Policy Statement
Barry University was founded in 1940 by the Adrian Dominican Sisters, members of the Dominican Order of Preachers, whose 800-year tradition of truth-seeking, study, and service to humanity forms the foundation of this institution. The mission and values of the Adrian Dominican Sisters inspire Barry's core commitments, Knowledge and Truth, Inclusive Community, Social Justice, and Collaborative Service, and shape every dimension of university life.
Hazing is incompatible with each of those commitments. It has no place at Barry University. This policy applies to all students, student organizations, faculty, and staff across all Barry University campuses, including the Barry University School of Law, and to conduct occurring on or off campus when a Barry University student organization is involved.
Scope
This policy applies to all enrolled students; all student organizations whether registered or unregistered and whether recognized or unrecognized by the institution; all faculty and staff; and all individuals acting on behalf of or in affiliation with a Barry University student organization.
Hazing may occur within formal or informal groups regardless of whether the group is officially recognized by the University, including but not limited to athletic teams, club sports, Greek-letter organizations, academic cohort programs, performance groups, orientation groups, and residential communities. The absence of formal organizational status does not exempt individuals or groups from accountability under this policy.
The University may investigate and address hazing regardless of where the conduct occurs when it involves Barry University students, student organizations, or activities connected to the University.
Definitions
Hazing — Institutional Definition (Student Conduct Proceedings)
For purposes of student conduct proceedings under this policy, Barry University applies the definition established under Florida Statute §1006.63:
"Hazing" means any action or situation that recklessly or intentionally endangers the mental or physical health or safety of a student for purposes including, but not limited to, initiation into, admission into, affiliation with, or the perpetuation or furtherance of a tradition or ritual of any organization operating under the sanction of a postsecondary institution. The term includes, but is not limited to, pressuring or coercing the student into violating state or federal law; any brutality of a physical nature, such as whipping, beating, branding, exposure to the elements, forced consumption of any food, liquor, drug, or other substance, or other forced physical activity that could adversely affect the physical health or safety of the student; or any activity that would subject the student to extreme mental stress, such as sleep deprivation, forced exclusion from social contact, forced conduct that could result in extreme embarrassment, or other forced activity that could adversely affect the mental health or dignity of the student. The term does not include customary athletic events or other similar contests or competitions or any activity or conduct that furthers a legal and legitimate objective.
Florida Statute §1006.63 (2025)
Hazing — Federal Definition (Clery Act Reporting)
For purposes of tracking and reporting under the Jeanne Clery Campus Safety Act, as amended by the Stop Campus Hazing Act (Public Law 118-173, 2024), Barry University applies the following federal definition:
Hazing means 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, of physical or psychological injury.
Stop Campus Hazing Act, Public Law 118-173 (2024)
Where the federal and state definitions differ, the federal definition governs for purposes of Clery Act reporting. The state definition governs for purposes of student conduct proceedings and disciplinary action.
Student Organization
For purposes of this policy, a student organization means any organization, group, club, society, association, corporation, order, corps, fraternity, sorority, varsity or junior varsity athletic team, club sports team, band, or student government in which two or more members are students enrolled at Barry University, whether or not the organization is formally established or recognized by the institution.
Prohibited Conduct
Barry University prohibits all forms of hazing. Prohibited conduct includes but is not limited to:
- Physical brutality of any kind, including whipping, beating, branding, or exposure to the elements
- Forced consumption of food, liquor, drugs, or any other substance
- Forced physical activity that could adversely affect a student's health or safety
- Sleep deprivation, forced exclusion from social contact, or conduct that could result in extreme embarrassment
- Pressuring or coercing a student into violating state or federal law
- Any activity that subjects a student to extreme mental stress or that could adversely affect the mental health or dignity of the student
- Planning, soliciting, encouraging, aiding, or actively supporting any act of hazing
- Failure to report known or suspected hazing by any individual in a position of leadership or supervisory responsibility
It is not a defense to a violation of this policy that the consent of the victim was obtained, that the conduct was not part of an official organizational event or was not sanctioned or approved by the organization, or that the conduct was not a stated condition of membership.
Organizational Responsibility
A student organization may be held responsible for hazing committed by its members, prospective members, alumni acting on behalf of the organization, or other individuals associated with the organization when the conduct is related to organizational membership, affiliation, recruitment, retention, tradition, or activity. An organization's lack of awareness of the conduct by its leadership does not constitute a defense to organizational responsibility.
