Anti-Hazing Overview
No student should ever be harmed or degraded while seeking membership in any student organization. Washington state’s anti-hazing bill, House Bill 1751, also known as Sam’s Law, was signed into law on March 30, 2022, and was named for Sam Martinez, who was a WSU freshman in the fall of 2019 when he died at an off-campus fraternity event.
Hazing Definitions
- RCW 28B.10.900: As used in RCW 10.901 and 28B.10.902, “hazing” includes any act committed as part of a person’s recruitment, initiation, pledging, admission into, or affiliation with a student organization, athletic team, or living group, or any pastime or amusement engaged in with respect to such an organization, athletic team, or living 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 a public or private institution of higher education or other postsecondary educational institution in this state, 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.
- WAC 132P-33-440 (13):
Hazing. Hazing is any act committed as part of a person's recruitment, initiation, pledging, admission into, or affiliation with a college-sponsored student organization, athletic team, or living group, or any pastime or amusement engaged in with respect to such an organization, athletic team, or living group that causes, or is likely to cause, bodily danger or physical harm, or serious psychological or emotional harm, to any student, 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. Consent is not a valid defense against hazing. Examples of hazing include, but are not limited to:
(a) 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;
(b) Humiliation by ritual act;
(c) Striking another person with an object or body part;
(d) Causing someone to experience excessive fatigue, or physical and/or psychological shock; or
(e) Causing someone to engage in degrading or humiliating games or activities that create a risk of serious psychological, emotional, and/or physical harm.
Anti-Hazing Training
Anti-hazing training for students and employees is now available through Vector Solutions
The Get Inclusive Program provides students information on hazing awareness, prevention, intervention, and policies.
Email Leslie Blackaby with your first and last name and “Hazing Prevention” in the subject line to access this hazing prevention training. Get Inclusive will send the training to you.
Reporting Hazing
Also under the law, YVC employees, student employees, or volunteers with reasonable cause to believe hazing has occurred will be required to report potential hazing activities to the college.
- Alleged employee violation: Investigations initiated by Human Resources or designee as outlined in Administrative Procedure.
- Alleged student violation: Investigations initiated by Dean of Student Services or designee as outlined in WAC 132P-33-460.
Hazing Reports
Reports will be posted on the website at least 45 calendar days before the start of each fall term and at least 10 days before the start of all other terms. Reports must be maintained as they are updated for five years. No reports of hazing as of August 9, 2024.
Anti-Hazing Policy for Employees
The college’s anti-hazing policy for employees is currently under development.
Anti-Hazing Policy for Students
Learn more about anti-hazing protocols in the Student Code of Conduct. Additional information can be found in Chapter 132P-33 WAC Student Rights and Responsibilities
- Prohibited student conduct. WAC 132P-121-440 (13)
- Hazing defined. RCW 28B.10.900
- Hazing prohibited—Penalty. RCWs > Title 28B > Chapter 28B.10 > Section 28B.10.901