Cornell makes its stance on hazing pretty clear:

“Hazing is no longer viewed as an innocent rite of passage. Cornell University views hazing as a serious public health problem that causes physical and mental harm to individual students and groups, teams, and organizations.”

We should be equally as clear. No one is advocating hazing.

That said, it’s not unusual for students to find themselves caught up in hazing activities without meaning to. Most college students are members of one organization or another. If nothing else, it looks good on a resume. All it takes is one incident, one party gone awry—you don’t even have to be there or know about it—and suddenly, you’re in the middle of a campus-wide, state-wide, or even nationwide scandal.

If you’ve found yourself accused of hazing for any reason, you need to know that the LLF National Law Firm can help. Our Student Defense Team was created specifically to protect student rights. We’ve defended hundreds of students from all types of charges, including hazing. We know what Cornell’s rules and regulations have to say. We know how the university’s judicial processes and procedures operate.

What can we do for you? Call 888-535-3686 to find out, or take a few minutes right now and fill out one of our online forms.

Defining Hazing at Cornell University

Cornell would probably have an anti-hazing policy, whatever the circumstances. After all, colleges and universities have an obligation to protect the students that attend, and the last two decades have seen some pretty horrific hazing incidents occur on campuses across the country.

Cornell’s policy carries extra weight, though, because New York state has passed tough legislation barring hazing. Laws create special mandates for universities. Any time a hazing incident occurs at Cornell, the university can be held liable for any damages. No school wants to risk its financial bottom line, so you can be sure Cornell’s own policies are even more aggressive than the state’s.

Avoiding a hazing charge starts with knowing exactly what hazing is. Most students have a general idea, but many of our clients find themselves accused because they didn’t understand some of the fine details. For example,

  • Hazing isn’t always just about initiation into an organization. The term applies to any activity required to join or to “retain” membership in an organization.
  • While hazing tends to be associated with Greek life, it applies to any campus group, from intramural sports teams to honor societies.
  • The term hazing doesn’t just apply to physical harm. Cornell’s policy outlaws any activity that might cause “mental, physical, or emotional distress.”
  • You don’t have to actually harm someone to be charged with hazing. Any activity that creates the “risk” of harm qualifies.
  • The risk of harm doesn’t just apply to organization members and initiates. If the activity could harm any person, do damage to university property, or violate university rules, it counts.
  • Hazing can occur online in virtual environments.
  • Finally, Cornell can charge you with hazing even if the “victim” doesn’t feel they were hazed. “Consent” is not a defense since the act of hazing negates participants’ choice.

Cornell doesn’t associate any particular sanction with hazing offenses, and the university is careful to note that “context matters” when deciding how to handle a particular allegation. You should know, however, that organizations have been banned from campus over hazing activities, and individuals can receive sanctions up to and including dismissal.

Defending Yourself From Hazing Allegations

As we mentioned before, though, just because you’ve been accused of hazing doesn’t mean you actually committed an offense. And even if you are guilty, you deserve a fair penalty. Luckily, Cornell cannot simply charge you and punish you. It must provide you with due process. You are “Not Responsible” until proven “Responsible,” for example, and the university must conduct an investigation and a hearing to give you an opportunity to defend yourself.

  • Anyone on campus can level a charge against you—initiates, members of your own organization, other organizations, faculty, staff, administrators, advisors…anyone. The Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards (OSCCS) generally handles complaints, though the Title IX Coordinator may also be involved if there are allegations of sexual misconduct.
  • The OSCCS must provide you with notice of the charges against you. This should explain the allegations and include a list of your due process rights.
  • One of your most important rights is the right to select an attorney to accompany you to meetings and hearings. Your LLF National Law Firm attorney cannot conduct your defense (though they can play a crucial role in constructing your defense), but they can be on hand to help you answer questions and offer advice throughout the process.
  • Next, Cornell conducts a thorough investigation. You have the right to give your side of the story. In addition, investigators typically interview any witnesses to the incident and collect physical evidence.
  • Ultimately, investigators submit their findings back to the OSCCS, which then sets a time and date for a panel hearing.
  • At the hearing, you may offer up any arguments in defense of your innocence or to explain your actions. You back these arguments with evidence, including witness testimony.
  • Your hearing panel is responsible for determining whether or not you are Responsible for (guilty of) an offense. To do this, they employ a legal standard known as “preponderance of the evidence.” In simple terms, you are guilty if they are more than fifty percent convinced you committed the offense.
  • You can appeal a Responsible verdict, but not simply because you disagree with it. You must have “grounds” for an appeal, some reason why you feel your hearing was unfair. Usually, this means a procedural error, the discovery of new evidence, or a disproportionate sanction.

A campus hearing is not like a criminal court case. Your LLF National Law Firm attorney cannot “represent” you. You must deliver your own arguments.

However, you can count on your attorney to formulate those arguments, to help you uncover evidence, and to suggest questions for witnesses. They’ll prepare you for any investigative meetings and coach you on how to present your case. Most importantly, they’ll monitor what happens and ensure that you’re treated fairly and that you get the very best possible resolution.

Fighting for Your Future

Hazing is a serious offense, and a Responsible finding can mean serious sanctions. Just because you’ve been charged, though, doesn’t mean you’ll necessarily be found Responsible. The LLF National Law Firm’s Student Defense Team can make sure you’re fully prepared to defend yourself. They can insist Cornell affords you every due process right to which you are entitled. In the end, they offer you your very best chance of success.

Let the LLF National Law Firm help you fight for your academic future. To find out more, contact us today at 888-535-3686. Or, fill out our online questionnaire.

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