Hazing

Concordia College is an institution of higher education devoted to excellence in the liberal arts and to the people of the state and the nation. A part of that mission is fulfilled by the college's commitment to the development of students through academic, co-curricular and extracurricular activities. In keeping with its commitment to a positive academic and social environment, and in accordance with Minnesota State Law (Public Post-Secondary Education Section:135A.155), Concordia College unconditionally prohibits all hazing by students, student organizations, athletic teams, and employees. Our goal is that every student on this campus will be free from the humiliation and danger of hazing.

Concordia College interprets hazing as any willful act done by one or more individuals whether physical, mental, emotional or psychological, which subjects another person, voluntarily or involuntarily to anything that may abuse, mistreat, degrade, humiliate, harass, ridicule, intimidate, or endanger him or her, or which may in any fashion compromise his or her inherent dignity as a person. Such activities and situations include, but are not limited to:

  1. Physical punishment, contact, exercise or sleep deprivation which causes excessive fatigue and/or physical and psychological shock
  2. Coerced or forced consumption of food, drink, alcohol, tobacco, illegal drugs
  3. Coerced or forced transporting of individuals
  4. Public humiliation, ridicule, indecent exposure or ordeal
  5. Coercing or forcing illegal acts
  6. Coercing or forcing acts that are immoral, unethical
  7. Blocking an individual's academic, athletic, health or personal success
  8. Personal servitude
  9. Mental harassment
  10. Sexual harassment
  11. Deception
  12. Threat of social exclusion
  13. Any activity that involves the use of alcohol or any controlled substance in violation of Concordia's Alcohol and Other Drug Policy
  14. Any activity that is not in accordance with Concordia's established policies

Typically, hazing has occurred in connection with initiation activities. Even if an initiation activity is optional, an individual may not feel empowered to refuse participation. Each organization or activity may determine its own orientation and/or initiation procedures provided that they are approved by the adviser/coach/director of the organization/activity and are in accord with this policy. One of the stated purposes of initiation activities is to bond people together. The College firmly believes that people do not have to be subjected to hazing in order for bonding to occur. Common experiences that are positive in nature can have the same bonding effect. Good common sense and judgment should always guide any initiation activities.

Any instance of hazing should be reported to the College officials identified below. If requested, every effort will be made to protect the identity of the person(s) reporting the violation

Complaint Against: Report to:
Club or Organization Assistant Director of Student Leadership & Service
Society Assistant Director of Student Leadership & Service
Athletic Organization Athletic Director
Music Group Music Department Chair
CSTA co-curricular group CSTA Department Chair
   (e.g. theatre, forensics, KORD)
Residence Hall group/floor Director of Residence Life
Orientation Club/activity Director of Orientation
Employment group/work site Director of Human Resources
Individual student/staff members Student Affairs Dean
Any other individual or group Student Affairs Dean or Appropriate Department Chair


If deemed appropriate by the administrator receiving the complaint, charges will be filed with the Student Affairs Office, and established disciplinary procedures will be followed in each case. Disciplinary action may be taken against individuals and/or groups.

It is possible that a student may initially voluntarily agree to participate in an initiation activity that he/she may later decide was an unacceptable hazing activity, and, therefore, that student still has the right to file a complaint within a reasonable period of time.

Information For:

current students
faculty and staff		 parents
alumni		 high school students
admitted students