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- 2023-24 Academic year
Below are the reports of Cornell hazing violations that occurred during the indicated academic year. To read the details, simply click on the name of the group, team, or organization below and open the corresponding report.
Fall 2023
No groups, teams, or organizations were found in violation during this semester.
Spring 2024
Chi Psi, Interfraternity Council
Description
The Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards (OSCCS) received multiple reports in the Spring 2024 academic semester alleging hazing behavior by Chi Psi, Alpha Psi chapter. OSCCS imposed a temporary suspension pending resolution of the underlying case.
Following an initial information assessment, the report was resolved via Alternative Dispute Resolution. Chi Psi, Alpha Psi chapter accepted responsibility for engaging in the following activities that constituted 1) Hazing and 2) Misconduct Related to Student Organizations, as defined by the Student Code of Conduct. These behaviors included the following:
- New members were sent on an unscheduled, unsanctioned trip to Syracuse, NY without advanced notice.
- After returning from the Syracuse trip, new members were told to engage in 10-15 minutes of calisthenics, including, but not limited to multiple pushups.
- New members were made to lift a duck boat as part of their new member education process.
Outcome
OSCCS and Chi Psi, Alpha Psi chapter agreed to the following educational outcomes:
- New Member Education Plan Review: Chi Psi leadership will review the New Member Education Plan for Sunday through Thursday with SFL Chapter coach. Once the New Member Plan has been approved by the chapter coach, the New Member Education process can begin. Additionally, Chi Psi leadership will work with their alumni and Headquarters liaison to identify ways to successfully restructure and implement the new 4-week New Member Education Plan for the next class of new members to prevent these hazing behaviors from occurring again. The updated 4-week New Member Education plan will also be reviewed with the chapter coach upon its completion.
- Brotherhood Workshop: 100% of the Chi Psi membership will complete the risk intervention training provided by Chi Psi HQ.
- OSCCS Chapter Meeting Presentation on hazing behaviors.
Delta Upsilon, Interfraternity Council
Description
The Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards (OSCCS) received multiple reports in the Spring 2024 academic semester alleging hazing behavior by Delta Upsilon, Cornell chapter. OSCCS imposed a temporary suspension pending resolution of the underlying case.
Following an initial information assessment, the report was resolved via Alternative Dispute Resolution. Delta Upsilon, Cornell chapter accepted responsibility for engaging in the following activities that constituted 1) Hazing and 2) Misconduct Related to Student Organizations, as defined by the Student Code of Conduct. These behaviors included the following:
- During the new member education process, new members were required to stay at the fraternity house beyond a reasonable timeframe, including scenarios where new members stayed overnight at the chapter house.
Outcome
OSCCS and Delta Upsilon, Cornell chapter agreed to the following educational outcomes:
- OSCCS Chapter Meeting Presentation on hazing behaviors.
- New Member Education Plan Review: Delta Upsilon leadership will review the New Member Education Plan with SFL Chapter coach and Headquarters liaison to identify ways to successfully restructure and implement the New Member Education Plan for the next class of new members to prevent these hazing behaviors from occurring again .
- Leadership Development with Delta Upsilon: Leadership Institute - 3 members of Delta Upsilon must attend the Leadership Institute held in August with at least 1 member being an executive officer. Emerging Leaders Program - Delta Upsilon must have at least 2 leaders attend either in Summer 2024 or January 2025.
Phi Sigma Kappa, Interfraternity Council
Description
The Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards (OSCCS) received a report in the Spring 2024 academic semester alleging hazing behavior by Phi Sigma Kappa, Gamma Chapter. OSCCS imposed a temporary suspension pending resolution of the underlying case.
A Formal Complaint was initiated, and an investigation was completed. Following an investigation, OSCCS and Phi Sigma Kappa, Gamma Chapter agreed via the Alternate Resolution process that Phi Sigma Kappa, Gamma Chapter engaged activities that constituted 1) Hazing, 2) Alcohol-related behavior, 3) Assault & Endangerment, 4) Disorderly Conduct, 5) Failure to Comply and 6) Misconduct Related to Student Organizations, as defined by the Student Code of Conduct. These behaviors included the following:
- New members were placed in a line and told to organize themselves in alphabetical order.
- New members had to repeatedly state information about themselves (name, major, hometown, GPA).
- New members had to recite the aforementioned information of the other new members.
- Lineups occurred 3-4 times during the new member process
- New members were reprimanded with calisthenics (push-ups) when they got new member information wrong.
- During line ups, if current members did not like what new members said a beer can was thrown on the floor and exploded in front of new members.
