Learning you are accused of hazing at California State University, Long Beach, is extremely upsetting. You worked hard to be accepted to Cal State Long Beach, and getting your degree there opens up countless possibilities for your future – but now it's all on the line. Whether the hazing accusations against you are a misunderstanding or a mistake, the Lento Law Firm Student Defense Team is here to help. Get started with us today by calling 888-535-3686 or contacting us online.
Cal State Long Beach Hazing Policies
As you are likely aware, Cal State Long Beach has strict policies against hazing and doesn't take hazing incidents lightly. Cal State Long Beach adopts the definitions of hazing in the California Penal Code and that of the Fraternity Insurance Purchasing Group. At Cal State Long Beach, hazing is "any method of initiation or pre-initiation into a student organization or body which is likely to cause serious bodily injury to any former, current, or prospective student" of any school or educational institution in California. The definition of hazing at Cal State Long Beach extends to cover "any act likely to cause physical harm, personal degradation, or disgrace resulting in physical or mental harm" to any student.
Cal State Long Beach also recognizes the Fraternity Insurance Purchasing Group definition of hazing: "any action taken or situation created, intentionally, whether on or off fraternity premises, to produce mental or physical discomfort, embarrassment, harassment or ridicule.” Adopting these extensive and various definitions of hazing eliminates any ambiguity as to what is and isn't hazing at Cal State Long Beach. At the Lento Law Firm, we've represented students facing all types of hazing allegations, many of which include:
- Paddling
- Beating
- Hitting
- Branding
- Sleep deprivation
- Withholding water or food
- Kidnaps or ditches
- Forced consumption of food, liquid, alcohol, drugs, or other substances
- Forced nudity
- Forcing students to dress in unusual or awkward ways
- Subjecting pledges to extreme hot or cold temperatures
- Requiring pledges to perform personal services
- Verbal harassment
- Misleading pledges about initiation activities
- Scavengers or road trips
- Silence periods
- Calling pledges by derogatory or demeaning names
Cal State Long Beach Hazing Disciplinary Action Process
The disciplinary action process can be lengthy and emotionally taxing when you're accused of hazing at Cal State Long Beach. You never have to go through the process alone; your first course of action after being accused of hazing is to get the support of the Lento Law Firm Student Defense Team. While every case is a little different, and your Lento Law Firm attorney will work to get your case resolved as quickly and painlessly as possible, here is a brief overview of the hazing disciplinary action process at Cal State Long Beach.
Investigation
You will be reported to the Student Conduct Administrator when someone accuses you of hazing. They will do a preliminary review of the case to see if the accusation involved hazing and whether pursuing hazing charges is appropriate.
When the Student Conduct Administrator decides to fully investigate the case, they will interview you and other knowledgeable parties about the alleged hazing incident. You and others may be asked to provide photos, videos, or other evidence. The Student Conduct Administrator has 40 days to complete the investigation into the hazing allegation. Once the investigation is over, the Student Conduct Administrator will schedule a conference with you to discuss your case and next steps.
Interim Action
The Cal State Long Beach Student Conduct Administrator can implement interim action during hazing investigations. If the accusations against you are serious enough, the Student Conduct Administrator can decide that taking actions such as temporary suspension, no contact orders, or temporary restrictions on where you can go on campus are appropriate to ensure the safety of all parties involved.
If the Student Conduct Administrator issues a temporary suspension, you can request the suspension be lifted. Every moment you are out of the classroom, your academic future is impacted, so Cal State Long Beach better be sure that temporary suspension is necessary. When you request reconsideration of your temporary suspension, you and the Student Conduct Administrator will present your arguments at a hearing before a Cal State Long Beach Hearing Officer. The Hearing Officer will then make a final decision as to whether to sustain or eliminate the temporary suspension.
Conference
Your Student Conduct Administrator will send you a Notice of Conference when they have completed their investigation. The conference is simply a meeting where the Student Conduct Administrator will explain the charges against you, the supporting evidence, the disciplinary action process, and the potential outcomes. The Student Conduct Administrator may encourage you to sign an agreement admitting guilt and accepting the sanctions. Still, you should never sign anything without talking to your Lento Law Firm attorney. When you sign an agreement, you waive your right to fight the charges against you.
Hearing
If you don't sign an agreement with the Student Conduct Administrator, your case will move forward with a formal hearing between 10 to 20 days after your conference. A Hearing Officer conducts hearings. The hearing is your opportunity to present your side of the story, provide evidence, and call witnesses that support your defense. The Student Conduct Administrator will also make their case, call witnesses, and produce evidence. At the end of the hearing, the Hearing Officer will decide if it is "more likely than not" that you violated the hazing policies at Cal State Long Beach and what sanctions, if any, are appropriate.
Consequences for Hazing at Cal State Long Beach
If you're found guilty of hazing at Cal State Long Beach, getting just a slap on the wrist isn't a likely outcome. Sanctions for hazing can have serious economic, emotional, and academic consequences, including:
- Restitution
- Loss of financial aid
- Educational sanctions
- Remedial sanctions
- Restrictions of access on campus
- Restrictions on contact with others
- Disciplinary probation
- Suspension
- Expulsion
If you think the Cal State Long Beach Hearing Officer got it wrong in your hazing case, you may be entitled to a disciplinary appeal. At the Lento Law Firm, we frequently help students at the appeals stage and can get them better outcomes the second time around.
Can I be Represented by the Lento Law Firm in My Hazing Proceedings?
Your Lento Law Firm attorney will prepare you for every interaction and step in the Cal State Long Beach hazing disciplinary action process. However, whether your Student Defense Team attorney can represent you and be physically present with you throughout the process depends. If the hazing allegations against you could result in dismissal from Cal State Long Beach or you are facing criminal hazing charges in a California court due to your involvement in the hazing incident, you are entitled to have an attorney represent you.
Retain the Lento Law Firm Student Defense Team Today
Don't let hazing allegations destroy your future at Cal State Long Beach. The Lento Law Firm Student Defense Team will work tirelessly to get your academic career back on track and ensure you are treated fairly throughout the disciplinary action process. Let us help you; call our Student Defense Team at 888-535-3686 or contact us online today to get started.
