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Michigan State University
Stop Hazing

Stop Hazing

Stop Hazing

Hazing

  • Hazing FAQs
  • Office of Spartan Experiences
  • Office of Student Support and Accountability

Policies and Laws

University Policy

Under Michigan State University policy, hazing is strictly prohibited. The University provides information regarding how to report incidents of hazing, the process used to investigate such incidents of hazing, and information on applicable laws on hazing. To view the institutional policy, visit: https://msu.public.na2.doctract.com/doctract/documentportal/08DD6D6960EB084E6C059AFF9469CAA9 (effective 6/23/2025).

Applicable Laws on Hazing

The State of Michigan has criminalized certain types of hazing at educational institutions under “Garret’s Law.” Under Garret’s Law, “a person who attends, is employed by, or is a volunteer of an educational institution shall not engage in or participate in the hazing of an individual.” Conduct that violates Garret’s Law may also violate the institutional policy. For more information on hazing activities prohibited under Garret’s Law, see MCL 750.411t.

Reporting Hazing

Anyone who becomes aware of prohibited hazing conduct is encouraged to immediately report the incident, including all observed or learned details.

How to Report:

  1. Any incident involving a crime, an emergency, or imminent threat to the health or safety of any person should be reported immediately to the police.
    1. MSU Department of Police and Public Safety (MSU DPPS)
      1. 1120 Red Cedar Road, East Lansing, MI 48824
      2. Non-Emergency: (517) 355-2221
      3. Emergencies: 911
  2. Acts or potential acts of hazing that do not constitute an emergency should be reported to the Office of Student Support and Accountability (OSSA)
    1. Office of Student Support and Accountability
      1. 556 E. Circle Drive Room 175, East Lansing, MI 48824
      2. (517) 884-0789
      3. ossa.soconduct@msu.edu
    2. Submit a report through the OSSA public reporting tool: https://msu-advocate.symplicity.com/public_report/index.php/pid469579?
  3. Concerns may also be reported anonymously through the MSU Misconduct Hotline
    1. Submit a report through the online hotline: https://misconduct.msu.edu/
    2. Anonymous calls can be made 24 hours a day, seven days a week at (800) 763-0764

Those impacted by hazing may choose to report to law enforcement, to the university, to both, or to neither as the individual may choose.

Employees designated as Campus Security Authorities (CSAs) under the Clery Act may have additional reporting responsibilities. Under the Mandatory Reporting for Relationship Violence, Sexual Misconduct and Stalking Policy, university employees and volunteers, as defined under the policy, may also have reporting requirements (https://u.policies.msu.edu/doctract/documentportal/08DBAFDC9D2AEC3A1CD680BEF116DAE5).

Education

  • Online Prevention Education
  • Hazing Prevention for Employees:

    • Employees can access the AbilityLMS Hazing Prevention for Faculty and Staff course by clicking this link, logging in with your MSU NetID and password, and launching the course within the Documents tab in the course window. 

    Hazing Prevention for Students:

    • Students can access the AbilityLMS Hazing Prevention for Students course by clicking this link, logging in with your MSU NetID and password, and launching the course within the Documents tab in the course window.

    Add-On Student Courses: 

    • In addition to the main education courses above, you can participate in the following add-on modules, which provide a deep-dive into issues specific to the following populations.  
      • Hazing Prevention for Fraternity and Sorority Life
      • Hazing Prevention for Athletics
      • Hazing Prevention for Creative and Performing Arts
    • You can access the courses below by clicking the associated link, logging in with your MSU NetID and password, and launching the course within the Documents tab in the course window.

     

    These course may contain sensitive topics. For accommodations or other questions or concerns, contact dunntame@msu.edu.

    Resources

    • MSU Resources
      • Student Affairs
        • Office of Spartan Experiences
          • Registered Student Organizations
        • Office of Student Support and Accountability
          • Medical Amnesty
        • Fraternity and Sorority Life
      • Athletics
      • Office of Civil Rights and Title IX Education and Compliance (OCR)
        • Prevention, Outreach and Education (POE)
      • Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS)
      • Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
      • Ombudsperson 

      Hazing Statistics

      ASFSR

      In addition to the Campus Hazing Transparency Report described below, MSU publishes an Annual Security and Fire Safety Report (ASFSR) which contains statistics for various Clery Act-reportable crimes, including hazing. The hazing statistics included in the ASFSR are those that meet the Clery Act crime definition, occurred within Clery Geography, and were reported to a Campus Security Authority. Hazing statistics will be included in the ASFSR beginning October 2026. You can find the most recent ASFSR here. Additionally, the Michigan State University Department of Police and Public Safety (DPPS) maintain a Clery Crime and Fire Log which is a public log of all crimes and fires reported to DPPS that occurred within Clery Geography or within the DPPS patrol jurisdiction.

      Note: The criteria for statistics included in the ASFSR or the Clery Crime and Fire Log vary from the criteria for what must be included in the Campus Hazing Transparency Report and, therefore, will differ.

      Campus Hazing Transparency Report

      The Campus Hazing Transparency Report (CHTR) summarizes findings concerning any student organization found to be in violation of MSU’s standards of conduct relating to hazing. The CHTR information will be updated not less frequently than 2 times each year and will be maintained for 5 years from the date of publication. The CHTR will not include any personally identifiable information in accordance with section 444 of the General Education Provisions Act (commonly known as the ‘Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974’). 

