Bethany Lutheran College is committed to maintaining a safe, supportive, and respectful campus environment that reflects our mission and values. Hazing in any form is strictly prohibited and will not be tolerated within any student organization, athletic team, co-curricular program, or other college-sponsored activity. This policy applies to all students, faculty, staff, alumni, and visitors participating in or associated with college activities, whether occurring on or off campus. Any individual aware of hazing must report it immediately.

According to the Minnesota Statutes regarding Hazing (135A.155 Hazing Policy), Bethany Lutheran College must “adopt a clear, understandable written policy on student conduct, including hazing. The policy must include procedures for reporting incidents of inappropriate hazing and for disciplinary actions against individual violators and organizations. The policy shall be made available to students by appropriate means as determined by each institution, which may include publication in a student handbook or other institutional publication, or posting by electronic display on the Internet, and shall be posted at appropriate locations on campus.”

The Stop Campus Hazing Act (SCHA) amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to require colleges and universities to disclose hazing incidents in their annual security reports. It mandates institutions to define hazing, compile statistics on reported cases, and establish transparent policies for reporting and prevention.

Definitions

Minnesota State Statute 121A.69 defines hazing as committing an act against a student, or coercing a student into committing an act, that creates a substantial risk of harm to a person in order for the student to be initiated into or affiliated with a student organization. A student organization is further defined as a group, club, or organization having students as its primary members or participants.

Congress defines the term hazing 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:

1. Is committed in the course of an initiation into, an affiliation with, or the maintenance of membership in, a student organization; and
2. 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 –
   1. Whipping, beating, striking, electronic shocking, placing of a harmful substance on someone’s body, or similar activity;
   2. Causing, coercing, or otherwise inducing sleep deprivation, exposure to the elements, confinement in a small space, extreme calisthenics, or other similar activity;
   3. Causing, coercing, or otherwise inducing another person to consume food, liquid, alcohol, drugs, or other substances;
   4. Causing, coercing, or otherwise inducing another person to perform sexual acts;
   5. Any activity that places another person in reasonable fear of bodily harm through the use of threatening words or conduct;
   6. Any activity against another person that includes a criminal violation of local, State, Tribal, or Federal law; and
   7. 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.

Bethany Lutheran College further explains an understanding of hazing* as any willful act committed in the course of an initiation into, an affiliation with, or the maintenance of membership in a student organization done by one or more individuals, whether physical, mental, emotional, or psychological, which subjects another person voluntarily or involuntarily to anything that may abuse, mistreat, degrade, humiliate, harass, ridicule, intimidate, or endanger that person, or which may in any fashion compromise their dignity as a person. Such activities and situations include, but are not limited to:

• Physical contact or punishment, exercise, or sleep deprivation that causes excessive fatigue and/or physical and psychological shock
• Coerced or forced consumption of food, drink, alcohol, tobacco, illegal drugs
• Coerced or forced transportation of individuals
• Public test, humiliation, ridicule, indecent exposure, nudity
• Coercing or forcing illegal acts
• Forcing, requiring, or pressuring the participation in any activity that is unlawful, perverse, publicly indecent, or contrary to the individual’s moral beliefs
• Interfering in an individual’s academic, athletic, health, or personal success
• Personal servitude to others, individually or collectively
• Mental harassment
• Sexual harassment
• Tattooing or branding
• Deception or threat contrived to convince a new member that they will not be permitted to join or that their continued participation is doubtful
• Threat of social exclusion
• Any activity that involves the use of alcohol or any controlled substance in violation of the College’s Drug and Alcoholic Beverages Policy or the laws of the State of Minnesota
• Any activity that does not follow the College’s established policies

* This additional explanatory information does not supersede the official definitions (given above) of the Stop Campus Hazing Act

Hazing often occurs when a person is initiated into, affiliates with, holds office in, or maintains membership in a given organization. An individual subjected to hazing may not be aware that what is occurring constitutes hazing or may not feel empowered to refuse participation. Perceived, implied, or expressed consent to hazing does not make it acceptable under this policy.

Report an incident of Hazing

Don’t assume someone else knows what you know. If you see or hear something that might be hazing, ask questions, find out what’s going on, and speak up. It’s always ok to check in or pass it along to someone who can help.

• Submit the Hazing Report Form
  Click Here
• Contact the Dean of Students Office
  Phone: 507-344-7330
  Email: rbolte@blc.edu
• Contact the Human Resources Office
  Phone: 507-344-7840
  Email: hr@blc.edu
• Contact the Vice President of Student Affairs Office
  Phone: 507-344-7745
  Email: tmanthe@blc.edu

Campus Hazing Transparency Report

In accordance with the Stop Campus Hazing Act, a Campus Hazing Transparency Report is compiled and published on the College’s website to provide transparency regarding any established or recognized student organizations found in violation of the College’s Anti-Hazing Policy. The report will not include any personally identifiable information about individual students. This report includes the following information for each organization involved:

• Name of the student organization
• General description of the violation (*Must include whether the violation involved the abuse or illegal use of alcohol or drugs, the findings of the institution, and any sanctions placed on the student organization)
• Relevant dates
  • Date the incident was alleged to have occurred
  • Date investigation was initiated
  • Date investigation ended with findings of hazing violation
  • Date institution provided notice to organization of outcome
• Findings for determination of responsibility
• Sanctions Imposed

If a student group has not been found responsible, the hazing incident will not be included in this documentation. Active investigations will not be reported in the Campus Hazing Transparency Report until the investigation is complete.

The first Campus Hazing Transparency Report will be released by December 23, 2025, and will include data from July 1, 2025, through the date of release. After that, the Campus Hazing Transparency Report will be released twice a year, at the conclusion of fall and spring semesters.

For more information, please refer to the Bethany Lutheran College Anti-Hazing Policy held by the Dean of Students Office.