Student Handbook
Hazing
Hazing
The Institute shall not tolerate hazing, as defined below, at or on any Institute property or at any Institute-sponsored or affiliated event, either on or off campus.
The Institute shall not tolerate hazing, as defined below, at or on any Institute property or at any Institute-sponsored or affiliated event, either on or off campus.
- Hazing means any action or situation which recklessly or intentionally endangers the mental or physical health or safety of a student for the purpose of initiation or admission into or affiliation with any organization operating under the sanction of the Institute, hereafter referred to as "Institute organization." Hazing shall include, but not be limited to, any brutality of a physical nature, such as whipping, beating, branding, forced coalitionist, exposure to the elements, forced consumption of any food, liquor, drug, or other substance, or any other forced physical activity which could adversely affect the physical health or safety of the individual. Hazing shall include any activity which would subject the individual to extreme mental stress, such as sleep deprivation, forced exclusion from social contact, forced conduct which could result in extreme embarrassment, or any other forced activity which could adversely affect the mental health or dignity of the individual. For purposes of this rule, any activity as described above upon which the initiation or admission into or affiliation with a college organization is directly or indirectly conditioned shall be presumed to be a forced activity, the willingness of an individual to participate in such activity notwithstanding.
- This rule shall apply to students and Institute organizations, including acting through other persons associated with an Institute organization who are not students.
- Violations of this rule by individual students shall be enforced in accordance with the Institute's Disciplinary Policy.
- Violations of this rule may subject an individual student to the following penalties: a. Minor violations disciplinary probation; and b. Major or repeated minor violations suspensions or dismissal.
- Any Institute organization, as an organization or through any person associated with an Institute organization, which authorizes or participates in hazing in blatant disregard of his rule shall be penalized as follows: a. Minor violations probation from operation as an Institute organization; and b. Major or repeated violations suspension or rescission of the authority for such organization to operate on college property or operate under the sanction of the college. Organizational violations shall be handled by the AVP of Student Services. In addition, hazing may subject an individual or organization to criminal penalties under Texas law.
- In determining whether a hazing violation is "minor" or "major" in scope, the primary consideration will be the presences of or potential for serious physical or emotional harm to the victim of the hazing.
- All Institute organizations are required to include the above anti-hazing rule in the bylaws of such organization.
Prohibition Hazing Memorandum
Prohibition Hazing Memorandum
To: All Students
From: Tasha Morales, Associate Vice President of Student Services
Re: Hazing Memorandum for Fall 2023 Semester
Date: August 7, 2023
Lamar Institute of Technology (LIT) is committed to academic achievement, personal freedom and integrity of all individuals. LIT does not tolerate behavior by individual or organizations that contradict these values.
Hazing on the part of students, faculty or staff is strictly forbidden, whether on or off campus. LIT students are expected to be partners by creating and maintaining standards within student groups, teams and organizations that are conducive to personal growth and development. If student groups, teams and organizations are to play an integral part in the LIT's plan, they must set standards that encourage each individual to achieve his or her greatest potential. LIT will take disciplinary action against individuals and/or groups who are involved in hazing activities. Such disciplinary action may be taken independently of state or local prosecutorial actions.
The Texas Legislature enacted an anti-hazing law in 1987. The state law provides penal sanctions in the event of a conviction of hazing. According to this law, individuals or organizations engaging in hazing could be subject to fines and charged with a criminal offense. Recent changes in the law (Texas Higher Education Code, Higher Education, Hazing, Section 51.936) require that we send this notice which includes a "Hazing Report" two weeks prior to the first day of classes during the long-term semesters.
Definition
Texas Education Code, Section 37.151 State law defines hazing as any intentional, knowing or reckless act, occurring on or off the campus of an educational institution, by one person alone or acting with others, directed against a student, that endangers the mental or physical health or safety of a student for the purpose of pledging, being initiated into, affiliating with, holding office in, or maintaining membership in an organization whose members are or include students at an educational institution. The term includes but is not limited to:
- Any type of physical brutality such as whipping, beating, striking, branding, electronic shocking, placing of a harmful substance on the body, or similar activity;
- Any type of physical activity such as sleep deprivation, exposure to the elements, confinement in a small space, calisthenics, or other activity that subjects the student to an unreasonable risk of harm or that adversely affects the mental or physical health or safety of the student;
- Any activity involving consumption of a food, liquid, alcoholic beverage, liquor, drug, or other substance which subjects the student to an unreasonable risk or harm or which adversely affects the mental or physical health or safety of the student;
- Any activity that intimidates or threatens the student with ostracism that subjects the student to extreme mental stress, shame, humiliation, or that adversely affects the mental health or dignity of the student or discourages the student from entering or remaining registered in an educational institution, or that may reasonably be expected to cause a student to leave the organization or the institution rather than submit to acts described in this subsection; and
- Any activity that induces, causes or requires the student to perform a duty or task which involves a violation of the Penal Code or Code of Student Conduct.
