About CF

Hazing Prevention and Awareness

Anti-Hazing Statement

Hazing is abusive, degrading, psychologically damaging, and may be life-threatening. It is unacceptable in all forms and has no place in the College of Central Florida community. Student groups, organizations, and athletic teams are important contributors to a vibrant and positive campus life and are expected to act in accordance with the Code of Student Conduct and to treat others with respect. Hazing by individuals and student organizations is prohibited in any form both on campus and off campus.

Policy

CF Policies 7.04, Student Rights and Responsibilities and 7.05, Code of Student Conduct govern the College’s response to reports of hazing. Student Conduct Procedures can be found in the online Student Handbook or are available in print from the Dean of Student Services office located on the Ocala Campus, Building 5, room 205-D.

Within the Code of Student Conduct, hazing by and individual or organization is a violation of the Code and of the law. If found responsible for hazing, students and/or organizations are subject to expulsion, suspension, probation, restitution, fines, revocation or withholding of degree, loss of privileges, warnings, or other discretionary sanctions.

Definitions

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. The following are non-exhaustive examples of conduct that causes or creates such a risk:

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 applicable 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.

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.

In addition, the state of Florida defines hazing (Title XLVIII, Chapter 1006.63) as any action or situation that recklessly or intentionally endangers the mental or physical health or safety of a student for purposes including but not limited to:

Initiation into any organization operating under the sanction of a postsecondary institution;
Admission into any organization under the sanction of a postsecondary institution;
Affiliation with any organization operating under the sanction of a postsecondary institution; or.
The perpetuation or furtherance of a tradition or ritual or any organization opening under the sanction of a postsecondary institution.

The term includes, but is not limited to, pressuring or coercing the student into violating state or federal law; any brutality of a physical nature, such as whipping, beating, branding, exposure to the elements, forced consumption of any food, liquor, drug, or other substance, or other forced physical activity that could adversely affect the physical health or safety of the student; or any activity that would subject the student to extreme mental stress, such as sleep deprivation, forced exclusion from social contact, forced conduct that could result in extreme embarrassment, or other forced activity that could adversely affect the mental health or dignity of the student. The term does not include customary athletic events or other similar contests or competitions or any activity or conduct that furthers a legal and legitimate objective.

Reporting Incidents of Hazing

College of Central Florida encourages the reporting of incidents of hazing and takes every such report seriously. It will investigate all reports diligently and thoroughly in accordance with the Code of Student Conduct and/or other applicable policies and procedures. Individuals found responsible for committing, soliciting, encouraging, directing, aiding, or recklessly permitting hazing to occur will be subject to disciplinary sanction that could include suspension or expulsion.

Any person may report hazing in person, by mail, by telephone or by electronic mail, using the following contact information:

Dr. Mary Ann Begley

Dean of Student Services
3001 S.W. College Rd.
Bryant Student Union, Room 205D
Ocala, FL 34474
352-291-4410
compliance@cf.edu

Private and Confidential Reporting

College of Central Florida will respect the privacy of reporters but cannot guarantee confidentiality for hazing reports. The information you provide to a non-confidential resource will be relayed only as necessary to investigate and/or seek a resolution and/or to comply with other appropriate College of Central Florida policies and procedures, and any federal, state and/or local laws, rules and regulations. College of Central Florida will limit the disclosure as much as possible, even if the institution determines that the request for confidentiality cannot be honored.

Offices and officials who are confidential resources will not report to law enforcement or university officials without a complainant/reporting party’s permission, except for extreme circumstances, such as a health and/or safety emergency. To make a confidential report, please contact Cindy Pfriender, Director of Accessibility and Counseling at pfriendc@cf.edu or 352-854-2322, Ext. 1580.

Amnesty Related to Hazing Reports

College of Central Florida recognizes that students are sometimes reluctant to report hazing activity, due to a fear of potential consequences for their own conduct. For this reason, the College has adopted an amnesty policy which states that a student who acts in good faith to report activity that may fall within the definition of hazing and/or a victim who cooperates fully as a witness in the investigation and disciplinary process may not be subject to student conduct sanctions related to their own participation in hazing, as determined by the College in its sole discretion.

In the event amnesty is granted for self-reported behaviors, if evidence is presented that the student has continued to engage in hazing behaviors or has knowledge of hazing activity that was not reported, they may be held accountable for past behavior. Students who choose to report and request amnesty for their own conduct should know that amnesty does not apply to any criminal or civil action that may be taken by any law enforcement agencies.

Investigation Process

After a report is received, College of Central Florida will quickly review the submission and determine the next appropriate actions. If a report is criminal in nature, CF Public Safety and local law enforcement will be contacted. College of Central Florida will also conduct its own investigation to prevent a recurrence of the alleged hazing and to determine if there are potential violations of the Code of Student Conduct and/or any other applicable processes depending upon the nature of the complaint.

Retaliation

No person may intimidate, threaten, coerce or discriminate against any individual because the individual made a report or complaint, testified, assisted, or participated or refused to participate in any manner in an investigation, proceeding, or hearing under this Anti-Hazing Procedure. Complaints alleging retaliation may be filed with the Dean of Student Services office. Any reports of retaliation involving an employee will be reported through Human Resources and will be addressed through the appropriate processes.

Prevention and Awareness Programs

CF offers ongoing prevention awareness programs for students, faculty and staff through activities such as campus tabling events and workshops. Going forward, these efforts will place additional focus on the institution’s hazing policy and prevention strategies. Tabling events include the annual Resource Fair, Club Rush, and the Health and Wellness Fair.

Over fifteen workshops were offered last academic year on healthy relationships and bystander intervention to students. The workshop utilized materials from the Red Flag campaign and Green Dot as inspiration. Additionally, the campus requires annual training for Campus Security Authorities and annual training for faculty and staff on sexual harassment prevention. The training on sexual harassment prevention includes information on bystander intervention. Digital campaigns and additional workshops are being created now in preparation for the 2025-26 academic year.

For more information about hazing prevention and awareness programs, please email compliance@cf.edu or call 352-291-4410.

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