The University of Pittsburgh (Pitt) is a thriving institution featuring five campuses across Western Pennsylvania. Students on those campuses have access to more than 600 organizations, including fraternities and sororities.
However, as with any institute of higher learning, Pitt deals with conduct violations, including hazing. The university has a firm anti-hazing policy that details penalties for both students and organizations. For students facing hazing accusations at the University of Pittsburgh, sanctions can be severe, so it's important to understand the policy and know your rights if you're ever accused.
The LLF Law Firm Student Defense Team has experience with hazing accusations at the university level. If you find yourself facing disciplinary action at the University of Pittsburgh, we can help. Give us a call at 888-535-3686 or complete our confidential online form, and we'll be in touch.
How Pitt Defines Hazing
The University of Pittsburgh's Student Code of Conduct defines hazing as an activity that a student sees as required to gain or maintain membership in an organization. This includes:
- Violating state or federal law
- Forced consumption of food, liquid, drugs, or any other substance that could cause physical harm
- Physical assault, including whipping or beating, branding, and forced calisthenics
- Mental abuse, including sleep deprivation and isolation
- Sexual abuse
The code of conduct stresses that consent does not exempt students from punishment. Even if the student(s) willingly participates, students enacting the forced activity could be punishable under Pitt's anti-hazing law.
Organizational Hazing
Students aren't alone in having to pay close attention to Pitt's policies on hazing. Organizations can also be penalized for facilitating or promoting an activity that violates the rules, and that includes hazing.
At Pitt, organizations register with the university, and with that registration comes a separate set of guidelines. Organizations that violate any of these registration policies, including those related to hazing, can have their registration revoked.
Hazing Complaints
Most hazing investigations kick off with a hazing complaint that comes in through Pitt Concern Connection. Any university member, including students and faculty, can file conduct violation complaints anonymously and launch an investigation.
Students don't have to rely solely on the portal to report hazing policy violations, though. Students, faculty, and anyone else connected to the university who sees a violation can report it to the Office of Student Conduct directly.
Hazing Investigations at the University of Pittsburgh
When a conduct violation is reported, the university's first step is to determine whether it's a valid complaint. The Director of Student Conduct or a designee will decide whether the act was a violation of the code. In some cases, this requires an interview with the person who filed the complaint or the person/people named in the complaint.
If the complaint seems to have merit, the official will then decide whether it calls for a Level I or Level II investigation. The vast majority of complaints fall under Level I, which follows the below process:
- The respondent is notified by email with information on the next steps in the process.
- A Level I hearing will be scheduled with the Office of Student Conduct (or designee), the Student Conduct Peer Review Board, or Residence Life staff.
- During the hearing, the Hearing Officer will read the allegations and allow you to read the report.
- The respondent can ask questions and provide additional information, including witness statements and supporting documents.
- The Hearing Officer will make a determination based on all available information.
- The Hearing Officer's decision and sanctions will either be provided to the respondent at the end of the hearing or soon after
Level II hearings follow a similar process, but they can take place over several hearings. These hearings are usually reserved for instances where sanctions may include suspension, dismissal, or dismissal from university housing.
University of Pittsburgh Hazing Accusation Appeals
The decision of the Hearing Officer is official, but you do have the right to appeal. You'll need to file the appeal within 10 days using the appeal form linked in the decision letter. The appeal goes through the Division of Student Conduct, and the director will review it.
For your appeal to be considered, it must be able to successfully show that:
- Your rights, as listed in the Code of Conduct, weren't violated in the process
- Established hearing procedures weren't followed, and that discrepancy affected the decision
- The decision wasn't rational based on the discovered facts
- The proposed sanctions didn't match the severity of the violation
- New evidence has come to light that wasn't available at the time of the hearing
Possible Sanctions for Hazing Violations
Violations of Pitt's anti-hazing policy can result in the following sanctions:
- Reprimand
- Counseling
- Fines
- Suspension of privileges
- University housing suspension
- Suspension
- Dismissal
Organizations involved in hazing may also face university sanctions. Those sanctions can include reviews of members to determine which parties can remain in the organization.
Consequences of Hazing Violations
Academic disruption is the most serious outcome a student can face due to hazing accusations. Disciplinary dismissal will permanently remove a student from the campus and all on-campus activities with no refund of any tuition or fees paid. Worse, university housing dismissal, disciplinary suspension, and disciplinary dismissal all remain on a student's permanent record.
For organizations, hazing complaints can result in sanctions for the organization as a whole. Additionally, any complaint against a Pitt organization will go on the university's Hazing Reports page, accessible online to anyone who's interested. Even if complaints are uncorroborated and the matter is resolved, students may choose to steer clear of an organization that has hazing accusations listed so publicly.
How the LLF Law Firm Student Defense Team Can Help
Navigating Pitt's disciplinary system can be tricky for students and their families. You have the right to seek legal representation at any point in the process. The LLF Law Firm Student Defense Team can help with the following:
- Reviewing the allegations and comparing them to the school's policies
- Understanding your rights as a student
- Gathering documentation and witness statements to support your side of the story
- Preparing for upcoming hearings, including mock interviews or simulations
- Drafting responses to questions or requests from the investigators
- Identifying procedural errors that might infringe on your right to due process
- Negotiating for lesser sanctions
If you're a student at the University of Pittsburgh who is dealing with hazing allegations, we can help. Give us a call at 888-535-3686 or complete our online form to get in touch.
