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The Bulldog - For the SWOSU Family

Hazing Prevention

Purpose 

Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU) is committed to provide a safe and welcoming learning environment for all students. This policy is established to comply with the federal Stop Campus Hazing Act and relevant Oklahoma state laws, ensuring the prevention,reporting, and enforcement of anti-hazing measures.

Defining Hazing

Hazing is any conduct committed as part of a person’s recruitment, initiation, pledging, admission into, or affiliation with a student organization, athletic team, or living group (collectively “student groups”) or any pastime or amusement engaged in with respect to such a student group that causes, or is likely to cause, bodily danger or physical harm, or serious psychological or emotional harm, to any student or other person attending SWOSU, including causing, directing, coercing, or forcing a person to consume any food, liquid, alcohol, drug, or other substance which subjects the person to risk of such harm, regardless of the person's willingness to participate. "Hazing" does not include customary athletic events or other similar contests or competitions. This prohibition applies to conduct that may occur both on and off campus. In compliance with the Stop Campus Hazing Act and relevant Oklahoma state laws.

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.

Student Organization - The term ‘student organization’ means 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.

Enforcement and Sanctions

Student Organizations and Athletics – Organizations and athletic teams found responsible for hazing will face disciplinary action, including suspension, expulsion, or other sanctions.

Individuals – Students or employees found responsible for hazing may face disciplinary actions such as suspension, expulsion, termination, or legal consequences.

Legal Compliance – SWOSU will report hazing incidents to local law enforcement as required by law in compliance with 21 OK Stat § 21-1190 (2020)

Education and Prevention

  • SWOSU will implement annual training for students, faculty, staff, and athletic teams on hazing prevention.  Training will be available in-person and online.
  • Educational materials and resources will be made available online and in university offices.
  • SWOSU Connect for new students will include anti-hazing awareness and reporting procedures.

Need to file a report?

Use this form to report allged violations of the Stop Campus Hazing Act and or violations of the Univeristy Hazing Policy.  View the University Hazing Policy.

Report Hazing

Transparency Report

Beginning on July 1, 2025, Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU) will report summarizing findings concerning any student organizations that are defined by policy found to be in violation of the institution’s standards of conduct related to hazing. The first report will be published no later than Dec. 23, 2025, and will be updated “not less than 2 times each year”. 

The report will include each incident involving a student organization for which a finding of responsibility is issued related to a hazing violation, including:

  • the name of the student organization;
  • a general description of the violation that resulted in a finding of responsibility, including whether it involved the abuse or illegal use of alcohol or drugs, the findings of the institution and any sanctions placed upon the student organization; and
  • the dates on which the incident was alleged to have occurred, the investigation was initiated, the investigation ended with a finding and the institution provided notice to the student organization that a violation occurred.

Any hazing violation by a student organization will be made public for at least five years.

Last updated: 6/18/2025

Fall 2025

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