Student organization officers, team captains, coaches, advisors, faculty members, and staff who supervise or support student groups are expected to actively discourage hazing, report suspected violations promptly, and cooperate fully with any investigation. This expectation applies regardless of whether the individual directly witnessed the conduct.
How to Report
Barry University encourages all members of the community to report hazing and prohibits retaliation against any individual who makes a good-faith report. Reports may be made through any of the following channels:
Main Campus — Miami Shores
Office of the Dean of Students: (305) 899-3085 | deanofstudents@barry.edu
Emergency Situations
If a student requires immediate medical attention as a result of hazing, call 911 immediately. Seeking emergency medical assistance for a hazing victim is strongly encouraged. Individuals who summon emergency medical assistance in good faith will have that action considered as a significant mitigating factor in any related conduct proceeding. Barry University's Amnesty Policy applies and is available in this handbook.
Retaliation Prohibited
Retaliation against any individual for reporting hazing, participating in an investigation, serving as a witness, or otherwise engaging in a protected activity under this policy is prohibited and constitutes a separate violation of University policy, independent of the underlying hazing allegation. Reports of retaliation should be directed to the Office of the Dean of Students.
Interim Measures
Pending resolution of a hazing allegation, the University may take interim protective action to safeguard the campus community. Interim measures may include suspension of organizational activities, prohibition of recruitment or new member intake, restriction of travel or off-campus events, prohibition of social events, imposition of no-contact directives, or other measures determined to be appropriate under the circumstances. Interim measures are not a finding of responsibility and do not prejudge the outcome of the investigation.
Investigation Process
Upon receipt of a hazing report, the receiving office will promptly review and assess the allegation. If the report constitutes a potential criminal act, the matter may be referred to local law enforcement. Reports involving student organizations will be investigated through the student conduct process. All hazing reports received by Campus Security Authorities must be forwarded to the Clery Coordinator for tracking and reporting consistent with Barry University's obligations under the Jeanne Clery Campus Safety Act. All parties involved in a hazing investigation are entitled to the procedural protections described in the student conduct process.
Consequences
Violations of this policy may result in student conduct sanctions up to and including suspension or dismissal from the University; organizational sanctions including probation, suspension of recognition, loss of privileges, or revocation of registration; referral to local law enforcement and possible criminal prosecution; and publication of organizational findings in the Campus Hazing Transparency Report. Under Florida Statute §1006.63, hazing resulting in serious bodily injury or death is a third-degree felony. Other hazing violations constitute a first-degree misdemeanor. Consent of the victim is not a defense to criminal prosecution.
Clery Act Reporting and Campus Hazing Transparency Report
Consistent with the Stop Campus Hazing Act (Public Law 118-173), Barry University tracks all reported hazing incidents from January 1, 2025 forward for inclusion in the Annual Security Report. Hazing statistics will first appear in the Annual Security Report published in October 2026. Barry University maintains a Campus Hazing Transparency Report (CHTR), publicly available on the University website, listing student organizations found responsible for hazing violations, including the name of the organization, a general description of the violation, the institution's findings, any sanctions imposed, and the duration of those sanctions. The CHTR is updated no less than twice per year and does not include personally identifiable student information, consistent with FERPA. Barry University is not required to publish or update the CHTR for any period in which no finding of a hazing violation was made.
[Link to Campus Hazing Transparency Report]
Hazing Prevention Programming
Consistent with the Stop Campus Hazing Act, Barry University implements research-informed, campus-wide prevention programming designed to reach students, staff, and faculty. Faithful to the University's Adrian Dominican mission and core commitments, prevention programming includes primary prevention strategies such as bystander intervention skill building, ethical leadership development, and strategies for building group cohesion without hazing. Programming is incorporated into Student Athlete Orientation, Student Organization Leader training, Residence Life staff and Resident Assistant training, and ongoing educational initiatives across both campuses. Programming is reviewed and updated on an annual basis.
Applicable Law
Hazing is prohibited under Florida Statute §1006.63. Violations may subject individuals to criminal prosecution independent of and in addition to any institutional action taken under this policy. The University's response to a hazing violation does not preclude separate criminal or civil proceedings.
Questions regarding this policy should be directed to the Office of the Dean of Students at (305) 899-3085.