      December 1, 2025 - May 31, 2026

      Organization: Sigma Tau Gamma

      • Timeline

        • Date Occurred: Exact incident date(s) unknown, approximately Fall 2025

        • Date Investigation Initiated: 11/24/2025

        • Date Notice Provided to Organization of Finding: 3/18/2026

        • Date Investigation Ended: 3/18/2026

      • General Description: New members asked to stay a night at the rock and only allowed to leave for class. New members were told to wear suits, wear a pin and carry around a notebook and paddle. New members were yelled at if they could not present those items to other members. 

        • Did the violation involve abuse or illegal use of alcohol or drugs? No

      • Findings: Student Organization Policies/Hazing

      • Sanctions: Probation, Educational Sanctions x2

      Organization: Zeta Sigma Chi Sorority, Inc.

      • Timeline

        • Date Occurred: Approximately 3/17/2025-3/18/2025, additional dates unknown

        • Date Investigation Initiated: 3/24/2025

        • Date Notice Provided to Organization of Finding: 2/26/2026

        • Date Investigation Ended: 3/12/2026

      • General Description: Candidates were asked to consent to blindfolds, have their knowledge checked and attend an urgent meeting with minimal notice. Candidates were asked to share their location tracking information with the organization members and were dissuaded from sharing that information with friends and family.

        • Did the violation involve abuse or illegal use of alcohol or drugs? No

      • Findings: Student Organization Policies/Hazing, Student Organization Policies/Other Prohibited Conduct

      • Sanctions: Probation

         

      Published: 6/15/26

       

      Health and Safety

      • MSU Police and Public Safety
      • https://ossa.msu.edu/
      • Olin Health Center
      • Counseling & Psychiatric Services (CAPS)
      • University Health and Wellbeing
      • MSU Health Care
      • Civil Rights and Title IX
      • Our Commitment
      • Center for Survivors
      • Security & Fire Safety Report
      • University Policy on Relationship Violence and Sexual Misconduct
      • Notice of Non-Discrimination, Anti-Harassment and Non-Retaliation
      • Health Care Non-Discrimination Notice

      Support Services

      • Disability Resources

      Working at MSU

      • Human Resources
      • EBS Login
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      • Employee Assistance Program

      Reports

      • CARES Act Funding
      • Student Achievement and Outcomes

      Contact us

      517-844-0789

      Address

      Office of Student Support and Accountability 556 E. Circle Drive Room 175 East Lansing, MI 48824

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    • Prevention Education - By Request
    • Below are workshops provided to students, student organizations, employees, and more. Please email ossa.soconduct@msu.edu to schedule a program with our team. If you have a topic that you believe will assist your organization in addressing hazing prevention that is not addressed below, email ossa.soconduct@msu.edu.

      • Be the Change: Bystander Intervention to Promote Belonging
        • In this interactive program, participants will learn the foundational skills of bystander intervention and how to become an effective bystander. Participants will engage in case studies to apply their knowledge of the five Ds of intervention.
        • Program Length: 60-75 minutes
      • Building a Healthy New Member Process Workshop
        • Participants will reflect on the ‘why’ behind the new member process in this workshop. Participants will have an opportunity to reflect on their current process, plan for the upcoming year, and develop a plan to navigate potential challenges.
        • Program Length: 75-90 minutes
      • General Overview of Hazing Prevention at Michigan State University
        • In this program, participants will learn a brief overview of hazing, the role Garret’s Law and the Stop Campus Hazing Act (SCHA) play at the university, and how to report a hazing concern.
        • Program Length: 45-60 minutes
      • Navigating the Student Organization Conduct Process
        • In this program, participants will learn the process the Office of Student Support and Accountability (OSSA) follows when a hazing concern is reported. Participants will immerse themselves in conversations on the OSSA process, Garret’s Law, and the Stop Campus Hazing Act (SCHA).
        • Program Length: 45-60 minutes
      • Identifying & Addressing Group Dynamics Workshop
        • In this program, participants will learn signs of unhealthy and healthy group dynamics they can use to assess their own organization. Participants will participate in an activity to address unhealthy group dynamics and implement appropriate action plans to ensure positive member experiences.
        • Program Length: 60-75 minutes
      • Supporting Student Leaders as they Address Hazing
        • In this workshop, participants will learn how to best support student leaders from the advisor perspective. Participants will discuss how to balance the immediate needs of the organization they advise with the long-term growth opportunities presented by supporting a student organization beyond a report of hazing.
        • Program Length: 45-60 minutes
           
    • External Resources
      • Stop Hazing - https://stophazing.org/about/ 
        • Organization that provides hazing research and created “We Don’t Haze” documentary video.  
      • Hazing Prevention Network - https://hazingprevention.org/ 
        • National non-profit committed to preventing hazing and educating society about the harms of hazing.  
      • Inside Hazing - https://www.insidehazing.com/
        • Provides practical information on all aspects of hazing as well as the theoretical perspective of Susan Lipkins, PhD, author of "Preventing Hazing: How Parents, Teachers, and Coaches Can Stop the Violence, Harassment, and Humiliation."
      July 1, 2025 - November 30, 2025

      During this reporting period, there were no findings of responsibility concerning any student organization's violation of MSU's standards of conduct related to hazing.

      Published: 12/15/2025