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annual anti-hazing policy reminder
Dear ringers,
The MIT Guild of Bellringers takes anti-hazing laws seriously, and as per
MIT requirements for student groups, included here is the MIT ASA's
annual reminder description of MIT's anti-hazing policies (below).
In particular, taking a rope at any time, even for a peal or quarter peal,
does not constitute any agreement to ring through pain; you may stand your
bell at any time, either by asking the conductor to stand or, if that is
not fast enough, by calling "Stand" yourself. Nor is it required for full
membership in the MIT Guild or in the North American Guild to have rung
even a quarter peal.
- Margaret
-------------------------------
All MIT student groups are required to follow the Massachusetts
anti-hazing law and the MIT Non-Discrimination policy. The full texts of
these policies are copied below. They should also be distributed to any
members not receiving this email and any current or future pledges or
applicants.
If you have any questions, concerns, or want to report questionable
behavior or violations of these policies, please email
asa-president mit edu (confidential, non-archived) and/or Leah Flynn
(laflynn mit edu, Director of the Student Activities Office).
Sincerely,
The ASA Executive Board
--
Text of Anti-Hazing Law:
Section 17. Hazing; organizing or participating; hazing defined: Whoever
is a principal organizer or participant in the crime of hazing, as defined
herein, shall be punished by a fine of not more than three thousand
dollars or by imprisonment in a house of correction for not more than one
year, or both such fine and imprisonment.
The term hazing as used in this section and in sections eighteen and
nineteen, shall mean any conduct or method of initiation into any student
organization, whether on public or private property, which willfully or
recklessly endangers the physical or mental health of any student or other
person. Such conduct shall include whipping, beating, branding, forced
calisthenics, exposure to the weather, forced consumption of any food,
liquor, beverage, drug or other substance, or any other brutal treatment
or forced physical activity which is likely to adversely affect the
physical health or safety of any such student or other person, or which
subjects such student or other person to extreme mental stress, including
extended deprivation of sleep or rest or extended isolation.
Notwithstanding any other provisions of this section to the contrary,
consent shall not be available as a defense to any prosecution under this
action.
Section 18. Failure to report hazing: Whoever knows that another person is
the victim of hazing as defined in section seventeen and is at the scene
of such crime shall, to the extent that such person can do so without
danger or peril to himself or others, report such crime to an appropriate
law enforcement official as soon as reasonably practicable. Whoever fails
to report such crime shall be punished by a fine of not more than one
thousand dollars.
Section 19. Copy of Secs. 17 to 19; issuance to students and student
groups, teams and organizations; report: Each institution of secondary
education and each public and private institution of post secondary
education shall issue to every student group, student team or student
organization which is part of such institution or is recognized by the
institution or permitted by the institution to use its name or facilities
or is known by the institution to exist as an unaffiliated student group,
student team or student organization, a copy of this section and sections
seventeen and eighteen; provided, however, that an institution's
compliance with this section's requirements that an institution issue
copies of this section and sections seventeen and eighteen to unaffiliated
student groups, teams or organizations shall not constitute evidence of
the institution's recognition or endorsement of said unaffiliated student
groups, teams or organizations.
Each such group, team or organization shall distribute a copy of this
section and sections seventeen and eighteen to each of its members,
plebes, pledges or applicants for membership. It shall be the duty of each
such group, team or organization, acting through its designated officer,
to deliver annually, to the institution [in MIT's case the Office of
Student Life Programs (with exception of varsity teams and club sports,
who will deliver attested acknowledgements to the Department of Athletics,
Physical Education and Recreation)] an attested acknowledgement stating
that such group, team or organization has received a copy of this section
and said sections seventeen and eighteen, that each of its members,
plebes, pledges, or applicants has received a copy of sections seventeen
and eighteen, and that such group, team or organization understands and
agrees to comply with the provisions of this section and sections
seventeen and eighteen.
Each institution of secondary education and each public or private
institution of post secondary education shall, at least annually, before
or at the start of enrollment, deliver to each person who enrolls as a
full time student in such institution a copy of this section and sections
seventeen and eighteen.
Each institution of secondary education and each public or private
institution of post secondary education shall file, at least annually, a
report with the board of higher education and in the case of secondary
institutions, the board of education, certifying that such institution has
complied with its responsibility to inform student groups, teams or
organizations and to notify each full time student enrolled by it of the
provisions of this section and sections seventeen and eighteen and also
certifying that said institution has adopted a disciplinary policy with
regard to the organizers and participants of hazing, and that such policy
has been set forth with appropriate emphasis in the student handbook or
similar means of communicating the institution's policies to its students.
The board of higher education and, in the case of secondary institutions,
the board of education shall promulgate regulations governing the content
and frequency of such reports, and shall forthwit!
h report to the attorney general any such institution which fails to make
such report.
Text of Non-Discrimination Policy:
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is committed to the principle of
equal opportunity in education and employment. The Institute does not
discriminate against individuals on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual
orientation, gender identity, religion, disability, age, genetic
information, veteran status, ancestry, or national or ethnic origin in the
administration of its educational policies, admissions policies,
employment policies, scholarship and loan programs, and other Institute
administered programs and activities, but may favor US citizens or
residents in admissions and financial aid.