Drury University Report on the Prevention of Hazing

Drury University’s hazing policy, definition, sanctions, and educational programs

Drury University is a safe, education-oriented and community-minded campus that maintains an academic and social environment conducive to intellectual and personal development of students and promotes the safety and welfare of all members of the campus community. Drury University prohibits the use of hazing by its students, employees and citizens. Drury University will cooperate with authorities in the enforcement of all applicable laws.

Hazing is any action taken or situation created, intentionally, to produce mental or physical discomfort, embarrassment, harassment, or ridicule. Such activities may include but are not limited to the following: use of alcohol, paddling in any form, creation of excessive fatigue, physical and psychological shocks, quests, treasure hunts, scavenger hunts, road trips or any other such activities; the wearing of public apparel which is conspicuous and not normally in good taste, engaging in public stunts and buffoonery, morally degrading or humiliating games and activities, and any other activities which are not consistent with academic achievement, policy and regulations of Drury University, or applicable state and national law.
The use of hazing by Drury students, university employees or Drury citizens is prohibited on university-owned or -controlled property, in conjunction with university-sponsored or -supervised activities, or at any activity or event that an observer would associate with Drury students, university employees or Drury citizens.

This policy has been established to protect the integrity of the educational experience, encourage positive behavior and enhance the community commitment of Drury students, university employees or Drury citizens.

Missouri law classifies Hazing as a Class A misdemeanor, unless the act creates a substantial risk to the life of the student or prospective member, in which case it is a Class D Felony. As of January 1, 2017, under state law, consent is not a defense. The full Missouri statue regarding hazing can be found at the following link: Missouri law classifies Hazing as a Class A misdemeanor

Hazing Examples

Some examples of hazing may include, but are not limited to:

• SUBTLE HAZING: Behaviors that emphasize or accentuate a power imbalance between students or groups in a negative manner. Examples may include: deception, assigning demerits, silence periods with implied repercussions, deprivation of privileges, requiring students to perform duties not assigned to other students, socially isolating students, random tests of information; name calling, requiring students to refer to other students with titles while they are identified with demeaning names, expecting certain items to always be in a student’s possession.
• HARASSMENT HAZING: Behaviors that confuse, frustrate, and/or cause undue stress to some members are considered harassment hazing. Examples may include: verbal abuse, threats or implied threats, line-ups, asking students to wear humiliating attire, stunt or skit events with degrading, crude or humiliating acts, personal servitude for existing students and sleep deprivation.
• VIOLENT HAZING: Behaviors that have the potential to cause physical and/or emotional harm. Examples may include: forced or coerced alcohol, drug or food consumption, beating, paddling or other physical acts, branding, forced or coerced ingestion of substances, water intoxication, expecting illegal activity, abductions and kidnapping.

Reporting Hazing Incidents

Employees’ Duty to Report

All University employees have a duty to report hazing to a university administrator or staff member when they receive a report of such conduct, witness such conduct, or otherwise obtain information about such conduct. This includes employees who may have a professional license requiring confidentiality if they are not employed by the University in that professional role. Reports should be made by employees as soon as is reasonably possible after such information is obtained. An employee not reporting hazing incidents, or not reporting in a timely manner, as required by this policy may be disciplined accordingly, up to and including termination.

Students and Other Persons

Students and any other persons who wish to report a hazing incident should contact the appropriate university administrator or staff member. Students should be aware that all employees at the University have an obligation to report hazing incidents that they become aware of or witness.

Confidential Reporting

An anonymous report can be made here.
Employees cannot fulfill their reporting obligation by using this anonymous mechanism.

The following persons have been designated to receive reports of hazing incidents on the Drury campus:

Tijuana Julian
Executive Vice President for Student Affairs/ Dean of Students
Drury University
900 N. Benton Avenue
Findlay Student Center—Room 201
Springfield, MO, 65802
(417) 873-7215
tjulian@drury.edu

Mark Fisher
Vice President for Athletics/Athletic Director
900 N. Benton Avenue
O’Reilly Family Event Center—Room 106
Springfield, MO 65802
(417) 873-7294
mfisher005@drury.edu

Andrew Goodall
Director of Residence Life and Student Conduct
900 N. Benton Avenue
Findlay Student Center—Room 110
Springfield, MO 65802
(417) 873-6871
agoodall@drury.edu

Rob Neiss
Director of Greek Life and Student Activities
900 N. Benton Avenue
Findlay Student Center—Room 124
Springfield, MO 65802
(417) 873-3061
rneiss@drury.edu

Retaliation

It is a violation of this policy to retaliate against any member of the University Community who reports or assists in making a complaint of sexual misconduct or who participates in the investigation of a complaint in any way. Persons who believe they have been retaliated against in violation of this policy should make a complaint in the manner set forth in this section.

