Hazing

Hazing of any kind is not permitted.

 

Norwalk Public Schools Administration will not tolerate hazing of any kind by a NPS athlete or coach.  Coaches are responsible and obligated to inform their teams on this policy.  A student/athlete who is involved in any hazing incident will be subject to immediate team dismissal and/or face the regular school discipline code’s consequences.

 

I.  Definition of Hazing

 

“Hazing” means any action which recklessly or intentionally endangers the health or safety of a person for the purpose in initiation, admission into or affiliation with, or as a condition for continued membership in a student organization.  The term shall include, but not be limited to:

 

1.      Requiring indecent exposure of the body.

 

2.      Requiring any activity that would subject the person to extreme mental stress, such as sleep deprivation or extended isolation from social contact.

 

3.      Confinement of the person to unreasonably small, unventilated, unsanitary or unlighted areas.

 

4.      Any assault upon the person.

 

5.      Requiring the ingestion of any substance or any other physical activity which could adversely affect the health or safety of the individual. The term shall not include an action sponsored by an institution of higher education which requires any athletic practice, conditioning, competition, or curricular activity.

 

Reference:       Sec. 53-23a, Hazing, General Statutes of Connecticut

 

II.  Reporting Procedures

 

A.    Any person who believes he or she has been the victim of hazing or any person with knowledge or belief of conduct, which may constitute hazing, shall report the alleged acts immediately to an appropriate school district official designated by this policy.

B.     The building principal is the person responsible for receiving reports of hazing at the building level.  Any person may report hazing directly to the assistant superintendent or to the superintendent.

C.     Teachers, coaches, athletic directors, administrators, volunteers, contractors, and other employees of the school district shall be particularly alert to possible situations, circumstances, or events that might include hazing.  Any such person who receives a report of, observes, or has other knowledge or belief of conduct that may constitute hazing shall inform the building principal immediately.

D.    Submission of a good faith complaint or report of hazing will not affect the complainant or reporter’s future employment, grades, work assignments, or activity participation (such as clubs, athletics, band, etc.).

 

Hazing (continued)

 

III.  Investigation Procedure

 

A.    Upon receipt of a complaint or report of hazing, the school district shall undertake or authorize an investigation by school district officials or a third party designated by the school district.

 

B.     The school district may take immediate steps, at its discretion, to protect the complainant, reporter, students, or others pending completion of an investigation of hazing.

 

C.     Upon completion of the investigation, the school district will take appropriate action.  Such action may include, but is not limited to, warning, suspension, exclusion, expulsion, transfer, remediation, termination, or discharge.  Disciplinary consequences will be sufficiently severe to deter violations and to appropriately discipline prohibited behavior.  School district action taken for violation of this policy will be consistent with the requirements of applicable collective bargaining agreements and applicable statutory authority, including school district policies and regulations.

 

IV.  Reprisal

 

The school district will discipline or take appropriate action against any student, teacher, coach, athletic director, administrator, volunteer, contractor, or other employee of the school district who retaliates against any person who makes a good faith report of alleged hazing or any person who testifies to, assists in, or participates in a hazing investigation.