Hazing is among the most serious offenses with which any UC Davis student can be charged. That's even more true since the state of California passed recent legislation making hazing a criminal offense. No school is going to encourage its students to defy the law, and you can be sure UC Davis will investigate absolutely every allegation and punish those found Responsible (guilty) with the harshest possible sanctions.
Here's the thing, though—when universities take a policy like hazing as seriously as UC Davis takes it, you can be certain that innocent students will wind up accused. You can be sure the university will go overboard when it comes to assigning penalties. If you've found yourself charged with an offense, you're going to need all the help you can get to protect yourself.
The Lento Law Firm's Student Defense Team was founded to protect student rights. We know exactly what you're up against—we've helped hundreds of students defend themselves from misconduct charges. We're familiar with the UC Davis Code of Conduct and how judicial procedures work, and we're always ready to use what we know to ensure you're treated fairly.
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 UC Davis
As strict as California state law is, the UC Davis policy goes further. Where the law only outlaws activities that might lead to “bodily injury,” for instance, UC Davis additionally outlaws activities that might cause "embarrassment, harassment or ridicule" or risk "emotional" harm to participants. This broadening out of the hazing definition means virtually any sort of initiation ritual could potentially qualify as hazing.
Here are some additional elements of the policy you should keep in mind.
- As both California law and UC Davis policy make clear, you don't have to cause actual harm in order to be charged with hazing. Creating the potential for such harm is enough.
- Relocating hazing activities off-campus will not protect you from an allegation. You can be charged no matter where the offense occurs.
- While hazing tends to be associated with Greek organizations, any group can be guilty of the offense, including musical organizations, intramural athletic clubs, and even honor societies.
- “Willing participation” of pledges is not a defense to hazing. Once membership in an organization is dependent on participation, that participation can no longer be defined as “willing.”
You should also be aware that penalties for hazing can be harsh. Again, the very existence of a state law prohibiting hazing creates pressure on universities like UC Davis to employ strict penalties. Failure to do so leaves schools open to civil lawsuits.
UC Davis doesn't prescribe specific sanctions for hazing. Instead, the policy states that students found responsible are subject to “a range of penalties” from warnings to expulsion. The university can even revoke a degree years after the fact if it should uncover you committed hazing. The bottom line is that you must take any accusation seriously. You cannot afford to try and defend yourself. You need the Lento Law Firm attorney on your side to protect your rights and help guide you through judicial processes and procedures.
Defending Yourself From Hazing Allegations
Again, plenty of students find themselves caught up in hazing allegations every year. And even if you are guilty of any offense, there's every possibility that UC Davis will try to slap you with a sanction that's far disproportionate to the nature of your offense. You must always fight charges. Here's how you do that.
- Anyone at UC Davis can accuse you of hazing. However, the university must decide whether the accusations are both credible and actionable. This means there is sometimes an opportunity to intervene in a case before official charges are issued.
- If you have been charged, you'll receive a Notice of the Charges. This notice should describe the allegations and include a complete list of your due process rights.
- One of your most important rights as a Respondent (accused student) is the right to an advisor. Someone from the Lento Law Firm can assist you in responding to investigative questions, help you put your defense together, and be on hand during the hearing to help you as you present your case.
- Following charges, UC Davis will conduct an investigation. You'll have the opportunity to give your side of the story, to offer up evidence, and to suggest witnesses.
- Ultimately, investigators submit a written report of their findings. UC Davis uses this as the foundation for a hearing before one or more trained, unbiased decision-makers.
- The hearing is your formal chance to argue for your innocence. Here again, you can submit physical evidence. You can also call witnesses to testify and cross-examine any witnesses against you.
- Once the hearing is complete, decision-makers deliberate as to the level of your Responsibility (guilt). To do this, they use a legal standard known as "preponderance of the evidence." If they are more than fifty percent convinced of your guilt, they must find you Responsible.
- You can appeal a hearing outcome, but you must have very clear grounds to do so. At UC Davis, grounds are limited to
- A decision not based on evidence
- A disproportionate sanction
- Unfairness in procedures
- New evidence not available at the time of the hearing
Keep in mind that hazing defenses can be especially tricky. You not only need to establish your innocence through facts, but you may also need to make careful distinctions about the hazing policy itself, the structure of your organization, and the definition of terms like "harassment." Even the average attorney can have trouble with these cases.
The attorneys at the Lento Law Firm work every day with students. We know how school policies operate. We know how to talk with faculty and administrators. We have experience representing hundreds of students. No one gives you a better chance to win your case than we do.
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 Lento Law Firm's Student Defense Team can make sure you're fully prepared to defend yourself. They can insist UC Davis afford you every due process right to which you are entitled. In the end, they offer you your very best chance of success.
Let the Lento 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.
