Hazing is a serious issue at colleges and universities. Over the years, numerous reports of students being killed or seriously injured in hazing incidents have made postsecondary institutions extremely cautious. In response, many colleges have tightened their hazing policies in an effort to reduce such incidents, and some states have enacted anti-hazing laws that make it a criminal offense.
As a college student, it's important to recognize how seriously schools take hazing. Many institutions have a zero-tolerance policy and will not hesitate to impose severe sanctions on students accused of hazing. Even if you are falsely accused, or there is a misunderstanding, colleges and universities are unlikely to be lenient.
At the Lento Law Firm, we understand the challenges college students face when accused of hazing. Navigating the school disciplinary process can be overwhelming and can interfere with your ability to focus on your studies, part-time job, internship, or other responsibilities. Our Student Defense Team is prepared to defend you against hazing allegations and ensure that your due process rights are upheld by your university. Call 888-535-3686 or fill out our contact form to learn more about how we can assist you.
New Hampshire Hazing Law
New Hampshire makes hazing illegal. It defines hazing as “any act directed toward a student, or any coercion or intimidation of a student to act or to participate in or submit to any act when such an act would be perceived by a reasonable person as likely to cause physical or psychological injury to any person and is a condition of initiation into, admission into, continued membership in, or association with any organization.”
You can get in trouble for hazing if:
- You knowingly participate as an actor in any student hazing
- Being a student, you knowingly submit to hazing and fail to report it to law enforcement or education institution authorities
- You are present at or otherwise have direct knowledge of any student hazing and fail to report such hazing to law enforcement or educational institutional authorities.
All postsecondary institutions must comply with the hazing law. Colleges and universities all have their own codes of student conduct that ban hazing and explain what the potential sanctions are for students found responsible for a hazing violation.
As a college student, you should read and know your university's behavior policies. If you're involved in a club, fraternity, sorority, or any campus group, you need to understand the school's definition of hazing so that you can be prepared to defend yourself if accused. Unfortunately, some universities may not adhere to their own policies when disciplining students for hazing, and they might attempt to impose penalties before giving you due process in order to resolve the matter quickly. At the Lento Law Firm, our team is committed to ensuring that your college or university doesn't deny you your rights. We are well-versed in New Hampshire hazing law as well as typical university hazing policies, and we are here to help you defend against any hazing allegations.
How Do New Hampshire Universities Handle Hazing?
Most universities in New Hampshire prohibit hazing within their student codes of conduct. When an individual is accused of hazing or linked to a reported hazing incident, they are typically subject to an investigation followed by a disciplinary process. Although these procedures are intended to be fair and ensure due process for the accused, this isn't always the reality.
The University of New Hampshire uses the state's legal definition of hazing and imposes a wide range of penalties depending on how serious the incident is. The potential sanctions for hazing are:
- Formal warning
- Disciplinary probation
- University housing probation
- University housing suspension
- University housing dismissal
- University suspension
- University dismissal
- Discretionary assignments or activities
- Loss of privileges
Southern New Hampshire University also prohibits hazing by individuals and groups. If you're found responsible for a violation, you could have one of the following sanctions:
- Warning
- Reprimand
- Probation
- Suspension
- Dismissal
- Access restriction
- Alcohol restriction
- Behavioral agreement or contract
- Educational letter
- Educational sanctioning
- Loss of privileges
- Removal from class
- Removal from housing
- Residence restriction
- Restitution
- Restorative response
- Sanctions held in abeyance
Although all of these sanctions are listed in Southern New Hampshire University's Student Handbook, they are only examples of what could happen if you are found guilty of hazing. The code also states that the university “reserves the right to use its discretion in all aspects of a conduct case, including changes to conduct standings and sanctions.” School administrators could impose a completely different sanction than what's stated in the code, resulting in a punishment far harsher than what's merited. The university, therefore, has a wide authority to penalize you for hazing.
The University Disciplinary Process for Hazing in New Hampshire
The disciplinary process will vary slightly from one school to the next, but they generally all include some kind of investigation, a meeting with an administrator, and possibly a hearing or appeal. As soon as you learn about a hazing accusation against you, you should contact our attorneys. We can assist you from the very first step in the process, helping you prepare your response to the allegations and advising you on how to behave during meetings and hearings.
Let's look at the University of New Hampshire's disciplinary procedures to get an idea of what you can expect if you get accused of hazing. Remember—your university's rules might be different, so be sure to familiarize yourself with them.
Resolution Agreement
Anyone can submit a code of conduct report to the university using the anonymous hazing hotline at the University of New Hampshire. Once the report comes in, the university will notify you that you've been accused of hazing and invite you to participate in a resolution agreement process. You forgo the right to a hearing, accept responsibility for all charges, agree to specific sanctions, and waive the right to appeal. This option expedites the process and allows you and the university to resolve the matter mutually. However, you also give up your due process rights by agreeing to it.
