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Arkansas Hazing Law

 

6-5-201.  Definition.

(a) As used in this subchapter, “hazing” means:

(1) Any willful act on or off the property of any school, college, university, or other educational institution in Arkansas by one (1) student alone or acting with others which is directed against any other student and done for the purpose of intimidating the student attacked by threatening him or her with social or other ostracism or of submitting such student to ignominy, shame, or disgrace among his or her fellow students, and acts calculated to produce such results;

(2) The playing of abusive or truculent tricks on or off the property of any school, college, university, or other educational institution in Arkansas by one (1) student alone or acting with others, upon another student to frighten or scare him or her;

(3) Any willful act on or off the property of any school, college, university, or other educational institution in Arkansas by one (1) student alone or acting with others which is directed against any other student done for the purpose of humbling the pride, stifling the ambition, or impairing the courage of the student attacked or to discourage him or her from remaining in that school, college, university, or other educational institution, or reasonably to cause him or her to leave the institution rather than submit to such acts; or

(4) Any willful act on or off the property of any school, college, university, or other educational institution in Arkansas by one (1) student alone or acting with others in striking, beating, bruising, or maiming; or seriously offering, threatening, or attempting to strike, beat, bruise, or maim; or to do or seriously offer, threaten, or attempt to do physical violence to any student of any such educational institution; or any assault upon any such student made for the purpose of committing any of the acts, or producing any of the results, to such student as defined in this section.

(b) The term “hazing” as defined in this section:

(1) Does not include customary athletic events or similar contests or competitions; and

(2) Is limited to those actions taken and situations created in connection with initiation into or affiliation with an organization, extracurricular activity, or sports program.

 

6-5-202.  Prohibitions.
(a) A student of any school, college, university, or other educational institution in Arkansas shall not engage in hazing or encourage, aid, or assist any other student in hazing.

(b)  (1) No person shall knowingly permit, encourage, aid, or assist any person in committing the offense of hazing, or willfully acquiesce in the commission of such offense, or fail to report promptly his or her knowledge or any reasonable information within his or her knowledge of the presence and practice of hazing in this state to an appropriate administrative official of the school, college, university, or other educational institution in Arkansas.

(2) Any act of omission or commission shall be deemed hazing under the provisions of this subsection (b).

 

6-5-203.  Penalties.
(a) The offense of hazing is a Class B misdemeanor.

(b) Upon conviction of any student of the offense of hazing, he or she shall, in addition to any punishment imposed by the court, be expelled from the school, college, university, or other educational institution he or she is attending.

The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Hazing Policy

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4.5.2 HAZING

4.5.2.A General Application No student of any school, college, university or other educational institution in Arkansas shall engage in what is commonly known and recognized as hazing or encourage, aid, or assist any other student in the commission of this offense.

4.5.2.B Definition Hazing is defined as follows:

1. Any willful act on or off any school, college, university or other educational institution in Arkansas by one student alone or acting with others, directed against any other student done for the purpose of intimidating the student with social or other ostracism, or submitting such student to ignominy, shame, or disgrace among his/her fellow students, and acts calculated to produce such results; or

2. The playing of abusive or truculent tricks on or off any school, college, university, or other institutional in Arkansas by one student alone or acting with others, upon a student to frighten or scare him/her; or

3. Any willful act on or off any school, college, university, or other educational institution in Arkansas by one student alone or acting with others, directed against any other student done for the purpose of humbling the pride, stifling the ambition, or impairing the courage of the student attacked, or to discourage any such student from remaining in such school, college, university, or other educational institution, or reasonably to cause him/her to leave the institution rather than submit to such acts; or

4. Any willful act on or off any school, college, university, or other educational institution in Arkansas by one student alone or acting with others, in striking, beating, bruising, or maiming; or seriously offering, threatening, or attempting to strike, beat, bruise, or maim, or to do or seriously offer, threaten, or attempt to do physical violence to any student of any such educational institution or any assault upon any such students made for the purpose of committing any of the acts, or producing any of the results, to such student as defined in this section.

5. The term hazing is defined in this Section does not include customary athletic events or similar contests or competitions, and is limited to those actions taken and situations created in connection with initiation into or affiliation with any organization.

4.5.2.C Failure to Report No person shall assist any person in committing the offense of hazing, or willfully agree in the commission of such offense, or fail to report promptly his/her knowledge of the presence and practice of hazing in this State to an appropriate administrative official of the school, college, university, or other educational institution in Arkansas. Any act of omission or commission shall be deemed hazing under the provisions of the Section.

4.5.2.D Possible Charges The offense of hazing is a Class B misdemeanor.

4.5.2.E Possible Punishment Upon conviction of any student of the offense of hazing, he/she shall, in addition to any punishment imposed by the court, be expelled from the school, college, university, or other educational institution he is attending.

4.5.2.F Disclaimer Nothing in this Act shall be construed as in any manner affecting or repealing any law of this State respecting any other criminal offense.

Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. Anti-Hazing Policy

 

ANTI-HAZING/ANTI-PLEDGING POLICY

No chapter of Phi Beta Sigma shall indulge in any physical abuse or undignified treatment (hazing) of its members or prospective members. Hazing is defined as: any action taken or situation created intentionally or unintentionally, whether on or off Fraternity premises, to produce mental or physical discomfort, embarrassment, harassment, or ridicule.

Such activities and situations include, but are not limited to:

  • paddling in any form

  • creation of excessive fatigue

  • physical and psychological shocks

  • quests

  • treasure hunts

  • scavenger hunts

  • road trips or any other activities carried outside the confines of the campus or chapter house

  • wearing publicly apparel which is conspicuous and not normally in good taste

  • engaging in any public stunts and buffoonery

  • morally degrading or humiliating games and activities

  • late work sessions (past midnight) which interfere with scholastic activity

  • any other activities which are not consistent with Fraternal Law, Ritual, or Policy or with Regulations and Policies of the educational institution

Hazing is forbidden by the Fraternity’s Constitution and by public laws of the various states.

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