Anti-Hazing Policy (Interim)

I. Introduction

To ensure our compliance with state and federal law, and to promote practices and procedures intended to support a safe and violence-free educational environment for the entire California Institute of the Arts (”CalArts” or the “Institute”) community, CalArts adopts this “Anti-Hazing Policy” in compliance with the Federal Stop Campus Hazing Act, the California Stop Campus Hazing Act and Matt’s Law (California Hazing Law).

II. Effective Date

This policy is effective June 23, 2025.

III. CalArts Statement on Hazing

CalArts seeks to provide a safe, healthy and respectful learning, working, and living environment for all students, staff, faculty, vendors and guests. The  Institute will not tolerate hazing activities by any individuals, groups, teams, or recognized or unrecognized student organizations. The institute may enforce this policy through internal disciplinary procedures, external prosecution of alleged offenders, or both. Individuals who participate in acts of hazing will be held accountable under this policy and the Student Code of Conduct.

IV. To Whom This Policy

This policy applies to all CalArts students (including members of any CalArts Clubs and Organizations, student government, student leadership, intramural sports) and all CalArts employees (administrators, regular and special faculty, and staff).

V. Application

This Policy applies to conduct that occurs on or off campus and applies to all members of the CalArts community, including faculty, staff, students, and student organizations in which two or more members are students enrolled in CalArts whether or not the organization is established or recognized by CalArts.

Workplace Hazing

While hazing most commonly occurs in student settings, it can also take place between employees—a behavior referred to as “workplace hazing.”

Employees are strictly prohibited from engaging in workplace hazing. All employees who suspect, witness, become aware of, or receive a report of workplace hazing must immediately report the incident to Human Resources.

VI. Prohibited Conduct

CalArts prohibits all forms of hazing under this policy. Hazing includes any act or situation, whether intentional or unintentional, occurring on or off all CalArts properties, and whether represented as voluntary or mandatory, that a reasonable person would perceive as causing mental, physical, or emotional discomfort; servitude; humiliation; degradation; harassment; embarrassment; or ridicule. Such conduct is prohibited when carried out for the purpose of initiation into, affiliation with, admission to, or continued membership in any group, team, or organization or as part of workplace hazing, regardless of an individual’s willingness or consent to participate. The voluntary acceptance of or consent to such activity by the individual subjected to it shall not serve as a defense for the individual(s) or organization(s) responsible for the conduct.

There are various definitions of hazing depending on which law is being considered. See definitions at the bottom of this policy. For purposes of this Policy, and in alignment with applicable law, CalArts has adopted the following definition of Hazing.

Hazing” means “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:

[I] is committed in the course of an initiation into, an affiliation with, or the maintenance of membership in a student organization, [e.g., a club, student government, athletic team, fraternity, or sorority]; and

[II] 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; and
• Any other similar activity.

VI. Reporting Hazing

CalArts is committed to providing a variety of welcoming and accessible ways for community members to voice concerns about and report instances of alleged hazing or retaliation. Reporting an issue is the best way for the community to help an individual receive the resources, support, and supportive measures available at CalArts. All CalArts Employees are required to report any allegations or knowledge of conduct prohibited under this policy by contacting:

• Director of Community Rights and Responsibilities at studentconduct@calarts.edu.
• Law enforcement in urgent situations or if criminal activity is suspected

VII. Retaliation

Retaliation against any individual who in good faith reports Hazing or participates in an investigation is strictly prohibited and will be subject to disciplinary action.

VIII. Investigation of Reports of Hazing Involving Students

Reports of hazing will be reviewed and addressed pursuant to the applicable policies and procedures of the CalArts. Depending on the nature and circumstances of the conduct, this may include, but is not limited to, processes outlined in the CalArts Student Code of Conduct, the CalArts Title IX Policy (applicable to incidents involving sex-based harassment or discrimination), and the CalArts Discrimination, Harassment, and Retaliation (DHR) Policy (applicable to incidents involving protected class misconduct unrelated to sex).

The determination of which policies and procedures apply will be based on the specific facts of each report, and cases may be evaluated under more than one policy if warranted by the circumstances.

IX. Interim Measures

CalArts reserves the right to implement interim measures as necessary to protect the health, safety, and well-being of the campus community pending the outcome of an investigation or resolution process. Such measures may include, but are not limited to, Mutual Stay Away Directives, adjustments to housing or academic schedules, suspension of privileges, or interim suspension from the Institute.

X. Sanctions and Disciplinary Actions

Participation in prohibited hazing activities may lead to significant consequences for individuals and/or organizations, including, but not limited to, disciplinary measures up to and including suspension or expulsion for individual(s) and the possible permanent revocation of recognition of clubs and/or organizations.

