Hazing Policy

Campus Hazing Transparency Report

Hazing is Defined As:

any action or activity which does not contribute to the positive development of a person; which inflicts or intends to cause physical or mental harm or anxieties; which may demean, degrade, or disgrace any person regardless of location, intent, or consent of participants. Hazing can also be defined as any action of situation which intentionally or unintentionally endangers a student for admission into affiliation with any student organization. The consent of the student/participant or any assumption of risk by the student/participant is not a defense to an action brought pursuant to this policy.

Illinois State Statute and Bradley University Policy, as well as the policies of all national fraternities and sororities prohibit students from engaging in any activity that may be considered hazing. Furthermore, according to the Illinois Statute of Hazing, Section 120-1, anyone who commits the act of hazing could be charged with a Class B misdemeanor.

Bradley University views hazing activities as not contributing to the positive development or welfare of the individual. The University recognizes acts of hazing as irresponsible, intolerable and inconsistent with the principles of higher education and basic human development.

Illinois Law:

Hazing is illegal in the state of Illinois. Hazing is classified as a Class A misdemeanor, expect in the situation where hazing results in death or great bodily harm; it is then considered a Class 4 felony.

720 ILCS 120/5. Hazing

Section 5. Hazing.

A person commits hazing who knowingly requires the performance of any act by a student or other person in a school, college, university, or other educational institution of this State, for the purpose of induction or admission into any group, organization, or society associated or connected with that institution if:

720 ILCS 120/10. Sentence 10

Hazing is a Class A misdemeanor, except hazing that results in death or great bodily harm is a Class 4 felony.

Stop Campus Hazing Act (SCHA)

The Stop Campus Hazing Act (SCHA) is federal legislation signed into law in December 2024. The SCHA has three important aspects:

1. the addition of hazing to Clery reporting requirements and campuses’ Annual Security Report (ASR)
2. the requirement of campus-wide, research-based hazing prevention programs and policies
3. increased transparency regarding organizations that have violated campus hazing policy through the publication of a Campus Hazing Transparency Report.

In alignment with this law and to allow students to make informed choices about joining organizations, the university publishes a list of recognized student organizations that have been found responsible for violating Bradley University’s hazing policy. It is important to note that Bradley’s hazing definition is broader than the federal and state definitions.

Statistics reported in the Campus Hazing Transparency Report may differ from those included in the ASR. Hazing statistics include incident reports that meet the federal definition of hazing in Section 485(f) (6) (A) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C 1092(f) (6) (A)). The statistics reported in the ASR only include incidents within Clery geography and do not reflect actual findings of hazing, which are included in the Campus Hazing Transparency Report.

The report below will be updated at a minimum of twice per year, but typically within 14 days of the resolution date. The 2025-2026 report includes any findings of responsibility, effective July 1, 2025, for the year and reported no later than December 23 of the same year. The University will maintain the information on the website for five years.

2025-2026

No Incidents to Report