Amnesty

The University recognizes that an individual who has been drinking alcohol or using drugs may be hesitant to report hazing incidents. To encourage reporting, the University will not take disciplinary action for drug or alcohol use against an individual reporting sexual misconduct, either as the complainant or as a witness, provided that these conduct violations did not and do not place the health or safety of any other person at risk. The University may, however, require the reporting individual to attend a course or pursue other educational interventions related to alcohol and drugs.

The University’s commitment to amnesty in these situations does not prevent action by police or other legal authorities against an individual who has illegally consumed alcohol or drugs.

Bad Faith Complaints

While the University encourages all good faith complaints of hazing, the University has the responsibility to balance the rights of all parties. Therefore, if the University’s investigation reveals that a complaint was knowingly false, the complaint will be dismissed and the person who filed the knowingly false complaint may be subject to discipline.

Hazing Policy Violation Sanctions

For certain violations, standard sanctions are already in place. The following sanctions are standard for any hazing violation. Drury University reserves the right to modify or change any standard sanction dependent upon the severity and nature of the violation.

Subtle Hazing

• Community Service: A minimum of 20 hours of community service
• Counseling: Referral to Director of Counseling Services
• Fine: A minimum $100 fine assessed to student account
• Education: Required participation in Bystander Intervention Training
• Loss of participation and privileges in campus organizations
• Campus Housing: Released from on-campus housing with no refund for the entire semester
• Parent Notification: Formal parent notification as allowed by FERPA

Harassment Hazing

• Community Service: A minimum of 40 hours of community service
• Fine: A minimum $200 fine assessed to student account
• Disciplinary Suspension: Separation from the University for a minimum of one semester

Violent Hazing

• Fine: A minimum $500 fine assessed to student account
• Disciplinary Suspension: Separation form the University for a minimum of two semesters to permanent disciplinary expulsion from the university.

Hazing: Organization, Group, or Team Violation

When a student group, organization, or team is found in violation of hazing, the sanctions may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Compliance program: Groups or teams are required to undergo a multi-session anti-hazing program. All costs associated with the program are the responsibility of the group. A minimum attendance level will be set ahead of time and must be satisfied to complete this sanction.
• Social and campus probation: Groups would be prohibited from organizing socially or holding any campus events for a minimum of one semester.
• Withdrawal of recognition: When a group or team has been found responsible for a major hazing incident (jeopardizing the health or well-being of any persons), the university may withdraw recognition of that group for a specified time.

Support and Reporting Options for Victims of Hazing

Confidential Web Tip Form

Reporting Obligations for Drury Employees

1. Does the student need medical attention?
   Panther Clinic:  (417) 873-6300 
   Cox North Emergency Room:  (417) 269-3000
   Emergency:  (417) 873-7911
2. Is there a safety risk to the student or the campus?

