Hazing on US college and university campuses is relatively common. Consider the following statistics on hazing in the US:
- About 74% of student-athletes will experience some form of hazing during their college careers
- More than half of US college students who participate in student organizations like fraternities or sororities experience some form of hazing
Hazing continues to occur in states throughout the nation, and Indiana is no exception. University administrators know that hazing incidents can endanger students and negatively affect enrollment numbers. Thus, they tend to take these incidents seriously, investigating alleged hazing incidents and punishing those found to have participated in them.
Colleges may also neglect due process during their investigations. That's just one of many reasons students accused of hazing at universities in Indiana need attorneys.
Are you facing such accusations? If so, the Lento Law Firm's Student Defense Team can help you protect your academic future during and after an investigation. Get started today by submitting your information through our online contact form or calling our offices at 888-535-3686 to discuss your case.
What Qualifies as Hazing in Indiana?
Like many states, Indiana has a law specifically defining hazing. Under Indiana law, someone is guilty of hazing when they force or require someone “to perform an act that creates a substantial risk of bodily injury” for the purposes of initiation into “a group or organization.”
The law states that someone consenting to a hazing ritual doesn't make the act acceptable. In the context of a hazing ritual, someone might feel pressured to give their consent.
It's also worth noting that universities and colleges in Indiana can establish their own anti-hazing policies. Although they may reference the law when doing so, they can theoretically establish policies and procedures that are even stricter.
It's important to have legal assistance from professionals who understand the unique ways colleges and universities in Indiana may handle alleged hazing incidents. The Lento Law Firm's Student Defense Team can offer services geared to the specific needs of a student facing an internal university investigation.
Common Forms of Hazing at Indiana Universities
Various types of acts and behaviors may qualify as hazing. Surveys and studies indicate the most common forms of hazing on college campuses in the US are:
- Drinking games
- Being required to sing or chant in a public setting that isn't a sports event or other such setting where this behavior would be expected
- Drinking alcohol to the point of becoming ill or passing out
- Being unexpectedly woken up in the middle of the night by other members of an organization
- Being subject to the yells, screams, and/or curses of other members of an organization
It's not always immediately clear whether an act qualifies as hazing. If there's a question regarding whether an incident you've been accused of participating in meets the criteria for hazing, this is a detail we'll consider when working on your defense strategy.
Potential Consequences When You're Accused of Hazing at an Indiana College
Numerous factors can influence the consequences a student might face if a college's investigators determine they've participated in a hazing incident. Such factors may include (but aren't necessarily limited to):
- The severity of any injuries victims sustained
- The degree of danger victims were required to place themselves in
- Whether a student accused of hazing has been in trouble in the past
Universities may consider a range of penalties when disciplining students found responsible for hazing. Examples include:
- Probation
- Formal reprimand
- Loss of funding or other such forms of support for a student organization
- Loss of a student organization's privilege to host events or other such activities on campus
- Loss of the privilege to live on campus
- Suspension
- Expulsion
The potential threat to your academic and professional careers is very real if you've been accused of hazing. For example, perhaps a university with a strict anti-hazing policy decides to expel you after an investigation.
Finishing your degree will be very challenging now. Unless you can convince your university to amend its decision, you'll likely have to find another college at which to complete your studies. You may struggle to find a school willing to accept a student who's been expelled from another for hazing.
Maybe you will find such a school. Or, maybe you're only temporarily suspended from your current university.
Nevertheless, these outcomes can still negatively influence your future career prospects. For example, a potential employer might see a gap in your education if you were expelled or suspended. When you explain this gap, you may find an employer won't be inclined to hire someone who was disciplined for hazing in the past.
These points aren't meant to frighten you. Regardless, it's important to consider how serious hazing accusations can be.
Don't take chances with your future. If you've been accused of hazing, get in touch with our Student Defense Team at the Lento Law Firm to ensure someone is protecting your rights throughout an investigation.
New Law Requires Indiana Universities to Share Information About Hazing Incidents
As of July 1, 2024, public universities and colleges in Indiana must publicly share information about confirmed hazing incidents on their campuses. Via their websites, schools must publicize the following information:
- When a confirmed hazing incident occurred
- The findings of investigators
- The disciplinary action or punishment
Proponents of the law state it will help students make informed decisions regarding whether they wish to participate in certain student organizations. Students may be less inclined to participate in certain organizations if they learn they have a history of requiring new members to participate in hazing rituals.
However, the law will also make it easier for potential employers and others to find information about hazing incidents. As such, it's perhaps never been more important for students accused of hazing at Indiana colleges to have proper legal defenses. At the Lento Law Firm, that's precisely what our Student Defense Team offers.
How a University in Indiana Might Neglect Due Process When Investigating Hazing
As long as they're not violating any laws, universities and colleges can often follow their own policies when investigating alleged hazing incidents. To a reasonable and legal extent, they can also abide by their own policies when penalizing students accused of hazing.
