Retaliation

Retaliation, in relation to hazing, refers to any adverse action taken against an individual because they:

• Reported a hazing incident.
• Participated in a hazing investigation (e.g., as a complainant or a respondent).
• Acted as a witness in a hazing-related matter.

Essentially, it's any negative consequence or harmful act directed at someone because they engaged in the process of addressing hazing. This can manifest in various ways, including:

• Social ostracism or exclusion from a group.
• Verbal abuse, threats, or intimidation.
• Academic interference.
• Physical harm or threats of physical harm.
• Damage to property.
• Unfair treatment in group activities or decision-making.

The policy explicitly states that "Retaliation is a separate and serious violation; confirmed incidents will result in additional disciplinary action." This means that if someone is found to have retaliated, they will face disciplinary consequences in addition to any sanctions they might receive for hazing itself (if they were also involved in hazing). The severity of this "additional disciplinary action" would depend on the nature and impact of the retaliation, but it underscores that the University views retaliation with extreme seriousness.