Anti-Hazing Policy

Anti-Hazing Policy

Anti-Hazing Policy and Prevention and Awareness Programming Policy Statement

1. Policy Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to outline the Wisconsin Lutheran College procedures for reporting and investigating incidents of hazing. This policy also describes available prevention, and awareness programs and affirms Wisconsin Lutheran College’s commitment to maintaining a safe, respectful, and legally compliant campus environment.

2. Responsible Wisconsin Lutheran College Office

Dean of Students Office

3. Scope

This policy applies to all students, student organizations, athletic teams, other student groups, employees, non-students, and volunteers of the Wisconsin Lutheran College community.

4. Definitions

Student: Any person who is registered for study at Wisconsin Lutheran College for the academic period in which the misconduct occurred, or between academic periods, for continuing students. 

Employee: Employees include, but are not limited to, administrators, faculty, academic staff, administrative staff, student staff, graduate assistants, and interns. 

Non-student: Any person, not including employees, who is not registered for study at Wisconsin Lutheran College for the academic period in which the misconduct occurred. 

As defined by the Clery Center: 

Student Organization: an organization at an institution of higher education (such as a club, society, association, varsity or junior varsity athletic team, club sports team, fraternity, sorority, band, or student government) in which two or more of the members are students enrolled at the institution of higher education, whether or not the organization is established or recognized by the institution. 

Hazing: Any intentional, knowing, or reckless act committed by a person (whether individually or in concert with other persons) against another person or persons regardless of the willingness of such other person or persons to participate, that:

  • is committed in the course of an initiation into, an affiliation with, or the maintenance of membership in, a student organization; and
  • causes or creates a risk, above the reasonable risk encountered in the course of participation in the institution of higher education or the organization (such as the physical preparation necessary for participation in an athletic team), of physical or psychological injury including:
  • whipping, beating, striking, electronic shocking, placing of a harmful substance on someone’s body, or similar activity;
  • causing, coercing, or otherwise inducing sleep deprivation, exposure to the elements, confinement in a small space, extreme calisthenics, or other similar activity;
  • causing, coercing, or otherwise inducing another person to consume food, liquid, alcohol, drugs, or other substances;
  • causing, coercing, or otherwise inducing another person to perform sexual acts;
  • any activity that places another person in reasonable fear of bodily harm through the use of threatening words or conduct; any activity against another person that includes a criminal violation of local, State, Tribal, or Federal law; and
  • any activity that induces, causes, or requires another person to perform a duty or task that involves a criminal violation of local, State, Tribal, or Federal law.

Wisconsin state statute 948.51 also defines hazing as the following:  

  1.  In this section “forced activity” means any activity which is a condition of initiation or admission into or affiliation with an organization, regardless of a student’s willingness to participate in the activity. 
  2.  No person may intentionally or recklessly engage in acts which endanger the physical health or safety of a student for the purpose of initiation or admission into or affiliation with any organization operating in connection with a school, college or university. Under those circumstances, prohibited acts may include any brutality of a physical nature, such as whipping, beating, branding, forced consumption of any food, liquor, drug or other substance, forced confinement or any other forced activity which endangers the physical health or safety of the student. 
  3.  Whoever violates sub. (2) is guilty of: 
  4. A Class A misdemeanor if the act results in or is likely to result in bodily harm to another.
  5. A Class H felony if the act results in great bodily harm to another.
  6. A Class G felony if the act results in the death of another.

Examples of Hazing include but are not limited to:

  • Any form of forced physical activity and/or exercise, whether extreme or not (i.e. push-ups, sit-ups, or other calisthenics, runs, walks, etc.)
    • The college recognizes that physical activity is a common and necessary component of many athletic, recreational, and performance-based programs.  Participation in physical activity as part of structured athletic practices, training regiments, or team-building activities that are supervised, voluntary, and directly related to skill development or performance is not considered Hazing.
  • Physical harassment such as paddling, hitting, beating, slapping, pushing, or striking
  • Marking or branding (either temporary or permanent)
  • Personal servitude of any kind (i.e. phone duty, cleaning, yard work, doing errands, etc.)
  • Forcing or encouraging ingesting of any type of liquid or solid matter, edible or non-edible (i.e. alcohol, chewing tobacco, goldfish, raw onions, spoiled food, dirt, etc.)
  • Requiring the carrying of any item around campus such as paddles, rocks, books, shields, canes, etc.
  • Requiring the wearing of unusual, embarrassing or uncomfortable clothing
  • Sleep deprivation or requiring/encouraging anyone to sleep anywhere other than their own residence or bed
  • Preventing personal hygiene, communication with certain groups/individuals and/or restricting places that new members can go on campus or in the community
  • Verbal abuse such as yelling or screaming or labeling with silly or embarrassing nicknames
  • Requiring or suggesting that members vandalize, destroy or steal property or commit crimes
  • Requiring anything of one group of members that is not required of another

It shall not constitute an excuse or defense to a Hazing allegation that the participants took part voluntarily, gave consent to the conduct, voluntarily assumed the risks or hardship of the activity, or that no injury was suffered to sustained.

