Campus Hazing Policy
Calvin Theological Seminary is committed to providing a safe environment where all students have the right to student organizations for belonging, creating community, and developing leadership skills without undergoing hazing as a right of entry or participation. It is federal, state, and Seminary policy that hazing is strictly prohibited. Hazing can result in irrevocable harm to students, their families, and the Seminary community. Any group or individual responsible for hazing may be subject to disciplinary action, criminal prosecution, and/or civil prosecution.
Definition
Hazing is defined as “an 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, and 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.
Examples of hazing include, but are not limited to:
- whipping, beating, striking, electronic shocking, placing of a harmful substance on someone’s body, or any similar physical act of violence or intimidation activity;
- causing, coercing, or otherwise inducing sleep deprivation, physical exertion, exposure to the elements, confinement in a small space, extreme calisthenics, or other similar forced activities activity;
- causing, coercing, or otherwise inducing another person to consume food, liquid, alcohol, drugs, or other illegal, controlled, or Seminary prohibited substances;
- causing, coercing, or otherwise inducing another person to perform sexual acts;
- threatening others and/or any activity that places another person in reasonable fear of bodily harm through the use of threatening words or conduct;
- any acts that includes or causes unusual restrictions or compromise of moral and/or religious values, religious freedoms, and/or kidnapping;
- any activity against another person that includes a violation of Seminary policy and/or criminal violation of local, State, or Federal law; and
- any activity that induces, causes, or requires another person to perform a duty or task that involves a violation of Seminary policy and/or a criminal violation of local, State, or Federal law.
Student Organization
For the purpose of reporting and counting statistics, a student organization is defined as follows:
- 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.
Prevention
During the academic year, Calvin Seminary will implement research-informed, campus-wide prevention programs aimed at educating all students, faculty, and staff about the dangers of hazing, reporting, ethical leadership, bystander training, and promoting a culture of respect and inclusion. Training happens during orientation and on an ongoing basis.
Michigan Law on Hazing
The State of Michigan has criminalized hazing at educational institutions under “Garret’s Law”.
Garret’s Law defines hazing as “an intentional, knowing, or reckless act by a person acting alone or acting with others that is directed against an individual and that the person knew or should have known endangers the physical health or safety of the individual, and that is done for the purpose of pledging, being initiated into, affiliating with, participating in, holding office in, or maintaining membership in any organization.”
Garret’s Law does not apply to an activity that is normal and customary in an athletic, physical education, military training, or similar program sanctioned by the educational institution.
Whether the individual against whom the hazing was directed, consented, or acquiesced in the hazing is not a defense to a crime under Garret’s Law.
Reporting
Any incident involving a crime, an emergency, or an imminent threat to the health or safety of any person should be reported immediately to local law enforcement authorities by dialing 911 or calling Campus Safety at 616-526-3333 or ext. 3-3333 if on campus.
Acts or potential acts of hazing that do not constitute an emergency should be reported to the Dean of Students, the Dean of International Student and Scholar Services, any Safe and Healthy Community Administrator or Coordinator, or any faculty or staff member.
Sanctions
Individuals or groups that engage in hazing may face serious disciplinary action up to probation, suspension or expulsion. Groups such as but not limited to organizations, intramural athletics teams, or other recognized or unrecognized student groups that engage in hazing may face additional consequences such as but not limited to loss of involvement on or off campus or a suspension of a group. Note: Other consequences outside of the Seminary may include legal causes of action or other outcomes.
Amnesty and Self Reporting Hazing
The primary objective is to keep all members of the Calvin Seminary community safe. Any individual who is the subject of hazing that self-reports an incident to the Seminary may be granted amnesty by the Seminary. If hazing occurs within a student organization or team, it will be presumed that the officers have knowledge of, and condone, such activities. The Dean of Students and/or the Dean of International Student and Scholar Services and any partnering department will work with the student(s) to understand the situation and review the report on a case-by-case basis.
If you have participated in hazing and later decide to report the issue to Calvin Seminary, the Dean of Students and/or the Dean of International Student and Scholar Services may recognize that reporting helps to keep the community safe, as well as to prevent repeat or escalating behavior. Your subsequent cooperation in reporting the activity will be considered favorably and mitigate the sanctions or interventions, if any, that may be issued by the Dean of Students and/or the Dean of International Student and Scholar Services.
Consent Information Related to Hazing
Even if an individual voluntarily allowed themselves or agreed to be hazed, the act of hazing is still prohibited. Whether the individual against whom the hazing was directed, consented, or acquiesced to being hazed is never an excuse to perform or receive acts under Seminary policy or state law.
Publication in the Annual Security and Fire Safety Report
Calvin Seminary publishes an Annual Security and Fire Safety Report (ASR) which contains statistics for various Clery Act-reportable crimes, including hazing. The hazing statistics included in the ASR are those that meet the Clery Act crime definition, occurred within Clery Geography, and were reported to a Campus Security Authority. Hazing statistics will be included in the ASR beginning October 2026. You can find the most recent ASR here.
Note: The criteria for statistics included in the ASR vary from the criteria for what must be included in the Campus Hazing Transparence Report and, therefore, will differ.
Campus Hazing Transparency Report
The Campus Hazing Transparency Report (CHTR) summarizes findings concerning any student organization found to be in violation of Calvin Theological Seminary’s standards of conduct relating to hazing. The CHTR information will be updated not less frequently than 2 times each year and will be maintained for 5 years from the date of publication. The CHTR will not include any personally identifiable information in accordance with section 444 of the General Education Provisions Act (commonly known as the ‘Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974’).
The first Campus Hazing Transparency Report will be published on or by 12/23/2025.