INFORMATION FOR
On December 23, 2024, President Biden signed into law the Stop Campus Hazing Act (SCHA) This law amended the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act (Clery Act) to include statistics regarding hazing incidents at higher education institutions.This webpage serves as a clearinghouse for relevant information regarding hazing awareness, policy, and laws.
Hazing is defined as any activity expected of someone joining a group (or to maintain full status in a group) that humiliates, degrades or risks emotional and/or physical harm, regardless of the person's willingness to participate. In addition, hazing is illegal as defined by The Stop Campus Hazing Act (H.R. 5646) and the New Jersey Code of Criminal Justice Section 2C:40-3 - Hazing; Aggravated Hazing. The full William Paterson University Hazing Policy contains the complete description of hazing activities. The Hazing Policy can also be found linked in the Student Code of Conduct.
William Paterson University has a zero-tolerance policy for hazing.Any student, organization, or group found responsible for hazing will face disciplinary actions, including:
• Suspension or expulsion• Loss of university recognition for organizations• Possible legal consequences under state and federal laws
William Paterson University is committed to fostering a safe, inclusive, and respectful environment for all students.
The Stop Campus Hazing Act (H.R. 5646) classifies hazing as a criminal offense, requiring institutions to publicly report incidents and enhance prevention education. This law aims to protect students from dangerous initiation practices and ensure accountability for organizations that engage in hazing activities. Federal law mandates strict penalties for those found guilty of hazing, including fines, legal action, and potential jail time.
New Jersey Anti-Hazing Law: Timothy J. Piazza’s Law (2C:40-3 Hazing). In New Jersey, § 2C:40-3 defines hazing as knowingly or recklessly organizing, promoting, facilitating, or engaging in conduct, other than competitive athletic events, that places another person in danger of bodily injury during initiation activities for student or fraternal organizations. Aggravated hazing, a crime of the fourth degree, occurs if such hazing results in serious bodily injury.
Pledge’s Bill of Rights (18A:3-25): The NJ Attorney General shall develop a “Pledge’s Bill of Rights” which outlines acceptable and unacceptable behavior and activities in regard to the pledge or new member ("rushing") activities of college and university fraternities and sororities and other similar campus organizations. In developing the bill of rights, the Attorney General shall review the existing pledge and anti-hazing policies and procedures of public and independent institutions of higher education within the State and shall, as appropriate, incorporate those policies into the bill of rights. The Attorney General shall make the “Pledge’s Bill of Rights” available to each institution of higher education within the State. L.1991,c.388,s.2; amended 1994,c.48,s.40.
William Paterson University provides various resources and support to help educate students, faculty, and staff on hazing prevention:
• Online training modules to recognize and prevent hazing are required as part of the Greek Organization New Member Education Policy.• Workshops and seminars on hazing awareness are offered to the university community during National Hazing Prevention Week.• Support for students affected by hazing is available for free at Counseling, Health and Wellness.• Access to national hazing prevention organizations and programs:
○ Hazing Prevention Network○ Stop Hazing○ Clery Center
If you or someone you know is experiencing hazing, report it immediately through one of the following methods:
• Contact Campus Activities, Service and Leadership at (973) 720-2518 or by email at campusactivities@wpunj.edu
• Submit a complaint to Student Conduct & Dispute Resolution (973) 720-6250 or submit a Complaint/Incident Report
• Reach out to University Police at (973) 720-2300 or Submit an Anonymous Report
All reports will be taken seriously and investigated promptly to ensure the safety and well-being of our students.
As per The Stop Campus Hazing Act, “the Campus Hazing Transparency Report summarizes findings concerning any student organization found to be in violation of the institution’s standards of conduct relating to hazing, as defined by the institution.” This report is updated at least “two times each year … to include, for the period beginning on the date on which the Report was last published and ending on the date on which such update is submitted, each incident involving a student organization for which a finding of responsibility is issued relating to a hazing violation…” An institution is not required to develop or update the Campus Hazing Transparency Report … until such institution has a finding of a hazing violation.
As per NJ Rev Stat § 18A:3-27.4 (2021): "Each public and independent institution of higher education shall maintain a report which shall include information on all violations of the institution's anti-hazing policy and federal and State laws related to hazing that are reported to the institution. An institution shall post the initial report at a publicly accessible location on the institution's Internet website by January 15, 2022. The initial report shall include information concerning violations that have been reported to the institution for the five consecutive years prior to the effective date of this act, to the extent the institution has retained information concerning the violations. An institution shall post an updated report biannually on January 1 and August 1."
William Paterson University Campus Hazing Transparency Report
William Paterson University Clery Act Report
We invite you to review this document, which is provided in compliance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics and the Higher Education Opportunity Act. You can find further information on our website at https://wpunj.edu/police
After reviewing this information, if you have questions or concerns, please feel free to contact the University Police Department by telephone at 973-720-2300.
