. If it does cause bodily injury, it becomes a Class-A misdemeanor, and if it should cause someone's death, it is treated as a felony.

Dealing With a Hazing Accusation

Hazing is inherently dangerous, and you're better off avoiding it. Still, you can do your best to stay out of trouble and still find yourself facing a hazing charge. Colleges and universities do get things wrong sometimes. They accuse innocent students, and they assign penalties that are far more severe than the offense deserves. If you should find yourself in this position, make sure you have an attorney at your side to defend you. The old days, when violating school policy might get you a stern lecture from the Dean, are long over. Schools take misconduct extremely seriously, and fighting for your innocence can be an uphill battle that you don't want to try and fight alone.

Attorney Joseph D. Lento is a defense attorney who built his career defending rights in the field of education across the United States. To find out how Attorney Lento and the Lento Law Firm's National Student Defense Team can help you, contact the Firm today at 888-555-3686, or use our automated online form.