According to a new policy Ohio University's Office of Student Affairs will forward all allegations of hazing - regardless of the complaints' vagueness or anonymity - to the Ohio University Police Department. At that point, OUPD has the discretionary power to determine the legality of any reported improper hazing practices. The university should be commended for its restructuring of its protocol to ensure that all accusations are treated equally and that anonymous sources are taken seriously.
OU's stance always has been to condemn hazing in any student organization; however, the change in protocol comes as a response to court cases declaring it the responsibility of universities to provide an investigation into every complaint.
Ohio's Revised Code liberally defines hazing as doing any act or coercing another
including the victim to do any act of initiation into any student or other organization that causes or creates a substantial risk of causing mental or physical harm to any person.
Although the language of the revised code could be considered vague, it does ensure that all claims will be given just consideration, and OUPD will have the authority to investigate those serious in nature - acts that physically or psychologically harm a student. Also, under the new protocol an allegation submitted anonymously still has the chance to be investigated. This aspect is key because it allows for claims to be investigated but reasonably assures that the student reporting the hazing would not be unfairly targeted again.
Despite some potential problems such as people falsely reporting hazing, the policy is a good measure and helps OU move toward targeting disgraceful hazing practices that occur on this campus. No student should endure forceful submission or degradation to be considered worthy of any organization, and victims of such imprudence should come forward to cease this type of behavior.
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Hazing policy promotes greater justice
