College is known as one of the places where you find your people. Whether you decide to join a Greek organization, the school newspaper, a sports team, or another extracurricular, there are myriad opportunities to discover what you're passionate about and to do so in community with others.

After you decide which student organizations you're interested in, you might learn about different initiation activities that the org has. Although this is most commonly associated with Greek life on college campuses, the truth is that many organizations have some sort of initiatory experience. Where's the line, though, as a student? Can you get in trouble for hazing or participating in a hazing situation?

Initiation… Are You In Or Are You Out?

Most people are familiar with Greek hazing, thanks to pop culture movies like Animal House. But in college, hazing rituals don't always look quite so clearcut. They might not be deemed initiation events, and so you might not think of them as hazing. But what does your school think?

For example, different branches of ROTC might have a grog bowl at their “dining in” or “dining out.” The grog bowl is usually a punch bowl (even a toilet bowl) that contains the grossest imaginable things mixed together—hot sauce, fruit juice, ketchup—really whatever they want to include. This is not typical college jungle juice. In fact, in some instances, alcohol is expressly forbidden. Solid foods, like pizza or Lucky Charms or anything else? It's usually up to the highest-ranking officers to make that call.

During the meal, if a cadet makes a mistake, their punishment is to drink a glass of liquid (and possibly solids!) from the grog bowl. Is this type of activity considered hazing? Well, the truth is, it depends on your particular college or university. The decision is entirely arbitrary and left in their hands.

Can You Get In Trouble For Hazing?

Many schools have policies prohibiting participation in hazing. However, in order to know exactly what your college or university's regulations are, you should consult your Student Handbook or Code of Conduct. That will have information about the specific parameters at your school.

How Can An Attorney-Advisor Help You?

An attorney-advisor who understands the collegiate disciplinary process can help you know how to best tackle this type of challenging situation. They can ensure you understand your school's process and how to best defend against any allegations. When necessary, an attorney-advisor can also help you with an appeal of any decisions made by hearing panels or boards about your actions.

Contact an Attorney-Advisor Experienced with Hazing Situations

Attorney-advisor Joseph D. Lento and the Lento Law Firm can help you or your loved one navigate hazing concerns at your college. They've worked with thousands of families across the nation. Contact them today with your questions by calling 888.535.3686 or reaching out online.