- New members had to go to the fraternity house and/or annex between 9PM-12AM to conduct brother interviews.
- New members had to complete activities during brother interviews for signatures such as playing chess and drinking alcohol.
- New members were told that they could have pages torn out of their interview books or the entire book would be thrown out.
- New members had to clean the fraternity house on Sundays between 8AM-10AM. There were two cleanings that occurred – February 3rd and February 10th.
- New members report that a deep cleaning occurred for the kitchen that took about 2.5 hours to complete.
- If new members refused, current members implied they would give the new members a punishment for not helping.
- New members were instructed on what to say to OSCCS during initial information gathering and continued to repeat the information during the investigative interviews.
- New members were not given a timeline for the new member process.
- New members met prior to interviews to establish that they were all on the same page about the interviews and how to approach them.
- New members spent the evening at either the fraternity house or annex from dinner time to 12AM everyday of the new member process.
- On Friday, February 9th, 2024 the Gamma chapter of Phi Sigma Kappa hosted a party where new members were told to help set up and clean-up after the party. A line-up occurred after the clean-up and new members left the fraternity house between 1:30AM and 2:30AM.
Outcome
OSCCS, and Phi Sigma Kappa, Gamma Chapter agreed to the following educational outcomes:
- Deferred Suspension: The deferred suspension period is effective immediately and will remain in effect through May 31, 2026.
- During the deferred suspension period, if the Respondent violates the Hazing provision of the Student Code of Conduct, an automatic three-year suspension will be imposed.
- During the deferred suspension period, if the Respondent violates any other provision (including failure to comply with the terms of this agreement) of the Student Code of Conduct, an automatic two-year suspension will be imposed.
- During the deferred suspension period, the Respondent is required to adhere to all outcomes issued by the Phi Sigma Kappa headquarters, including a membership review and any constraints on recruitment set by the headquarters as dictated in the Action Plan sent on May 3, 2024.
- Social Event Success Plan: The chapter’s social events are restricted as follows:
- The chapter is prohibited from holding social events until the Spring 2025 semester and until the required education and training included in this agreement and/or identified by the headquarters in the Action Plan sent on Friday, May 3, 2024, is completed, whichever is later.
- After the start of the Spring 2025 semester and the completion of required education and training, whichever is later, the Chapter may host events under the following restrictions:
- Spring 2025 – The Chapter may host or co-host one registered social event every two weeks utilizing Third-party Vendors under the Social Event Policy. The chapter is not permitted to host or co-host a BYOB event.
- Fall 2025 - The Chapter may host or co-host up to two registered events a month with at least two weeks of time between each event under the Social Event Policy. The Chapter may host no more than one BYOB event per month.
- Required Education and Training Before Hosting Social Events:
- Alternate Resolution Review: The Chapter will hold a required meeting with the Chapter Advisor for all members to review these requirements and the penalties for failing to meet these requirements. This must occur before any brotherhood events are discussed.
- Leadership Training: The Executive Board will be required to meet with a representative of OSCCS to discuss what it means to be a leader, as well as holding your chapter accountable.
- Hazing Prevention Training: The Chapter will follow Phi Sigma Kappa Headquarters’ training regarding hazing prevention.
- Bystander Intervention Training: The Chapter will follow Phi Sigma Kappa Headquarters’ training regarding bystander intervention.
- Headquarters’ Action Plan: The Chapter will comply with all directives and requirements outlined in the Headquarters’ Action Plan sent to the Chapter on May 3, 2024.
Sigma Pi, Interfraternity Council
Description
The Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards (OSCCS) received multiple reports in the Spring 2024 academic semester alleging hazing behavior by Sigma Pi, Mu chapter. OSCCS imposed a temporary suspension pending resolution of the underlying case.
Following an initial information assessment, the report was resolved via Alternative Dispute Resolution. Sigma Pi, Mu chapter accepted responsibility for engaging in the following activities that constituted 1) Hazing and 2) Misconduct Related to Student Organizations, as defined by the Student Code of Conduct. These behaviors included the following:
- During the new member education process, new members were required to be at the fraternity house conducting brotherhood interviews, providing rides to brothers, picking up food for brothers, cleaning and walking their dog.
- During the new member education process, new members were solely responsible for setting up a social event and cleaning up at the conclusion of the event.
Outcome
OSCCS and Sigma Pi, Mu chapter agreed to the following educational outcomes:
- New Member Education Plan Review: Sigma Pi, Mu Chapter President and New Member Educator will review the New Member Education Plan with SFL Chapter coach and Headquarters' liaison to identify ways to successfully restructure and implement the New Member Education Plan for the next class of new members to prevent these hazing behaviors from occurring again.
