Stop Campus Hazing Act Transparency Report

About the Stop Campus Hazing Act

Columbia University is committed to fostering a safe and respectful campus environment. That includes educating our community members on the dangers of hazing and being transparent in our reporting of hazing incidents at Columbia. Columbia believes that all students, faculty and staff should be able to participate in student organizations such as clubs, teams, fraternities and sororities, and other student groups without fear of the harm and intimidation that comes with hazing. 

The Stop Campus Hazing Act is a federal law enacted to enhance transparency and accountability in higher education institutions by expanding the Jeanne Clery Campus Safety Act. The Act requires universities to publicly report hazing incidents both in the Annual Security and Fire Safety Report and in a Campus Hazing Transparency Report. More information on the Campus Hazing Transparency Report is available below. The Act also requires the university to implement a university-wide hazing policy and mandates the creation of educational programing on hazing prevention. Columbia has aligned its longstanding anti-hazing efforts with the requirements of the Act.

Columbia’s Anti-Hazing Policy  

Columbia University’s Anti-Hazing policy applies to all CU students, faculty, and staff and covers conduct that occurs on or off campus, including online activity. Below you can find important information about this policy. To see the entire policy, please visit the Anti-Hazing policy page on the University Policies website.  

The Anti-Hazing policy prohibits the following conduct: 

• Engaging in or assisting hazing incidents or activities;
• Failing to report hazing incidents or activities when required to do so;
• Retaliating against individuals who report hazing incidents or activities.  

For the purposes of this policy, Hazing is defined as any intentional, knowing or reckless act committed by a person (whether individually or in concert with other persons) against another person or persons regardless of the willingness of such other person or persons to participate, that: 

• is committed in the course of an initiation into, an affiliation with, or the maintenance of membership in, a student organization; and
• causes or creates a risk, above the reasonable risk encountered in the course of participation in the institution of higher education or the organization (such as the physical preparation necessary for participation in an athletic team), of physical or psychological injury including:
  • whipping, beating, striking, electronic shocking, placing of a harmful substance on someone’s body, or similar activity;
  • causing, coercing, or otherwise inducing sleep deprivation, exposure to the elements, confinement in a small space, extreme calisthenics, or other similar activity;
  • causing, coercing, or otherwise inducing another person to consume food, liquid, alcohol, drugs, or other substances;
  • causing, coercing, or otherwise inducing another person to perform sexual acts;
  • any activity that places another person in reasonable fear of bodily harm through the use of threatening words or conduct;
  • any activity against another person that includes a criminal violation of local, State, or Federal law; and
  • any activity that induces, causes, or requires another person to perform a duty or task that involves a criminal violation of local, State, or Federal law. 

For the purposes of the anti-hazing policy, a Student Organization, is an organization at Columbia University (such as a club, society, association, varsity or junior varsity athletic team, club sports team, fraternity, sorority, band, or student government) in which two or more of the members are students enrolled at the University, whether or not the organization is established or recognized by the University. Organizations at affiliated institutions will meet the policy’s definition of student organization, provided two or more of the members are students enrolled at the University. 

Under the Jeanne Clery Campus Safety Act, all Campus Security Authorities are required to report incidents of hazing to Columbia University Public Safety’s Director of Clery Act Compliance. Additionally, all CU community members are encouraged to report incidents of potential hazing by visiting University Life’s Report a Concern webpage. 

For additional information on the investigation of hazing allegations and the potential sanctions that can occur when individuals or student organizations are found responsible for hazing, please visit the Anti-Hazing policy page on the University Policies website. 

Stop Campus Hazing Transparency Report

In accordance with the Stop Campus Hazing Act, Columbia University Public Safety has released its first Campus Hazing Transparency Report (found below). The initial report includes information on findings from July 1, 2025 through December 19, 2025. This and future reports will: 

• Include information about any and all reported hazing incidents that were found to be in violation of the university’s Anti-Hazing policy.
• Include required information such as the nature of the hazing incident, date and time the hazing occurred, and sanctions placed on those found responsible for hazing through the University’s disciplinary procedures.
• Be updated regularly and at least twice a year as necessary, as part of ongoing transparency and prevention efforts. 

We encourage all members of the Columbia community to stay informed and engaged in promoting a safer campus culture. 

At this time, there were no findings of responsibility for hazing violations between July 1, 2025 and December 19, 2025. Our next update will be published on June 19, 2026.

Resources and Support for Victims of Hazing 

Columbia University has published a list of campus-wide resources for those who have experienced issues such as hazing, harassment, or similar misconduct.    

Confidential support is available through the University’s Columbia Health Counseling and Psychological Services (CPS), Student Health on Haven Counseling Services, and other designated confidential resources. A full list of student resources is maintained on University Life’s Emergency Mental Health & Urgent Concerns.

If you have additional questions about the Jeanne Clery Campus Safety Act or the Stop Campus Hazing Act, please do not hesitate to contact us. You can reach the Director of Clery Act Compliance by emailing [email protected]