4 minute read

Hazing

principles, seeking to exhibit the fruit of the Spirit as we walk with each other. The following process is meant to guide us toward resolution and growth.

Regarding a Personal Grievance:

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 Seek to resolve the matter in private discussion with the relevant faculty member.  In such cases where this is not possible, appropriate, or wise, students are encouraged to bring another student or theDean of Students ofthe specific campus or theVP of CBE. (If the grievance is regarding sexual harassment or assault, the student should speak with the Title IX Coordinator.) o Note: Gordon-Conwell encourages students to dialogue with faculty members directly about grievances, but should that prove to be unadvisable, the student may bring his or her concerns to the Dean of Students (or VP or EDO of CBE) without first going directly to the faculty member.  After taking this step, if resolution is not reached, the matter should be referred in writing to the Campus Dean and Dean of Studentsof the specific campus(or equivalent person). Without written details, no action will be taken.  The Dean will then refer the matter either to the Faculty Personnel Policies Committee (FPPC) or the Academic Affairs Committee (AAC) or both, depending on the nature of the grievance. In principle, academic matters are referred to the AAC and personnel matters to the FPPC. Either committee may enlist the work of a subcommittee to investigate the particulars and recommend action. When a subcommittee is used, the full committee shall act on the grievance, with written conclusions given both to the faculty member and the student (with a copy to the Campus Dean and Dean of Students). The decision of the committee shall be final; however, in the case of procedural inconsistency or new information, the matter can be appealed to the Campus Dean and, if necessary, the President.

Regarding Grades or Academic Performance:As stated above, the matter first shall be addressed by the student to the relevant faculty member. If resolution is not reached at that level, the student may appeal in writing to the Campus Dean, who will refer the matter to the Judicial Committee, a subcommittee of the Academic Affairs Committee. If the student is dissatisfied with the decision of the AAC, he or she may appeal in writing to the Campus Dean, whose decision shall be final.

Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminaryis in compliance with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts legislation prohibiting the practice of hazing.

According to North Carolina law(NCGS § 14-35): “It is unlawful for any student in attendance at any university, college or school in this State to engage in hazing, or to aid or abet any other student in the commission of this offense. For the purposes of this section Hazing is defined as follows: ‘to subject another student to physical injury as part of an initiation, or as a prerequisite to membership, into any organized school

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group including any society, athletic team, fraternity or sorority, or other similar group.’ Any violation of this section shall constitute a Class 2 misdemeanor.”

Following is a copy of Chapter 269, Sections 17, 18, and 19 of the general laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts regarding hazing. The Board of Regents of Higher Education has stipulated that this information must be distributed to all full-time students and student group leaders. Violators of these regulations will be disciplined in accordance with

harassment procedures as set forth in this handbook.

269.17. Hazing Prohibited; Definition; Penalties [Text as amended by 1987, 665 effective April 4, 1988. For text effective until April 4, 1988, see 1986 edition.]

Section 17. Whoever is a principal organizer or participant in the crime of hazing, as defined herein, shall be punished by a fine of not more than three thousand dollars or by imprisonment in a house of correction for not more than one year, or both such fine and imprisonment.

The term “hazing” as used in this section and in sections 18and 19, shall mean any conduct or method of initiation into any student organization, whether on public or private property, which willfully or recklessly endangers the physical or mental health of any student or other person. Such conduct shall include whipping, beating, branding, forced calisthenics, exposure to the weather, forced consumption of any food, liquor, beverage, drug or other substance, or any other brutal treatment or forced physical activity,which is likely to adversely affect the physical health or safety of any such student or other person, or which subjects such student or other person to extreme mental stress, including extended deprivation of sleep or rest or extended isolation.

Notwithstanding any other provisions of this section to the contrary, consent shall not be available as a defense to any prosecution under this action.

269.18. Failure to Report Hazing; Penalty. [Text as amended by 1987, 665 effective April 4, 1988. For text effective until April 4, 1988, see 1986 edition.]

Section 18. Whoever knows that another person is the victim of hazingas defined in section 17and is at the scene of such crime shall, to the extent that such person can do so without danger or peril to himself or others, report such crime to an appropriate law enforcement official as soon as reasonably practical. Whoever fails to report such crime shall be punished by a fine of not more than $1,000.

269.19. Notification by Schools of Hazing Law; Report by Schools; Disciplinary

Policy.

[Text as amended by 1987, 665 effective April 4, 1988. For text effective until April 4, 1988, see 1986 edition.]

Section 19. Each institution of secondary education and each public and private institution of post-secondary education shall issue to every student group, student team,or student organization which is part of such institution or is recognized by the institution or

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