WCU Hazing Prevention

Start with three simple things:

1. Learn the definition so you can spot it.
2. Look for warning signs in your student’s behavior and routines.
3. Know how and where to report concerns (and that you can often report anonymously).

Please spend some time on this website to learn more. If you have any additional questions please do not hesitate to reach out to the Office of Student Conduct StudentConduct@wcupa.edu.

There are many governing policies that define hazing. WCU has a specific policy in which hazing is defined.  

Our Anti Hazing policy states Hazing is “HAZING – A person, individually or with others, or organization, who intentionally, knowingly or recklessly, for the purpose of initiating, admitting or affiliating an individual into or with an organization, or for the purpose of continuing or enhancing an individual’s membership or status in an organization, regardless of the willingness of such other person or persons to participate causes, coerces or forces an individual to do.” WCU’s Anti Hazing Policy lists a variety of behaviors that are strictly prohibited and identified as hazing including requirements of a physical, emotional/psychological, or sexual nature or involve consumption of food, alcohol, or substances.  

Tradition should be safe, voluntary, and respectful — it reinforces identity and community. Tradition includes shared community values and an absence of power.

Hazing is coercive, degrading, or dangerous, and it’s not made safe simply because it’s “always been done.” Consent is not a defense — peer pressure and power dynamics eliminate genuine consent in organizational contexts. If a practice risks harm, humiliation, or forces someone to do something they’re uncomfortable with, it’s hazing, not a harmless tradition.

Yes — many hazing acts break university policy and may also be criminal offenses. In the state of Pennsylvania, the law specifically defines hazing and can criminalize activities that endanger health or involve forced consumption, brutality, or law-breaking acts in connection with initiation. That means a campus investigation can be followed by criminal investigation and charges in serious cases.

Watch for these common signs:

• Changes in mood, withdrawal, anxiety, or depression.
• Unexplained injuries, sleep loss, or extreme fatigue.
• Secrecy about activity times/locations, sudden change in schedule, or avoidance of family.
• New rules about phones, social media, or being prevented from contacting family.
• Declining grades, missed classes, or unusual financial requests (fines, fees).

If you see a combination of these, take it seriously — even subtle psychological hazing matters. Campus counseling and health pages describe how victims can show emotional and physical signs.

There are a variety of ways that you can reach out to someone at West Chester University if you are concerned about a membership process.  

Ways to Report Online

• Submit a report through WCU conduct form
• Email studentconduct@wcupa.edu

Ways to Report via Phone

• Student Safety Texting Line: 256-WCU-CARE (256-928-2273)
• University Police: 610-436-3311
• WCU Hazing Tip Line: 610-436-3100

If you seek to report anonymously, please use the following resources.

• Text 256-WCU-CARE (256-928-2273)
• Submit a report through WCU conduct form
• WCU Hazing Tip Line: 610-436-3100

We understand that you may not want your student to know if the report came from you. However, we are limited in what we can do and what we can investigate if we aren’t able to follow up and ask questions. Please consider reporting your information so we are able to follow up accordingly. We would much rather have an anonymous report than no report at all.

Multiple offices are consulted to determine the best course of action after a hazing report is received including the Dean of Students Office, Office of Equity and Compliance, Office of Student Conduct, and the advising office to the reported organization. After discussion, the report is then assessed to understand if an interim suspension or action needs to be taken by the advising department. Depending on the nature of the report, further referrals might need to be made to local authorities or other parties. The received report then navigates through the Student Code of Conduct process.

Supporting students is our priority. Our staff are ready to support students who have been subjected to hazing behaviors. Our main resources include the WCU Counseling Center and the CARE Team. If you are concerned about a student who has been a victim of hazing and needs support, please report that student to our CARE team here.

Parents can have a big, positive influence. Practical steps:

• Talk early and often. Ask about the organization’s recruitment process, what “new member” activities look like, and who supervises them. Set clear family expectations about safety and behavior.
• Encourage transparency. Ask for schedules, names of advisors, and encourage getting to know other members, advisors, and alumni.
• Teach refusal and boundaries. Role-play how to say “no,” how to leave an unsafe situation, and how to contact campus safety.
• Promote bystander action. Encourage your student to report unsafe behavior and to support peers. Resources like StopHazing.org offer bystander tools and talking points.
• Stay connected to the university. Know how to contact Fraternity & Sorority Life, Student Conduct, Counseling Services, and Public Safety.