If you choose not to do a resolution agreement, you will have a conduct conference. The university also goes straight to a conduct conference if the potential sanctions are more serious than disciplinary or university housing probation.
Conduct Conference
At the conduct conference, the burden is on you to prove that the allegation has no merit. You can present your side of the story and answer questions concerning the incident in question. Five days after the conduct conference, a conduct officer will notify you of their decision.
Hearings
If the proposed sanction is university suspension, university dismissal, or housing removal, there's no conduct conference—the matter goes to a hearing instead. There are two more steps before the actual hearing takes place, however:
- Preliminary meeting: You have the chance to review all the relevant information that will be used as evidence against you at the hearing. If you're planning to have an advisor (such as an attorney) present at the hearing, you need to provide their name at this meeting. You may also discuss alternative resolutions to the matter without resorting to a hearing and answer other questions.
- Additional investigation: If you don't accept responsibility for the hazing charges, there may be further investigation into the matter. Three days after the preliminary meeting, you can provide a written response to the allegations which are used in the investigation. The investigator will also attempt to interview relevant witnesses and gather any additional information.
You can have either an administrative hearing or a panel hearing. The administrative hearing takes place if you accept responsibility for the charges but don't agree with the proposed sanction. The panel hearing happens if you deny responsibility for one or more of the charges. At all hearings, you have the right to have an advisor present, but university officials will speak directly with you. You can also question witnesses and present evidence. The panel will make a decision after the hearing is over, and you will receive notice of this decision.
Appeal
If your sanction is disciplinary probation, university housing removal, university suspension, or university dismissal, you have the right to request an appeal of the hearing decision. You must send the appeal to the director, who either denies or grants your appeal request. Then, an appellate body reviews your appeal and takes one of the following actions:
- Affirms the original decision
- Affirms the responsibility for the violation and moderately adjusts the sanction
- Remands the case to the original decision-making body
The decision of the appellate body is final.
Dealing with the disciplinary procedures at your New Hampshire college or university can seem daunting. There are countless procedures that you may not be familiar with, and you likely don't know the best course of action for each step. Our Student Defense Team can advise you on how to handle every meeting, conference, or hearing and stand by your side at your hearing to ensure it goes well.
Hazing Accusations Can Have Long-Term Consequences
Being accused of hazing can have lasting consequences that may follow you throughout your life. If you're suspended for a semester, you lose valuable time that could have been spent working toward your degree. Additionally, you may be required to disclose your hazing violation when applying for internships or jobs after college.
If you're expelled due to a hazing accusation, it can severely impact your chances of earning your degree. You would need to find another institution to continue your education, and disclosing the hazing penalty during the application process could make it difficult for other schools to accept you.
Even if you aren't expelled and face a lesser penalty, your college career could still be in jeopardy. Your school might revoke your scholarship or financial aid, making it impossible to afford tuition. While you may be allowed to remain enrolled without financial support, the outcome could be just as detrimental as expulsion.
The repercussions of hazing in college are serious and far-reaching. Not only can it disrupt your academic progress, but it can also hinder future employment and internship opportunities. If you plan to enter a field that requires professional licensing, such as law, medicine, or education, a hazing violation could become a significant obstacle. Don't let a hazing allegation derail your future. Protect your interests by hiring the Lento Law Firm's Student Defense Team. We can assist you in navigating your college or university's disciplinary process and work to reduce or even dismiss the proposed penalties against you.
How Can Our Student Defense Team Help You?
If you've been accused of hazing at your New Hampshire college, it's crucial not to wait and see what happens or attempt to resolve the issue on your own. Seeking assistance from a Student Defense Team like the Lento Law Firm is essential.
Keep in mind that you're dealing with a university, not a court of law. The rules of evidence are less stringent, and the administration isn't required to adhere to the “innocent until proven guilty” standard. The burden of proof may be lower than it would be in a civil or criminal court.
To help ensure the best possible outcome, work with the Lento Law Firm Student Defense Team. We provide valuable support by:
- Collecting evidence and gathering witness statements to build a strong defense
- Assisting in the preparation of your response to the accusations and coaching you on how to interact with school officials
- Accompanying you to all meetings, conferences, or hearings with university administrators
- Negotiating with the school's disciplinary authorities on your behalf
- Preparing and submitting appeals if needed
- Pursuing further legal action, such as filing a lawsuit, if necessary
Our team will be by your side throughout the entire disciplinary process, offering guidance and support. We'll help you understand each step of the procedure and what's at stake. We recognize the stress that a hazing accusation can cause and the burden it places on you when you also have your studies to manage. To learn more about how we can assist you, call 888-535-3686 or send us your information via our contact form.
