Policies » Section J: Students » JICFA: Hazing

Policy Date: 01/16/2018

HSD File: JICFA
HOOKSETT SCHOOL DISTRICT
HAZING

It is the policy of the District that no student or employee of the District shall participate in or be members of any secret fraternity or secret organization that is in any degree related to the school or to a school activity. No student organization or any person associated with any organization sanctioned by the Board of Education shall engage or participate in hazing.

Hazing is defined as any act directed toward a student, or any coercion or intimidation of a student to act or to participate in or submit to any act, when: (1) Such act is likely or would be perceived by a reasonable person as likely to cause physical or psychological injury to any person; and (2) Such act is a condition of initiation into, admission into, continued membership in or association with any organization. Hazing includes but is not limited to an activity which recklessly or intentionally endangers the mental or physical health or safety of a student for the purpose of initiation or admission into or affiliation with any organization sanctioned or authorized by the Board of Education.

“Endanger the physical health” shall include, but is not limited to, any brutality of a physical nature, such as whipping; beating; branding; forced calisthenics; exposure to the elements; forced consumption of any food, alcoholic beverage, drug or controlled dangerous substance; or any forced physical activity which could adversely affect the physical health or safety of the individual.

“Endanger the mental health” shall include any activity, except those activities authorized by law, which would subject the individual to extreme mental stress, such as prolonged sleep deprivation, forced prolonged exclusion from social contact which could result in extreme embarrassment, or any other forced activity which could adversely affect the mental health or dignity of the individual.

Any hazing activity upon which the initiation or admission into or affiliation with an organization sanctioned or authorized by the Board of Education is conditioned, directly or indirectly, shall be presumed to be a forced activity, even if the student willingly participates in such activity.

This policy is not intended to deprive School District authorities from taking necessary and appropriate disciplinary action toward any student or employee. Students or employees who violate this policy will be subject to disciplinary action that may include expulsion for students and employment termination for employees.

The Hooksett School District shall provide notice to students and staff of this policy through appropriate references in the student and employee handbooks, or through other reasonable means. The Superintendent shall also make all contractors contracting with the Hooksett School District aware of this policy.

Adopted: April 15, 2008
Revised: January 16, 2018

Legal Reference:
NH Ed Rule 306.04(a) (7), Student Hazing, RSA 631.7, Student Hazing