Anti-Hazing (Hazing Prevention)
Hazing Prevention
Big Bend Community College does not tolerate discrimination, harassment, bias, retaliation, or hazing in any form. If you feel you are a victim of hazing in any way from a student, staff, or faculty of the college, this needs to be reported.
Our goal is to provide an environment free from any of the prejudices listed above. If, at any time, you feel your rights have been violated as related to these areas, it needs to be reported to college leadership.
Definition of Hazing
As used in RCW 28B.10.901 and 28B.10.902, “hazing” includes any act committed as part of a person’s recruitment, initiation, pledging, admission into, or affiliation with a student organization, athletic team, or living group, or any pastime or amusement engaged in with respect to such an organization, athletic team, or living group that causes, or is likely to cause, bodily danger or physical harm, or serious psychological or emotional harm, to any student or other person attending a public or private institution of higher education or other postsecondary educational institution in this state, including causing, directing, coercing, or forcing a person to consume any food, liquid, alcohol, drug, or other substance which subjects the person to risk of such harm, regardless of the person’s willingness to participate.
“Hazing” does not include customary athletic events or other similar contests or competitions. “Hazing” does not include customary athletic events or other similar contests or competitions. This prohibition applies to conduct that may occur both on and off campus. In compliance with 2SHB 1751 (2022), the College will implement procedures and programs, including offering students and employees hazing prevention training and programming, implementation of a mandatory reporting procedure, creation of a hazing prevention committee, and publication of a hazing report.
Sam's Law
Sam’s Law is the name of new anti-hazing legislation recently adopted in Washington State in 2022 . It is named after Sam Martinez, a freshman at Washington State University who died of alcohol poisoning at a fraternity party in November 2019. The new law updates the definition of hazing and requires institutions of higher education to implement anti-hazing programming for employees and students. It also requires institutions of higher education (IHEs) to publish an annual report identifying student organizations, athletic teams, and living groups found responsible for engaging in hazing.
Campus Safety
Big Bend Campus Safety: The BBCC Campus Safety Department attempts to provide a safe and inclusive community where students, faculty, staff, and visitors may experience a sense of security and belonging.
Juan Loera – Director of Campus Safety
juanl@bigbend.edu
(509) 361-3111
To reach on on duty campus safety officer:
(509) 793-2286
To signup for campus emergency text alerts:
Make a Report
At Big Bend Community College, we take care of each other. Are you worried about a student? Did you see something questionable? Are you experiencing harassment? The purpose of this page is to sort reporting options so the information is routed to the appropriate office and the appropriate resources are identified.
File a report HERE.
Talk to Someone
BBCC cares about its students’ academic, emotional and physical success. The Campus Assessment Response and Evaluation Team, or CARE Team, was created to address and support individuals in distress or whose behaviors raise concerns about their well-being or that of others. The CARE team provides support to students, staff, and faculty by assessing, responding, evaluating, and monitoring reports about individuals who exhibit concerning behavior and connects those individuals with appropriate resources.
How do you make a referral to the CARE Team?
Complete the CARE Team Online Referral Form
A member of the CARE Team will review this information Monday-Friday within 24 business hours.
Members of the Team:
Accommodation & Accessibility Services
Campus Safety
Counseling Services
Student Housing
Student Programs
Student Support Services
Title IX
Types/Examples of Hazing
TYPES OF HAZING
Some activities are clearly understood as hazing, but other activities may be less clear. It is imperative to consider that any act that subjects a specific student or group of students to conditions poorer than those of current members of the organization can be considered hazing.
Violent Hazing: Behaviors that have the potential to cause physical and/or
emotional, or psychological harm.
Harassment Hazing: Behaviors that cause emotional anguish or physical discomfort in order to feel like part of the group. Harassment hazing confuses, frustrates, and causes undue stress for new members.
Subtle Hazing: Behaviors that emphasize a power imbalance between new members and other members of the group or team. These types of hazing are often taken-for-granted or accepted as harmless or meaningless. Subtle hazing typically involves activities or attitudes that breach reasonable standards of mutual respect and place new members on the receiving end of ridicule, embarrassment, and/or humiliation tactics. New members often feel the need to endure subtle hazing to feel like part of the group or team.
HAZING EXAMPLES
Examples of actions and activities which may constitute hazing include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Compelling individuals to consume alcohol or drugs.
- Paddling in any form, shoving, or otherwise striking individuals.
- Compelling individuals to engage in sexual behaviors, sexual or racial harassment, or slurs or exhibitionism.
- Compelling individuals to eat or drink unusual substances or compelling the consumption of undue amounts or odd preparations of food.
- Having harmful substances thrown at, poured on, or otherwise applied to the bodies of individuals.
- Morally degrading or humiliating games or activities which make an individual the object of amusement, ridicule, or intimidation.
- Transporting individuals against their will, abandoning individuals at distant locations, or conducting any “kidnap,” “ditch,” or “road trip” that may in any way endanger or compromise the health, safety, or comfort of any individual.
- Causing an individual to be indecently exposed or exposed to the elements.
- Requiring an individual to remain in a fixed position for a long period of time.
- Compelling an individual to be branded or tattooed.
- “Line-ups” involving intense shouting or obscenities or insults.
- Compelling individuals to participate in activities (pranks, scavenger hunts, etc.) which encourage the defacement of property; engage in theft; harass other individuals, groups of individuals, or organizations.
- Excluding an individual from social contact for prolonged periods of time.
- Compelling an individual to engage in acts of personal servitude.
Anti-Hazing Resources
Annual Safety and Security Report
The 2023 Annual Safety & Security report can be located HERE.
Non-Discrimination Statement
Big Bend Community College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, gender, disability, age, or any other legally protected status in its programs or activities. The following person(s) have been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies. Kim Garza, Title IX Coordinator, Building 1400, Office 1449 at (509) 793-2010 or kimg@bigbend.edu or the Accommodation & Accessibility Office, Building 1400, Office 1472 at (509) 793-2027 or AAS@bigbend.edu.