Universities may thus ignore the rules of due process when handling such cases. The following are a few examples of how they may do so:
- Notifying you of the accusations without giving you enough time to mount a thorough defense
- Not informing you of your rights, such as your right to seek representation from attorneys
- Not allowing a jury of your peers or other such neutral party to make a determination regarding your guilt or innocence
Not allowing anyone to violate your rights is critical in these circumstances. At the Lento Law Firm, our Student Defense Team will step in and speak up on your behalf if any such violations occur.
What Not to Do When Accused of Hazing at an Indiana University
You may not expect to learn you've been accused of hazing. It's understandable if you don't know how to respond immediately upon being informed of the allegations.
However, this lack of preparation can put you at a disadvantage. It's vital to know what NOT to do when you've been accused of participating in a hazing incident at college.
Common errors to avoid include:
- Signing statements without speaking with lawyers first
- Participating in interviews or hearings without seeking legal representation
- Attempting to negotiate an agreement with the school on your own
You might assume that being as cooperative as possible will work in your favor. That's not necessarily the case. While you shouldn't actively attempt to thwart the efforts of investigators, you should remember that anything you share with them could be used against you.
Knowing how to navigate these unique circumstances doesn't need to be as overwhelming and intimidating as you might assume. Attorneys with the Lento Law Firm's Student Defense Team are on hand to ensure you have someone on your side helping you every step of the way.
We Defend Students Accused of Hazing Throughout Indiana
If you attend college or university anywhere in Indiana, we can help when someone accuses you of hazing. The following are just some of the schools whose students we may defend:
- Purdue University (West Lafayette)
- Ball State University (Muncie)
- Butler University (Indianapolis)
- University of Notre Dame
- DePauw University (Greencastle)
- IU Indianapolis
- Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology (Terre Haute)
Again, that's by no means a complete list. Our Student Defense Team serves clients throughout the state and nation at the Lento Law Firm. Regardless of where you attend school in Indiana, we can help if you're facing disciplinary action for alleged hazing.
Potential Defenses in Indiana Hazing Cases
We work closely with our clients at the Lento Law Firm's Student Defense Team. Our priority is to thoroughly understand the specific details of your case. When we understand specifics, we're better able to craft a defense strategy tailored to your needs.
It's impossible to say how we'll defend you until we've learned more about your case's details. In the meantime, the following are a few examples of basic common defense strategies lawyers might consider when defending students accused of hazing:
- The student wasn't a participant: Hazing incidents may occur in crowded settings. In such a setting, it can be difficult to be certain who is directly participating in a hazing incident. It's sometimes possible to show that a student accused of hazing was merely a witness and not a participant. In some cases, it's even possible to show that students accused of hazing were actually victims of hazing.
- The activity doesn't qualify as hazing: Not all activities that resemble hazing meet the criteria to qualify as such. For example, sports teams may require new members to participate in endurance tests that, although resembling hazing in some capacities, actually serve legitimate purposes.
- The incident was staged: Staging a hazing incident to post content on social media is never a good idea. However, the punishment for staging a hazing incident may often be less severe than the punishment for genuinely participating in one. In the digital age, staging hazing incidents and filming them for social media content isn't unheard of. Lawyers for a student accused of hazing might be able to show that an apparent hazing incident was staged and didn't involve any genuine mistreatment of students.
- A student has an alibi: There are instances in which students are falsely accused of participating in hazing incidents for which they weren't even present. Someone may falsely accuse a student of hazing to get them in trouble or because they mistakenly believed said student was actually a participant in the incident. Regardless, if a student has a legitimate alibi, their lawyers may help them gather evidence to establish it.
Attorneys may also help even in circumstances when a student accused of hazing will face punishment. For example, it's often possible to negotiate with university decision-makers. If students are willing to accept responsibility for an act of hazing, they may be able to convince a university to be lenient in its punishment.
No one can promise your college will give you the option of negotiating such a deal. However, if the option is on the table, our lawyers with the Lento Law Firm's Student Defense Team can handle negotiations for you.
Indiana Student Defense Attorneys Can Help When You're Accused of Hazing
Our Student Defense Team at the Lento Law Firm can help in many ways if you're facing hazing accusations at a university or college in Indiana. Examples include:
- Reviewing the details of your case and helping you understand your options
- Helping you avoid mistakes you might otherwise make during an investigation
- Gathering evidence to support your side of the story
- Identifying weaknesses in the case against you
- Representing you during hearings, interviews, etc.
- Handling any negotiations your case may involve
- Protecting your rights
Don't let hazing accusations derail your future. Learn more about what our Student Defense Team at the Lento Law Firm can do for you by calling us at 888-535-3686 or submitting your information through our online contact form.
