ITHACA, N.Y. -- Cornell University President Hunter Rawlings has approved a proposal from a task force of students, faculty and staff to strengthen the university's policy against hazing.

The amendment to the Campus Code of Conduct, approved by Rawlings Feb. 1, includes a definition of hazing, makes it a specific violation under the Campus Code and permits any member of the campus community to lodge a complaint.

Rawlings approved the revisions, which took effect immediately, on the recommendation of the Task Force on Hazing and the Codes and Judicial Committee (CJC) and after input and approval by the University Assembly. It amends the Campus Code to include a definition of hazing and delineate it as a specific violation under Title Three of the Campus Code, which governs "Regulations for the Maintenance of the Educational Environment." Under this section, complaints may be lodged by any person in the campus community.

"I am pleased that the Task Force on Hazing and the University Assembly have worked together to develop a comprehensive, workable definition of hazing," Rawlings said. "These revisions to the Campus Code of Conduct will set a standard for appropriate behavior and reflect the university's commitment to a safe and supportive campus environment."

Previously, hazing violations could be referred to the Office of the Judicial Administrator by the president or his designee under Title Two of the code, which governs "Regulations for the Maintenance of Public Order," or under the endangerment or harassment sections in Title Three.

The new definition of hazing now included in Title Three of the Campus Code involved extensive input from students, faculty and staff, and represents a community standard. It reads: "Hazing is defined as an act that, as an explicit or implicit condition for initiation to, admission into, affiliation with, or continued membership in a group or organization, could be seen by a reasonable person as endangering the physical health of an individual or as causing mental distress to an individual through, for example, humiliating, intimidating, or demeaning treatment; destroys or removes public or private property; involves the consumption of alcohol, other drugs, or other substances; or violates any of the policies of the University."

In addition to the Campus Code, Student Activities documents and the Community Development House Rules will be revised to include the new hazing definition.

Both the Department of Athletics and Fraternity and Sorority Affairs policies already define hazing and require participating students to sign a statement indicating that they understand the policy and agree to abide by its terms. Those policies will not be revised, said Linda Falkson, associate judicial administrator and chair of the Task Force on Hazing.

"Those policies are actually broader than the new code provision and are appropriate as written because they involve sanctions to groups rather than individuals," Falkson said. "In addition, the Greek and athletic policies refer to behavior 'on or off university premises,' which permits action to be taken against groups that engage in inappropriate behaviors on road trips. The new code provisions only refer to on-campus behavior."

However, complaints may be lodged against individual student athletes and Greek members under the Campus Code for on-campus behavior, Falkson added.

Falkson also noted that Susan Murphy, vice president for student and academic services, is in the process of forming a committee that will oversee implementation of the new provisions and address education and communication issues.

"I want to thank members of the task force for their hard work on this issue," Murphy said. "Their report has prompted excellent conversation and action across campus and provides the university with a very useful road map for addressing this very serious issue.

"I also want to thank the University Assembly for moving the process forward expeditiously. We have much work ahead of us in this area, but with these new provisions to the Campus Code, I am confident that we will make great strides toward our goal of improving the campus environment."

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