Hazing accusations are much more common than you think. If you're a college or graduate student in the Phoenix metro area and you've been accused, you might be worried about what comes next. Although hazing allegations come up a lot, they're still taken seriously and sometimes even reported in local media if the events are especially egregious. What often doesn't get reported, however, is how complicated hazing cases are. There are usually multiple complainants, respondents, and witnesses. There may also be a criminal charge in addition to an accusation from the college or university.
Whatever your situation, the Lento Law Firm can defend you from a hazing violation at your school. We protect student rights by standing up to colleges and universities, ensuring they don't try to make an example of you and that they adhere to their own regulations during the disciplinary proceedings. We're familiar with college discipline boards and with Arizona hazing law; we're ready to work for the best solution possible for your case.
If you've been accused of hazing at your Phoenix college or university, don't wait to see what happens. Take action and call our Student Defense Team at 888-535-3686. You can also fill out our online form and a member of our team will get back to you.
Arizona Anti-Hazing Law
Arizona passed a hazing law in 2022 that makes hazing a crime. The law applies to all student organizations at high schools and postsecondary institutions in the state. “Hazing” is considered the following:
- Sexual humiliation or brutality
- Conduct or conditions designed to cause severe mental distress
- Forced consumption of any food, liquid, drug, or other substance
- Confinement in a small space or sleep deprivation
- Conduct of conditions that violate a state or federal criminal law
- Physical brutality that poses a risk of death or physical injury
Hazing is still a crime if the person being hazed consented to it, or if it was approved by the student organization or educational institution. The penalties for hazing are up to six months' jail time and $2,500 in fines. If the hazing resulted in the victim's death, it could be 3.75 years of prison time as a sentence.
Hazing Rules at Colleges and Universities in the Phoenix Metro Area
Hazing is against state law in Arizona, but colleges, universities, and medical schools in metro Phoenix all have their own hazing policies as well. Not every hazing incident results in a criminal charge, but educational institutions will almost always take action against students who have allegedly committed hazing. You'll notice that most schools' definitions of hazing are very similar but there are still slight differences.
Arizona State University - Tempe, AZ
At ASU, for example, hazing is strictly prohibited. The Student Code of Conduct makes it a violation, and ASU has an additional anti-hazing policy. The university defines hazing as “Any intentional, knowing, or reckless act committed by a student, whether individually or in concert with other persons, against another student” that was committed in connection to a student organization and contributes to a substantial risk of physical injury, mental harm, or degradation.
An “organization” is any group of primarily students affiliated with the university and a “student” is any individual enrolled at ASU, whether as an undergraduate or graduate student. Any violation of the hazing policy is subject to disciplinary action by the university.
Grand Canyon University - Phoenix, AZ
GCU prohibits hazing as part of its Title IX and Non-Discrimination Policy. It's considered a form of discrimination that falls outside the scope of Title IX. The policy defines hazing as “acts likely to cause physical or psychological harm or social ostracism to any person within the university's community when related to the admission, initiation, joining, or any other group-affiliation activity.”
Mesa Community College - Mesa, AZ
MCC is part of the Maricopa County Community College District (MCCCD). MCCCD has a regulation specifically prohibiting hazing that applies to all the community colleges in the district, including MCC. It defines hazing as “any intentional, knowing or reckless act committed by a student or other person in any MCCCD college or affiliated educational setting, whether individually or in concert with other persons, against another student,” that is “in connection with an initiation into, an affiliation with or the maintenance of membership in any club/organization that is affiliated with MCCCD” and “contributes to a substantial risk of potential physical injury, mental harm or personal degradation, or causes physical injury, mental harm or personal degradation.”
The policy also makes it a violation to solicit others to engage in hazing or aid and abet hazing. The policy also includes examples of hazing, such as:
- Pre-pledging, illegal pledging, underground activities
- Acts of mental or physical abuse
- Sleep deprivation
- Encouraging or forcing the use of alcohol or drugs
- Stroking or physically touching in an indecent manner
University of Arizona College of Medicine - Phoenix, AZ
The University of Arizona has a strict hazing policy that extends to all its graduate students, including medical students at the College of Medicine located in Phoenix. The university defines hazing exactly the same as ASU, calling it “any intentional, knowing, or reckless act committed by a student, whether individually or in concert with other persons, against another student.”
For more details about hazing and the disciplinary process, read our guide to hazing defense at the University of Arizona.
To be considered hazing, the act in question must be “in connection with an initiation into, an affiliation with, or the maintenance of membership in any organization that is affiliated with the University.” It must also contribute to a “substantial risk of potential physical injury, mental harm, or degradation; or causes physical injury, mental harm, or personal degradation.”
How Colleges in Phoenix Handle Hazing
Just as each college or university has its own definition of hazing, so too does it have its own disciplinary process. Most schools cover this process in their student code of conduct.