- OSCCS Chapter Meeting Presentation on hazing behaviors.
- HQ Policy Review: Review the headquarters policies and member expectations with the chapter.
Theta Tau, Registered Student Organization
Description
The Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards (OSCCS) received a report in the Fall 2023 academic semester alleging hazing behavior by Theta Tau, Kappa Delta chapter. OSCCS imposed interim action and paused Theta Tau’s new member process immediately.
Theta Tau Professional Engineering Fraternity Headquarters issued a cease and desist for the chapter, which prompted the start of their internal investigation. Subsequently, Theta Tau Professional Engineering Fraternity Headquarters suspended the membership of all current members of the Kappa Delta chapter and did not issue membership to the potential members participating in the new member process at the time of the investigation. The chapter was subsequently suspended by the Fraternity Headquarters.
A Formal Complaint was initiated, and an investigation was completed. OSCCS and Theta Tau Professional Engineering Fraternity Headquarters agreed via the Alternate Resolution process that Theta Tau, Kappa Delta engaged in activities that constituted 1) Alcohol-Related Behavior, 2) Drug-Related Behavior, 3) Hazing, and 4) Misconduct Related to Student Organizations or Groups, as defined by the Student Code of Conduct. These behaviors included the following:
- On the evening of Friday, November 10, 2023, Theta Tau Professional Engineering Fraternity held a Big/Little reveal where alcohol was present and/or made available to new members.
- During the investigation, information from new and current members indicated cocaine was provided and/or made available to new and current members at an after-party celebration following the Big/Little Reveal.
- During the investigation, information from potential new and current members indicated that alcohol was provided at events with underaged students and underaged students were provided and/or allowed to drink alcoholic beverages.
Outcome
OSCCS and Theta Tau Professional Engineering Fraternity agreed to the following outcomes:
- Three-year suspension with a return date of no earlier than the first day of the Spring 2027 semester.
- After the term of the suspension, Theta Tau Engineering Fraternity will complete hazing prevention training and education, along with additional recruitment requirements as part of the fraternity’s reintegration as a Recognized Student Organization.
Women's Track And Field Team, Cornell Athletics
Description
The Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards (OSCCS) received multiple reports in the Spring 2024 academic semester alleging hazing behavior by the Cornell Women’s Track and Field team. A temporary suspension of the entire Women’s Track and Field Team was imposed.
Following an investigation by OSCCS, a sub-team of Cornell Women’s Track and Field was found to have engaged in the following activities that constituted hazing as defined by the Student Code of Conduct and Cornell’s Student Athlete Rights and Responsibilities:
- On November 11, 2023, the Women’s Distance team held a social event off-campus called “Shackles and Seltzers.” Women were instructed to bring a date, or they would be paired up with men from another team. The pairs were “shackled” and had to finish drinking a bottle of champagne to have the handcuffs removed. Members shared there was indirect coercion due to social consequences for not participating.
- The Women’s Distance team held a scavenger hunt on January 17, 2024, during the winter intersession organized by team student leadership. The scavenger hunt was framed as a team bonding experience and was optional, however multiple members indicated implicit and/or explicit pressure to participate out of concern of social consequences if they did not participate. Activities on the scavenger hunt ranged from lower risk activities such as getting a photo with a coach to higher risk activities including being tased or pepper sprayed. At least one team member was reported to have had a severe reaction after being pepper sprayed.
- Prior to Fall 2023, the Women’s Distance team held a “Naked Mile” event during study period before finals. Members of the Women’s Distance Team ran a mile wearing nothing but running shoes. Members indicated there was indirect coercion due to social consequences of not participating.
Outcome
Cornell Athletics imposed the following sanctions:
- The Women’s Distance team was suspended from practice for one week following the initial investigation.
- The Women’s Distance team was suspended for one competition following the initial investigation.
- The entire Women’s Track and Field Team was placed on Probation through the remainder of the 2024 Spring Season.
- The entire Women’s Track and Field Team was required to complete mandatory education modules, including:
- Hazing Prevention Training
- Restorative process to address harm and rebuild trust in team.
- Individual reflective writing assignment related to hazing and team dynamics.
- Bystander Intervention Training
- Healthy Group Dynamics Training
- Leadership Development
- Individuals identified in leading these activities that constituted hazing were referred to OSCCS for individual adjudication under the Student Code of Conduct.
