Consequences of Hazing

Center for Community Standards

Sam's Law requires all public colleges and universities in the state of Washington to establish a hazing prevention committee to increase transparency about hazing education and intervention (see below). It also increases the penalties for hazing: under Sam's Law, hazing is a gross misdemeanor instead of a lower-level misdemeanor, and incidents involving death or “substantial bodily harm” could be charged as felonies.

The law is named after Sam Martinez, a first-year WSU student who died in a hazing-related incident in 2019. For more information about Sam's Law, visit the Washington State Legislature website.

The Stop Campus Hazing Act requires higher education institutions to include hazing incidents in their Annual Security Reports starting in 2025. Colleges must implement evidence-based hazing prevention and education programs and make related policies publicly available. The law also mandates the creation of a publicly accessible Hazing Transparency Report, updated twice a year, listing student organizations found responsible for hazing. These requirements aim to increase transparency, promote student safety, and strengthen campus-wide hazing prevention efforts.

Learn more about the Stop Campus Hazing Act.

Hazing prohibited—Penalty.
(1) No student, or other person in attendance at any public or private institution of higher education, or any other postsecondary educational institution, may intentionally haze another.
(2)(a) Except as provided in (b) of this subsection, a violation of subsection (1) of this section is a gross misdemeanor, punishable as provided under RCW 9A.20.021.
(b) A violation of subsection (1) of this section that causes substantial bodily harm, as defined in RCW 9A.04.110, to another person is a class C felony.
(3) Any student organization, association, or student living group that permits hazing is strictly liable for damages caused to persons or property resulting from hazing. If the student organization, association, or student living group is a corporation whether for profit or nonprofit, the individual directors of the corporation may be held individually liable for damages.
Revised Code of Washington 28B.10.901

Hazing can be physical or mental and can occur even if participation is voluntary. Here are some examples of activities that are considered hazing:

• Physical harm: Hitting someone or forcing them into overly tiring or unnatural physical activities.
• Psychological or emotional harm: Any activities that are humiliating, degrading, or cause psychological distress.
• Forcing consumption: Making someone drink alcohol, take drugs, or eat something they don't want to.
• Using alcohol in new member activities: Alcohol presence at any activities targeted toward new members.

Normal sports practices, training, and conditioning for athletic events are not considered hazing. This applies to intramural sports, club sports, or NCAA athletics.

Hazing is prohibited everywhere, both on and off campus.

See the WSU Student Code of Conduct

The WSU Good Samaritan Guideline ensures that students experiencing alcohol and/or drug intoxication receive prompt and appropriate attention without receiving any formal discipline for alcohol or drug use and possession under our community standards (for you and the intoxicated individual). For more information on the guidelines and what is and is not covered, see the Good Samaritan Guideline page.