UPDATE: Bremerton Campus is closed 4/26/24 due to an ongoing power outage. All classes/activities are canceled. Updates will be provided as more info is available.
Hazing Prevention Policy
Hazing Prevention Policy (Draft)
Hazing is prohibited within the Olympic College community. Hazing is any conduct committed as part of a person’s recruitment, initiation, pledging, admission into, or affiliation with a student organization, athletic team, or living group (collectively “student groups”) or any pastime or amusement engaged in with respect to such a student group that causes, or is likely to cause, bodily danger or physical harm, or serious psychological or emotional harm, to any student or other person attending Olympic College, including causing, directing, coercing, or forcing a person to consume any food, liquid, alcohol, drug, or other substance which subjects the person to risk of such harm, regardless of the person's willingness to participate. "Hazing" does not include customary athletic events or other similar contests or competitions. This prohibition applies to conduct that may occur both on and off campus. In compliance with 2SHB 1751, “Sam’s Law,” (2022), the College will implement procedures and programs, including offering students and employees hazing prevention training and programming, implementation of a mandatory reporting procedure, creation of a hazing prevention committee, and publication of a hazing report.
Hazing Prevention Procedure (Draft)
Definition: As used in RCW 28B.10.901 and 28B.10.902, "hazing" includes any act committed as part of a person's recruitment, initiation, pledging, admission into, or affiliation with a student organization, athletic team, or living group, or any pastime or amusement engaged in with respect to such an organization, athletic team, or living group that causes, or is likely to cause, bodily danger or physical harm, or serious psychological or emotional harm, to any student or other person attending a public or private institution of higher education or other postsecondary educational institution in this state, including causing, directing, coercing, or forcing a person to consume any food, liquid, alcohol, drug, or other substance which subjects the person to risk of such harm, regardless of the person's willingness to participate. "Hazing" does not include customary athletic events or other similar contests or competitions.
Employee Mandatory Reporting
(1) If, as a result of observations or information received in the course of employment or volunteer service, any employee, including a student employee, or volunteer at Olympic College has reasonable cause to believe that hazing has occurred, the employee or volunteer shall report the incident, or cause a report to be made, to a designated authority (Colleges should define the process and identify employees who are considered designated authority). The employee or volunteer shall make the report at the first opportunity to do so.
(2) "Reasonable cause" means a person who witnesses hazing or receives a credible written or oral report alleging hazing or potential or planned hazing activity.
(3) A person who witnesses hazing or has reasonable cause to believe hazing has occurred or will occur and makes a report in good faith may not be sanctioned or punished for the violation of hazing unless the person is directly engaged in the planning, directing, or act of hazing reported.
(4) Nothing in this section shall preclude a person from independently reporting hazing or suspected hazing activity to law enforcement.
(5) As used in this section, "employee" means a person who is receiving wages from Olympic College and is in a position with direct ongoing contact with students in a supervisory role or position of authority. "Employee" does not include a person employed as medical staff or with an affiliated organization, entity, or extension of a postsecondary educational institution, unless the employee has a supervisory role or position of authority over students. "Employee" does not include confidential employees.
Hazing Prevention Committee
The Olympic College Hazing Prevention Committee shall promote and address hazing prevention. The committee shall have a minimum of six members including a designated chair appointed by the president of the institution. Fifty percent of the committee positions shall include students currently attending the higher education institution with at least one position filled by a student from a student organization, athletic team, or living group. The other fifty percent of the committee positions shall include at least one faculty or staff member and one parent or legal guardian of a student currently enrolled at the institution. Student input shall be considered for committee membership. A student who is a member of a student organization, athletic team, or living group that was affiliated with a finding of a hazing violation within the last twelve months may not participate in or be a member of the hazing prevention committee.
Hazing Prevention Education and Training
Beginning with the 2022 fall term, Olympic College will provide students with an educational program on hazing and the dangers of and prohibition on hazing, which includes information regarding hazing awareness, prevention, intervention, and the College's policy on hazing. The College will incorporate the educational program as part of new student orientation sessions and is also available on a link on this webpage. The educational program is also posted here for parents, legal guardians, and volunteers to view.
Training: All “employees” including student employees, must receive hazing prevention training, either electronically or in person, on the signs and dangers of hazing, as well as the College’s prohibition against hazing.
Resources
Please visit the following sites for the latest news on hazing, up to date resources on hazing prevention and alternative activities for groups.
Hazing statutes: RCW 28B.10.900 – 28B.10.907
- RCW 28B.10.900 "Hazing" defined.
- RCW 28B.10.901 Hazing prohibited—Penalty.
- RCW 28B.10.902 Participating in or permitting hazing—Loss of state-funded grants or awards—Loss of official recognition or control—Rules.
- RCW 28B.10.903 Conduct associated with initiation into group or pastime or amusement with group—Sanctions adopted by rule.
- RCW 28B.10.904 Hazing—Code of conduct—Educational program.
- RCW 28B.10.905 Hazing—Prevention committee.
- RCW 28B.10.906 Hazing—Report of violations.
- RCW 28B.10.907 Hazing—Prevention education—Incident reporting.