   If so, contact Safety & Security at (417) 873-7911

3. What should you tell a student who discloses an incident of sexual misconduct?
   
   Before a student reveals information that he or she may wish to keep confidential, you should make every effort to ensure that the student understands the following:
   • Tell the student that you are required to report the name of the recipient of the unwelcome behavior and the perpetrator involved in the alleged incident of hazing, as well as relevant facts regarding the alleged incident (date, time, and location) to one of the employees designated for hazing reporting. So while they may want to talk to you, make sure to let the student know that you will cannot keep the information confidential.
   • Tell the student that they may talk confidentially to counselors in the Student Counseling office and the University Chaplain, who are not required to report or reveal any personally identifiable information, and that there are also off-campus advocacy resources.  Explain to the student that if, after talking with the confidential resource, they decide to proceed with a report and allow their name to be used in investigating the complaint, they may do so any time by contacting one of the employees designated for hazing reporting.
   • Tell the student that they have a right to make a complaint to the university, that the university must investigate the complaint promptly and thoroughly, and that you can assist them in contacting an employee designated for hazing reporting to make a complaint.  If a crime is involved they have a right to report the crime to Safety & Security or local law enforcement.  Safety & Security personnel can assist the student in contacting local law enforcement.
   • Tell the student that once the information is reported to one of the employees designated for hazing reporting, the student may request that the school maintain his or her confidentiality and not reveal his/her name to the alleged perpetrator, or request that the school not seek action against the alleged perpetrator.  If the student does not wish to seek action against the alleged perpetrator, the employee designated for hazing reporting will make every effort to respect that choice, considering among other things, the university’s responsibility to protect the student and provide a safe and nondiscriminatory environment for all students.
   • Tell the student if they do seek university action against the alleged perpetrator that there are protections against retaliation and that strong responsive actions will be taken if any retaliation occurs.
   • Provide the student with the handout of Confidential and Non-Confidential Resources as you are helping them understand their options and encourage them to talk to one of the on-campus resources, either confidentially or non-confidentially.

4. Confidential Reporting

   An anonymous report can be made at: www.drury.edu/informationreport.
   Employees cannot fulfill their reporting obligation by using this anonymous mechanism.

   The following persons have been designated to receive reports of hazing incidents on the Drury campus:

   Tijuana Julian
   Executive Vice President for Student Affairs/ Dean of Students
   Drury University
   900 N. Benton Avenue
   Findlay Student Center—Room 201
   Springfield, MO, 65802
   (417) 873-7215
   tjulian@drury.edu

   Mark Fisher
   Vice President for Athletics/Athletic Director
   900 N. Benton Avenue
   O’Reilly Family Event Center—Room 106
   Springfield, MO 65802
   (417) 873-7294
   mfisher005@drury.edu

   Rob Neiss
   Director of Greek Life and Student Activities
   900 N. Benton Avenue
   Findlay Student Center—Room 124
   Springfield, MO 65802
   (417) 873-3061
   rneiss@drury.edu

When President Timothy Cloyd established the concept of engaging a Blue Ribbon Committee on Hazing to develop a comprehensive plan for our campus, he gave the committee the following charge:

Develop a national model for NCAA teams and college campuses throughout the country that will include a comprehensive set of standards and action items that will serve to not only educate and train, but each year affect positive behavioral and cultural reinforcement with the goal of eradicating the practice of hazing on college campuses across America.

Members Appointed by the President

Mark Fisher
Vice President and Director of Athletics

Dr. Tijuana Julian ’81
Executive Vice President for Student Affairs
Dean of Students

Brian Reynolds ’83
Head Coach
Men’s and Women’s Swimming

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Committee Members

The 17-member committee met regularly throughout the spring 2017 semester. In addition to this, the subcommittees met to work on specific goals and strategies that were identified by the larger group.

2017

January 30
First meeting of the committee; establishment of key areas and assignment of members to subcommittees to address each areas

February 10
Follow-up meeting; reports from subcommittees regarding findings and progress

February 17
Preliminary update and presentation to Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees

February 24
Committee meeting, reports from sub-committees, development of timeline and efforts to make first steps forward; establishment of a preliminary budget for the committees’ portion of the plan

March
Subcommittees continue to work and refine plans

March 21
Committee members meet with coaches

March 24
Committee meets to give updates from subcommittees

April 20
Final committee meeting for the semester; progress report to the Board of Trustees

May 9
Report to the All Sports Committee of the Board of Trustees

May 12
Report to the full Board of Trustees

June-July
Refinement and preparation of the final committee written report

August 17
NCAA team captains retreat to develop core covenant and establish team-building activities, work with external facilitator; first event/educational activity from the plan

August 19
Hazing presentations for returning athletes of fall sports, Greek students, residence life staff and new freshmen 

Fall
Bystander Intervention education included into all Freshman CORE 103/104 courses

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2018

January
Retreat for new Greek leaders to develop core covenant and establish team-building activities, work with external facilitator

• Drury University Community Standards Handbook
• Student-Athlete Survey
• PDEV 282
• Athletic Code of Conduct
• Student-Athlete Handbook
• Athletics Policy Manual
• Risk Management Strategies
• Application for Team-Building Grant
• Supplemental Materials and Methodology (Unreferenced)