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WesternU / Hazing

Hazing

Students and Employees should be aware that hazing is a criminal offence in both California and Oregon. Please refer to the WesternU’s Anti-Hazing Policy which includes information on California and Oregon’s laws on hazing. For quick answers and general information about WesternU’s anti-hazing policies and resources, please visit our Anti-Hazing Policy FAQs.

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Federal & State Hazing Acts

The Stop Campus Hazing Act (SCHA) was signed into federal law in December 2024. This law requires colleges and universities receiving federal funding to create a campus-wide hazing prevention program, publish a Campus Hazing Transparency Report for publicly reporting hazing incidents, and report hazing incidents in their Jeanne Clery Campus Safety Act Annual Security Report (ASR).
Oregon Revised Statutes § 163.197
California Penal Code § 245.6
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Campus Hazing Reports

The U.S. Department of Education, Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act requires higher education institutions receiving federal funds to publicly disclose and publish campus crime statistics, security policies, and safety information communicated to the WesternU community.

As of January 1, 2025, higher ed institutions are required to report crime statistics and disclose security related information by adding hazing incident and prevention program data to the Annual Security Report.

Beginning on December 23, 2025, higher ed institutions will post hazing incidents, if found to be true, to the Campus Hazing Transparency Report.
Campus Hazing Transparency Report
The Clery Act – Annual Security Report
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Report Hazing

Any member of WesternU who experiences, witnesses, or suspects hazing is required to immediately report it to the University.

WesternU provides multiple methods to report hazing concerns or allegations. Reports can be made to any of the following:

  • Online Report Form through OTIXEO
  • For Anonymous Reporting, please call the Hazing Hotline: (909) 865-2620
  • Email: OTIXEO@westernu.edu
  • Law enforcement in urgent situations or if criminal activity is suspected

    Tips for Reporting:
  • If in doubt, report it.
  • Reporters can remain anonymous
  • Provide as much detail and evidence as possible

    Reports made pursuant to this Policy do not supersede or replace other reporting obligations.
    • Online Hazing Incident Report Form
    OTIXEO@westernu.edu

    Prevention & Education

    WesternU takes a broad approach to hazing prevention that focuses not only on preventing specific acts of hazing, but also on recognizing and addressing the power dynamics that can allow harmful behavior to develop. While hazing is often associated with student organizations or initiation activities, our prevention efforts also encourage the University community to think more broadly about the misuse of power, coercion, harmful traditions, and mistreatment within academic and professional environments. As a health professions university, this includes examining how power operates within medical and clinical training and challenging the idea that humiliation, intimidation, or unnecessary harshness are required parts of becoming a healthcare professional.

    Education begins when students enter WesternU and continues throughout their time at the University. Students receive hazing prevention education during orientation programming and complete annual hazing prevention training designed to help them recognize hazing, understand University expectations, identify reporting options, and consider ways they can intervene when they witness concerning behavior. OTIXEO (Office of Title IX & Equal Opportunity Compliance Initiative) also provides educational programming throughout the academic year, including presentations for individual colleges and programs, Conference Week programming, bystander intervention training, responding to a disclosure training, and education focused on mistreatment in medical and health professions training. Faculty and staff are similarly provided hazing prevention education along with ongoing training about their reporting responsibilities, how to respond when a concern is disclosed, and how they can help identify and address harmful uses of power within the University community.

    Prevention also extends beyond formal training. Each year, WesternU participates in National Hazing Prevention Week through campus education and awareness initiatives, including informational tabling and myth-versus-fact campaigns designed to increase awareness, challenge common misconceptions about hazing, and connect community members with reporting options and resources. Throughout the year, OTIXEO continues to develop and offer prevention programming aimed at strengthening bystander skills, promoting respectful learning environments, reducing harmful power dynamics, and helping students, faculty, and staff recognize and respond to concerning behavior.

    For questions about hazing prevention or to discuss educational programming for your college, department, student group, or other University community, please contact the Office of Title IX and Equal Opportunity Compliance Initiatives at OTIXEO@westernu.edu.