5. Policy Statement

A. Authority and Oversight

Students, student organizations, athletic teams, and other student groups of the Wisconsin Lutheran College community are strictly prohibited from engaging in any type of hazing activity under Wisconsin Stat. § 948.51 and the Policy Against Harassment and Discrimination. The Dean of Students/Title IX Offices have the authority to investigate, determine whether violations have occurred, and if so, determine appropriate sanctions related to this policy. 

Student organizations and their individual representatives (officers and members [student, employee, or non-student]) are expected to comply with the rules, policies, and procedures of Wisconsin Lutheran College, as well as with federal, state, and local laws/ordinances. This includes rules, policies, or laws relating to off-campus conduct, and facilities or locations where the organization may be located or participate in activities. 

Students and employees should be advised that the conduct processes outlined in the Student Handbook and Policy Against Harassment and Discrimination are separate from criminal and civil court processes. While a student or employee may have a criminal or civil matter that is concurrent with a conduct investigation, those processes (college and criminal/civil) are not dependent on each other. Procedures and rights in the conduct processes do not include the same standard of proof or due process. Students and employees are entitled to due process, including the right to be informed of charges, the right to be heard, and the right to appeal decisions.

When the College becomes aware of potential hazing incidents involving non-students (alumni, guests, or third parties), it may refer the matter to appropriate law enforcement, civil authorities, or affiliated national organizations and may take steps to limit the non-student’s access to university programs, services, or property where appropriate.

B. How to Report Allegations of Hazing

Anyone (student, staff, faculty, friend, parent/caregiver, community member) may report concerns about hazing by a student organization (or their members).

Concerns can be reported at any time by contacting WLC's Title IX Coordinator, Dean of Students, or by using WLC's online form to report sexual harassment/assault, discrimination/harassment, or hazing allegations.

Jamie Brock
Title IX Coordinator
Assistant Director of Residence Life
Office: Fischer Hall, 2112
Phone: 414.443.8762
Email: Jamie.Valerio@mail.wlc.edu

Adam Volbrecht
Dean of Students
Office: Greenfield Administration Building, 2nd Floor A220
Phone: 414.443.8689
Email: Adam.Volbrecht@wlc.edu

While there is no time limit on reporting alleged violations of hazing, the longer someone waits to report an allegation, the more challenging it becomes for investigating officers to obtain information and witness statements to make determinations regarding alleged violations. 

C. Investigative Process

Any allegation of hazing shall be addressed under the Policy Against Harassment and Discrimination. Allegations of hazing involving employees will be addressed under relevant/applicable state laws and institutional policies.  

Interim Measures:

To protect the ongoing health and safety of the College community, or a disruption or interference with the normal operations of the College, or when the Organization is charged with a serious violation of state or federal law the College may issue interim measures (e.g., interim suspension or directive) as dictated by college policies.

Individual student officers or members of a student organization may be held personally responsible and subject to disciplinary action under the Policy Against Harassment and Discrimination or any other applicable federal, state, or local laws or ordinances.

The investigation of disciplinary procedures against the individual student(s) and the student organization can be happening concurrently.

D. Prevention and Awareness Programs Policy Statement

Wisconsin Lutheran College is dedicated to fostering a safe and respectful campus environment through proactive hazing prevention and education initiatives. As part of this commitment, all staff, faculty and students have access to educational programming designed to increase awareness, promote prevention strategies, and empower individuals to recognize and respond to hazing behaviors.

Members of Wisconsin Lutheran College Athletic teams receive hazing prevention training via the following:

  • Mandatory annual educational series or sessions
  • Mandatory student-athlete eligibility meetings

Additionally, all student organizations are provided annually with information about hazing prevention education, delivered as part of the College’s student organization certification process.

6. Related Documents

Wisconsin Stat. § 948.51

Stop Campus Hazing Act

7. Contact Information

Questions regarding the interpretation of this policy should be directed to:

Adam Volbrecht
Dean of Students
Telephone: 414.443.8689
Email: adam.volbrecht@wlc.edu


Campus Hazing Transparency Report

Wisconsin Lutheran College will maintain and publicly report findings of hazing violations by any established or recognized student organization or athletic team. Reports will be released twice annually with the first Campus Hazing Transparency Report to be released by December 23, 2025; it will include data from July 1, 2025, through its date of release. After that, the Campus Hazing Transparency Report will be updated biannually (at least two times a year).

The Campus Hazing Transparency Report will include each incident involving a student organization for which a finding of responsibility is issued relating to a hazing violation, including:

  • The name of such student organization;
  • A general description of the violation that resulted in a finding of responsibility, including:
    • whether the violation involved the abuse or illegal use of alcohol or drugs,
    • the findings of the institution, and
    • any sanctions placed on the student organization by the institution, as applicable; and
  • The dates on which:
    • The incident was alleged to have occurred
    • The investigation into the incident was initiated
    • The investigation ended with a finding that a hazing violation occurred, and
    • The institution provided notice to the student organization that the incident resulted in a hazing violation.
  • The Campus Hazing Transparency report cannot include personally identifiable information.