XI. Investigation of Reports of Hazing involving Employees

Reports of hazing will be reviewed and addressed pursuant to the applicable policies and procedures of the CalArts. Depending on the nature and circumstances of the conduct, this may include, but is not limited to, processes outlined in the CalArts Workplace Violence Prevention Plan , the CalArts Title IX Policy (applicable to incidents involving sex-based harassment or discrimination), Faculty Handbook and Staff Handbook.

The determination of which policies and procedures apply will be based on the specific facts of each report, and cases may be evaluated under more than one policy if warranted by the circumstances.

XII. Law Enforcement, Criminal and Civil Proceedings

Institutional processes and potential sanctions are independent from any actions that may be pursued by law enforcement agencies or through civil or criminal court proceedings. Individuals and/or organizations alleged to have engaged in hazing may also be subject to prosecution under applicable state or federal law, and civil or criminal liability arising from the same conduct that constitutes an alleged or substantiated violation of CalArts policies.

XIII. Prevention and Education

CalArts is partnering with Catharsis Production to provide online hazing prevention education to all students and employees. StandUp to HazingTM participants will gain practical tools to recognize warning signs of hazing, take effective action, and create healthy group cultures. This comprehensive training equips students, staff, and faculty with research-backed strategies that drive real change.

Learning objectives include:

• Identify elements that comprise hazing
• Recognize warning signs
• Learn how to take effective action
• Understand how to create healthy group cultures
• Reporting Obligations

Club and Organization Advisors and Leadership will be provided with additional training related to hazing prevention.

XIV. Disclosures

Campus Hazing Transparency Report (”CHTR”)

The Office of Community Rights and Responsibilities will maintain a report of all violations of Hazing that are reported to the Institute and which result in a violation of this Policy (CHTR). Such report shall not include any personally identifying information, including any information that would reveal personally identifiable information. The Institute will update the CHTR bi-annually, on December 23rd and June 23rd of each year, and will post the updated report on the Institute’s website. The Instituteshall retain the CHTR for the current year as well as for five consecutive calendar years from the date of publication, or as otherwise consistent with applicable law.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Institute is not required to develop a CHTR until such time that the Institute has a finding of a Hazing violation. Also, the CHTR does not have to be updated for any period in which the Institute does not have a finding of a Hazing violation, however in such a scenario WesternU will still conduct a bi-annual review to identify any findings of Hazing.

The CHTR may also include any additional information determined by CalArts to be necessary or reported as required by State law.

Annual Security Report

Campus Safety will update the Annual Security Report on an annual basis to include all required hazing statistics and reporting requirements in compliance with the Federal Stop Campus Hazing Act.

XV. Hazing Is a Crime

Students and Employees should be aware that hazing is a criminal offense in the State of California.

• California Penal Code:
  PENAL CODE – PEN [240-248] (Also known as Matt’s Law) 245.6.
  (a) It shall be unlawful to engage in hazing, as defined in this section.
  (b) “Hazing” means any method of initiation or preinitiation into a student organization or student body, whether or not the organization or body is officially recognized by an educational institution, which is likely to cause serious bodily injury to any former, current, or prospective student of any school, community college, college, university, or other educational institution in this state. The term “hazing” does not include customary athletic events or school-sanctioned events.
  (c) A violation of this section that does not result in serious bodily injury is a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of not less than one hundred dollars ($100), nor more than five thousand dollars ($5,000), or imprisonment in the county jail for not more than one year, or both.
  (d) Any person who personally engages in hazing that results in death or serious bodily injury as defined in paragraph (4) of subdivision (f) of Section 243 of the Penal Code, is guilty of either a misdemeanor or a felony, and shall be punished by imprisonment in county jail not exceeding one year, or by imprisonment pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 1170.
  (e) The person against whom the hazing is directed may commence a civil action for injury or damages. The action may be brought against any participants in the hazing, or any organization to which the student is seeking membership whose agents, directors, trustees, managers, or officers authorized, requested, commanded, participated in, or ratified the hazing.
  (f) Prosecution under this section shall not prohibit prosecution under any other provision of law.

Policy Review:
This Policy will be reviewed and updated annually or as needed to ensure its effectiveness.

Appendices

Appendix A

Definitions Applicable to this Policy under Federal Stop Campus Hazing Act (SCHA)

Student Organization

• In accordance with the Federal Stop Campus Hazing Act (SCHA), Student Organization is defined as “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

• Hazing is defined as “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—
• (I) is committed in the course of an initiation into, an affiliation with, or the maintenance of membership in, a student organization; and
• (II) 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—
• (aa) whipping, beating, striking, electronic shocking, placing of a harmful substance on someone’s body, or similar activity;
• (bb) causing, coercing, or otherwise inducing sleep deprivation, exposure to the elements, confinement in a small space, extreme calisthenics, or other similar activity;
• (cc) causing, coercing, or otherwise inducing another person to consume food, liquid, alcohol, drugs, or other substances;