OFFICE OF THE VICE CHANCELLOR FOR
STUDENT AFFAIRS AND CAMPUS LIFE

October 9, 2025

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ALL STUDENTS AT UC SAN DIEGO

University Policy on Hazing

UC San Diego is committed to providing a safe educational environment for everyone and does not tolerate hazing by any group or individual. Hazing violates Federal and State laws, UC Regents' policies, University regulations, and administrative rules. All students and registered student organizations are required to follow these laws and policies to prevent, prohibit, or report hazing.

What Constitutes Hazing?

California Education Code 66309(c)(1) defines hazing as, “any method of initiation or preinitiation into an affiliated student organization or student body, which the initiator knows or should have known is likely to cause serious bodily injury to any former, current, or prospective student of any school, community college, college, university, or other educational institution in this state. The term “hazing” does not include customary athletic events or school-sanctioned events.”

California Penal Code 245.6(b) defines hazing as, “any method of initiation or preinitiation into a student organization or student body, whether or not the organization or body is officially recognized by an educational institution, which is likely to cause serious bodily injury to any former, current, or prospective student of any school, community college, college, university, or other educational institution in this state. The term “hazing” does not include customary athletic events or school-sanctioned events.”

The University of California Policies Applying to Campus Activities, Organizations and Students Section 102.12 states, “participation in hazing or any intentional, knowing, or reckless act, activity, or method committed by a person (whether individually or in concert with other persons) against another person or persons, including current, former, or prospective students, regardless of the willingness of such other person or persons to participate, that is committed in the course of a preinitiation, an initiation into, an affiliation with, or the maintenance of membership in, an official or unofficial student organization or other student group that:
          i. 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 personal degradation or disgrace, and/or 
          ii. the person knew or should have known was likely to cause serious bodily injury.

UC San Diego PPM 200-28 includes the following definitions:

  • Student Group
    • All Student Organizations as defined in PPM 160-10
    • All Registered Campus Organizations as defined in PACAOS 14.30
    • Any organization at an institution of higher education (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 institution of higher education, whether or not the organization is established or recognized by the institution

Prohibited Activities

All allegations of hazing may be subject to criminal investigation regardless of perceived severity and including virtual or remote activities. Hazing can be subtle, harassing, or violent, activities in violation of the University’s Standards of Conduct.

Subtle behaviors that emphasize a power imbalance between new members or rookies and other members of a group or team:

  • Personal servitude (e.g., forcing another person to wash cars, carry books and equipment, cook meals, clean rooms, etc.)
  • Requiring new members or rookies to memorize information not explicitly required by the national new member process
  • Socially isolating new members or rookies
  • Requiring new members or rookies to refer to other members by titles or honorifics (e.g., Mr., Sir, Miss, etc.)
  • Expecting specific items to always be in a new member’s or rookie's possession (e.g., pledge pins, hats, new member binder, etc.)

Harassing behaviors which cause emotional anguish and/or physical discomfort in order to feel like part of the group:

  • Requiring new members or rookies to wear embarrassing or humiliating attire
  • Forced or coerced participation in calisthenics, push-ups, sit-ups, running, or other strenuous activities
  • Tuck-ins or Sleep deprivation
  • Required participation in quests, scavenger or treasure hunts, or road trips 
  • Other potentially degrading activities such as line-ups, mock trials, or interrogations

Violent behaviors with the potential to cause physical, psychological, or emotional harm:

  • Forced or coerced consumption of food, liquid, alcohol, controlled substances, or other substances
  • Physical abuse (e.g., pushing, hitting, paddling, exposure to cold or heat, etc.)
  • Verbal or physical threats
  • Public nudity
  • Member ditches, drop-offs, abductions, or kidnapping

Legal Consequences

Hazing that results in serious bodily injury may be charged as either a felony or a misdemeanor, and may result in one year or more of imprisonment, criminal probation, community service, and fines of up to $5,000. This does not preclude an individual from being charged with additional criminal offenses (e.g., an incident of “violent hazing” may also lead to charges for assault and battery).

In addition, a civil action may be brought by the victim or the victim’s family against the organization and/or its individual members. Principal members of student organizations may be held personally liable for monetary damages.

University Sanctions

If individual students and/or Registered Student Organizations accept responsibility or are found responsible for hazing, sanctions can potentially include suspension or expulsion from the University of California system. Other sanctions may include non-academic disciplinary probation, exclusion from University activities or grounds, mandatory community service, and/or participation in educational intervention programs.

We encourage you to make informed decisions about opportunities for involvement. Any violation of the University’s Standards of Conduct by Registered Student Organizations will result in the publication of the violation(s) on the Center for Student Accountability, Growth, and Education (SAGE) website. These publicly accessible Student Organization Case Status Summaries include a short summary of the incident, the alleged violation(s), and the applicable sanctions.

Reporting Acts of Hazing

Any person may report alleged Hazing, including anonymously, as follows:

  1. Hazing conduct by student(s) or student group(s) may be reported to the Center for Student Accountability, Growth and Education (SAGE) by:
    1. Completing an incident report online at sage.ucsd.edu, OR
    2. Calling (858) 534-6225
  2. Hazing crimes committed by any person may be reported to the UC San Diego Police Department by:
    1. Calling 9-1-1 (in case of an emergency) or (858) 534-HELP, OR
    2. Filing a Clery Campus Security Authority Report Form available at Clery.ucsd.edu.
  3. Hazing conduct by Academic Appointees, Staff, and Volunteers (including student employees acting in the course of their employment) may be reported by:
    1. Filing a complaint online at UC San Diego Abusive Conduct in the Workplace Submission.
  4. Hazing conduct involving any individual may also be reported by:
    1. Reporting the activities to the Locally Designated Official at LDO@ucsd.edu, OR
    2. Submitting a complaint in writing via the UC Whistleblower Hotline, OR
    3. Calling 800-403-4744.

Student Involvement

There are many opportunities to get involved at UC San Diego, including nearly 700 registered student organizations, student governments, college and graduate councils, community engagement opportunities, sports and recreation clubs, and more.

UC San Diego is also home to more than 40 recognized sororities and fraternities that offer opportunities to cultivate bonds with students who have similar values, serve the community, and develop leadership skills inside and outside of the chapter experience. To help students make informed decisions about their involvement – and in accordance with enactment of the Fraternity and Sorority Transparency Act – UC San Diego collects data and posts annual Community Performance Reports, which include information specific to campus-recognized fraternities and sororities.

There are many benefits to involvement, including increased sense of belonging, expanding leadership skills, greater well-being, and stronger community. Together, we can ensure that all opportunities are safe and healthy for all UC San Diego students.

For More Information

Visit hazing.ucsd.edu for more information on hazing. For further information or to clarify which activities may constitute hazing and are prohibited by California Law or University policy, contact The Center for Student Accountability, Growth, and Education at (858) 534- 6225, the Center for Student Involvement at (858) 534-0501, or Student Legal Services at (858) 534-4374.

Alysson M. Satterlund
Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs and Campus Life

University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA, 92093