Hazing Transparency | Office of Academic and Community Conduct

In compliance with Section 485(f) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1092(f)), the University publishes this report on hazing incidents involving student organizations. This report will be published and updated prior to the start of each semester.

For each organization found responsible for hazing, this report includes:

Organization name
Dates of hazing behavior (when known)
Date incident was reported to the University
Investigation timeline and responsibility determination date
Detailed description of findings as required by law
Whether the hazing involved alcohol or drug abuse/illegal use
Date the University notified the organization of the hazing violation

Please note: The transparency report below only includes incidents that resulted in a finding of responsibility.

Starting with the 2026 Annual Fire Safety and Security Report (ASR), hazing statistics will be incorporated. These statistics will include all incident reports that meet the federal definition of hazing as outlined in Section 485(f)(6)(A) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C 1092(f)(6)(A)).

Please note: Statistics represent in the (ASR) are reported incidents only. For responsible hazing findings and outcomes, please refer to the Campus Hazing Transparency Report.

2024-2025 Academic Year

Husky Pep Band

Date of Hazing Incident: 02/05/2025

Date Reported: 02/08/2025

Date of Investigation: 02/14/2025

Date of Responsible Finding: 04/07/2025

Policy Violation(s): 6.9 Hazing

Alcohol/Drugs Involved: No

Sanction(s): RSO Written Warning with negotiation of outcome

Description of Hazing Incident

Following an investigation in which Huskie Pep Band cooperated and acknowledged responsibility for hazing, the University found the Registered Student Organization engaged in the following behaviors:

Pep Band members participated in a "Winter Carnival Tradition" parade through campus. When they reached the Mechanical Engineering Engineering Mechanics Building (MEEM), they climbed 11 floors of the with their instruments
Once members reached the top floor of the MEEM, the highest place on campus, they played the Husky Fight Song
Once done, members climbed down the 11 floors and continued the parade.
Members were told about the climb prior to the parade beginning. This allowed a short amount of time to make a decision about participation.
Leadership provided an elevator as an option, there is likely an implicit social pressure.
Building was locked and access to the building was not granted. The organization gained access by having someone tap them in.
Lacked a safety plan for medical emergencies where the physically demanding activity could have a potential risk for injury or medical risks
Unnecessary physical activity

Sanction Rationale:
The above sanction is deemed to be reasonable given that the organization took accountability for their actions and have agreed to work together with the Office of Academic and Community Conduct to ensure that future events and current traditions aren’t hazing. Additionally, members of the organization were able to provide documentation that they had reached out to Public Safety and Police Service to gain access to the building. However, their correspondence was never returned. It was confirm that this was accurate and shows that the organization was attempting to do their due diligence in building access. The organization shared their April 2024 review that indicated they believed they had removed all hazing or even things that could be perceived as hazing, out of their traditions. While the organization's intentions were good in their review, after the Office of Academic and Community Conduct was able to look it over, it shows that there is still a lack of understanding
what hazing is.

Conditions:
1. The organization will no longer hold the tradition of the “MEEM Climb” during Winter Carnival due to safety concerns. This is due to all academic buildings being locked during Winter Carnival and the lack of personnel availability to coordinate access to the building and still ensure safety.
1a. This does not mean that the tradition in spirit needs to be cancelled. Something else can take its place (i.e. playing in Walker together, in private, before ending the parade, etc.).
1.b Leadership will meet with the Assistant Dean of Community Conduct and the Coordinator of Student Leadership and Involvement to find a way to incorporate this tradition in a way so that it can continue and so that the following are removed: psychological pressures (implicit social pressures to “prove oneself”, not wanting to be perceived as weak or having a lack of commitment to the group, doesn’t create an unnecessary test of endurances), unnecessary physical stress (doesn’t cause an extreme fatigue, potential injury is limited, considering varying fitness levels, disabilities, and medical conditions).
1c.This meeting should take place no later than December 1, 2025 so that the organization has an idea of the path forward it may want to take for the upcoming Winter Carnival.
2. Education Session: The e-board, conductors (known as “arm wavers”), and section leaders will attend a hazing education session with Student Leadership and Involvement and/or the Office of Academic and Community Conduct. Due to the number of individual schedules that need to be considered, two sessions will be offered for members to choose from. The modality of these sessions can be determined at a later time. This session should be planned to be completed no later than November 1, 2025.