Personal Hazing Offense
A person commits a hazing offense if the person:
- Engages in hazing
- Solicits, encourages, directs, aids, or attempts to aid another in engaging in hazing
- Intentionally, knowingly or recklessly permits hazing to occur
- Has firsthand knowledge of the planning of a specific hazing incident involving a student in an educational institution, or has firsthand knowledge that a specific hazing incident has occurred, and knowingly fails to report said knowledge in writing to the Title IX Coordinator & Compliance Officer or Lamar University Police Department.
- The offense of failing to report is a Class B misdemeanor.
Penalties for Hazing
- Any other offense under this section that does not cause serious bodily injury to another is a Class B misdemeanor.
- Any other offense under this section that causes serious bodily injury to another is a Class A misdemeanor.
- Any other offense under this section that causes the death of another is a state jail felony.
- Except if an offense causes the death of a student, in sentencing a person convicted of an offense under this section, the court may require the person to perform community service, subject to the same conditions imposed on a person placed on community supervision under Chapter 42A (Community Supervision), Section 11, Article 42.12, Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, for an appropriate period of time in lieu of confinement in county jail or in lieu of a part of the time the person is sentenced to confinement in county jail.
Organization Hazing Offense Texas Education Code Section 37.153 Organization Hazing Offense
- An organization commits an offense if the organization condones or encourages hazing or if an officer or any combination of members, pledges, or alumni of the organization commit or assist in the commission of hazing.
- An offense under this section is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not less than $5,000 nor more than $10,000; or if the court finds that the offense caused personal injury, property damage, or other loss, a fine of not less than $5,000 nor more than double the amount lost or expenses incurred because of the injury, damage, or loss.
The law does not restrict the right of LIT to enforce its own rules against hazing, and take disciplinary action for conduct that constitutes hazing regardless of whether public authorities prosecute students under the state hazing law.
- Hazing with or without the consent of the student is prohibited by LIT. Both the individual(s) inflicting the hazing and the person submitting to the hazing are subject to disciplinary action. The fact that an individual consented to or acquiesced in a hazing activity is not a defense to prosecution of an offense under the hazing law, and neither will it be under LIT’s disciplinary process
- Initiations or activities by organizations may not include any feature which is dangerous, harmful or degrading to the student. A violation of this prohibition renders both the organization and participating individuals subject to discipline
The disciplinary actions assigned/determined in a particular case will vary dependent on the nature of the conduct involved, the circumstances and conditions that existed at the time and the results that followed such conduct. Possible Actions include but are not limited to:
- Disciplinary warning
- Restricted Privileges
- Required participation in specific educational project
- Restitution
- Disciplinary probation
- Withholding grades, official transcript or degree
- Bar against readmission or drop from current enrollment and bar against readmission
- Suspension of rights and privileges
- Suspension
- Deferred Expulsion
- Expulsion
- Revocation of degree, denial of degree and/or withdrawal of diploma
To report an act of hazing, please contact the Title IX Coordinator/Compliance Officer (409) 247-4838 or titleix@email.com or LUPD at (409)880-8777
Disciplined Organizations
In accordance with Texas Education Code, Section 51.936(c)(2), the following organization(s) have been found responsible and disciplined for hazing or convicted of hazing as of the last three years:
Hazing Report
Disciplined Organizations
In accordance with Texas Education Code, Section 51.936(c)(2), the following organization(s) have been found responsible and disciplined for hazing or convicted of hazing as of the last three years:
In accordance with Texas Education Code, Section 51.936(c)(2), the following organization(s) have been found responsible and disciplined for hazing or convicted of hazing as of the last three years:
| Semester | Name of Organization | Disciplined |
| Spring 2023 | N/A | No Violations |
| Fall 2022 | N/A | No Violations |
| Spring 2022 | N/A | No Violations |
| Fall 2021 | N/A | No Violations |
| Spring 2021 | N/A | No Violations |
| Fall 2020 | N/A | No Violations |
| Spring 2020 | N/A | No Violations |