Arizona State University - Tempe, AZ
ASU has a thorough disciplinary process for all student conduct violations, including hazing. It starts when the Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities receives a report of a potential violation. Then, there's an investigation and the accused student is informed of the charges against them. Accused students meet with the Dean of Students who can decide if the student is indeed responsible for hazing and impose a sanction. At this point, students can request a hearing for further review of the matter. Once the hearing board makes a decision, the Senior Vice President for Educational Outreach and Student Services must affirm it. After this affirmation, however, students can appeal the decision.
Arizona Christian University - Glendale, AZ
At Arizona Christian University (ACU) in Glendale, hazing is prohibited and subject to disciplinary action. The Student Handbook states that students must meet with a university official to discuss the alleged incident, and the official can decide on a sanction if appropriate. However, if there's a potential for expulsion for the student, the university must hold a hearing to allow the student to defend themselves. Students can also appeal the results of the hearing.
Mesa Community College - Mesa, AZ
At MCC, the Student Conduct Administrator receives complaints about possible hazing violations. The accused student must be notified about the allegation, and then the Student Conduct Administrator will schedule a meeting with all parties. Accused students can have advisors at this meeting, but the advisor cannot be an attorney. The Student Conduct Administrator can make a determination and decide to start a formal investigation or implement an informal resolution. The investigation option allows accused students to respond to any evidence found in writing, but there's no opportunity for a live hearing. Once the formal investigation is over, the Student Conduct Administrator makes a determination. Students can appeal this determination to the Dean of Students.
As you can see, college disciplinary processes can be complex. There are usually several steps or phases involved, with meetings, statements, evidence, investigations, hearings, and many other elements. If you make a wrong move or miss a deadline, you risk getting a very serious sanction from your school. The Lento Law Firm's Student Defense Team can make sure the process stays on track and guide you on the best way to proceed at each step.
Why You Need an Education Lawyer for a Hazing Charge
Whether you've been charged with a crime or not, a local criminal lawyer won't provide the same representation as our Student Defense Team. Arizona's criminal law is not the same as that of the regulations at institutions of higher education. In a criminal court, you are considered innocent until proven guilty. In a university disciplinary board, the burden of proof is higher. School officials don't have to go to the same lengths that a county or state prosecutor must to prove their case. The evidentiary standard is lower, making it easier to “confirm” your wrongdoing and sanction you for it.
You may also think there's less at stake with a college disciplinary board than with a criminal case. You aren't risking jail time with your university, but you could be expelled. You could lose your scholarship or financial aid, making college a practical impossibility. If you want to apply to another university elsewhere, you'll most likely have to explain why you were expelled, which most other schools won't look kindly on. It also makes obtaining an internship or job more difficult, as you might lack the educational experience needed or even have to disclose the hazing violation to your future employer as well. If the worst that can happen from a hazing accusation is expulsion, that's still pretty serious. It can effectively ruin your future.
Local criminal attorneys don't have the experience needed to negotiate with university officials. They don't have any knowledge of college or university codes of conduct, which can be quite long and complex. Criminal lawyers won't understand the best way to defend you; they'll treat your hearing at your university like a criminal trial and make critical missteps that could get you more severe sanctions.
Our Student Defense Team, on the other hand, has represented students like you in front of the university disciplinary panels all over the country. We've read countless pages of university codes of conduct and negotiated with countless administrators. We know which tactics work. We know what to anticipate at your disciplinary hearing, and we know what generally matters most to university officials. We understand the best way to approach hazing accusations with your school because we have the experience to back it up.
Don't trust your education to a criminal attorney. Choose the Lento Law Firm's Student Defense Team instead.
What the Lento Law Firm Can Do for You
When you hire our Student Defense Team, we can handle every aspect of your disciplinary case. We can:
- Gather evidence and speak to eyewitnesses to build a strong case in your defense
- Attend disciplinary meetings or hearings with you (or prepare you for these encounters if you aren't allowed to have an attorney present)
- Review all relevant school policies and state laws to ensure your college or university is following the proper procedures
- Assist you with appealing the decision of the student conduct board
- Take further legal action, such as filing a lawsuit, if necessary
We'll be by your side at each step of the process, providing you with guidance and support. We can help you deal with your school so you can focus on your education.
Work with Our Student Defense Team for Hazing Defense in Phoenix
If you're ready to protect your future and fight the hazing accusation from your school, we're ready to help you. You're probably worried, maybe even a little panicked at what might happen with this hazing accusation. When you work with us, we'll handle all aspects of your disciplinary matter, including building a strong case and representing you at the hearing if allowed. That way, you can focus on maintaining your studies.
We don't want to see all the time, money, and effort you've put into your education get wasted over one incident. Call the Lento Law Firm today at 888-535-3686 or fill out our contact form to schedule a consultation and discuss your options.
