Williamson College of the Trades is fully committed to a safe and secure learning environment for all of its students and is fully compliant with both the Federal Stop Campus Hazing Act (SCHA) and the Pennsylvania Timothy J. Piazza Antihazing Law, 18 Pa. C.S. § 2801on hazing. Hazing, in any form, is strictly prohibited at Williamson. Students should not tolerate such behavior, as it does not promote the core values and trust upon which Williamson was founded. Permission or approval by a person being hazed is not a defense.
Individuals and organizations found in violation of these policies will be held accountable. Students should report any concerns or incidents of hazing immediately to members of the administration, faculty, or staff. In compliance with the Federal Stop Campus Hazing Act (SCHA) and the Pennsylvania Timothy J. Piazza Antihazing Law, 18 Pa. C.S. § 2801, the college biannually (May 1st and December 1st of each calendar year) publishes a Campus Hazing Transparency Report. The report summarizes the previous six months of activity on campus. The report is published by the Office of the Provost and is available on the college’s website or by request.
Code of Student Conduct - Statement on Hazing
Hazing is absolutely prohibited.
At Williamson, the term “hazing” means any action or situation that:
- recklessly or intentionally endangers the mental or physical health or safety of an individual, or
- destroys or removes public or private property for the purpose of initiation or admission into or affiliation with, or as a condition for continued membership in, any organization or program operating either (1) as organization or group recognized by the college or (2) operating independently of such college recognition, that is, without college approval.
The term shall include, but not be limited to:
- any brutality of a physical nature, such as whipping, beating, branding, forced calisthenics
- exposure to the elements
- forced consumption of any food, liquor, drug or other substance
- any other forced physical activity which could adversely affect the physical health and safety of the individual, and shall include any activity which would subject the individual to extreme mental stress, such as sleep deprivation
- forced exclusion from social contact
- forced conduct, which is indecent, obscene, or could result in extreme embarrassment, or
- any other forced activity which could adversely affect the mental health or dignity of the individual, or any willful destruction or removal of public or private property.
For purposes of this Code, any activity as described in this definition upon which the initiation or admission into or affiliation with or continued membership in an organization is directly or indirectly conditioned shall be presumed to be “forced” activity, the willingness of an individual to participate in such activity notwithstanding.
In the case of students, sanctions may range from probation to dismissal. For employees of the college, sanctions may range from probation to employment termination. In the case of organizations or programs, sanctions may range from suspension to removal of the organization or program from the college. The prohibition against hazing applies to acts conducted on or off campus whenever such acts are deemed by the college to constitute hazing.