Carnegie Mellon’s Bi-Annual Hazing Report
Dear Carnegie Mellon Students,
In accordance with Pennsylvania’s Timothy J. Piazza Antihazing Law, Carnegie Mellon University files a bi-annual report of hazing violations that have occurred over the previous five years. Carnegie Mellon has filed its December 2023 report. The current hazing report, as well as hazing reports for past reporting periods, are available on the CMU Police reports website.
As we publish our December report, we write to reaffirm the university’s commitment that all individuals have the right to be treated with dignity and respect, and any actions that endanger the mental or physical health or safety of our students are contrary to our values and will not be tolerated.
To reinforce these expectations, the university has a comprehensive policy, education program and procedures to address the threat of hazing in our community. The full text of the policy can be found in The Word.
To highlight some key elements of the policy:
- Hazing can occur when joining an organization or to maintain status in an organization.
- One cannot consent to hazing activity.
- Hazing risks physical and/or mental well-being.
- Hazing is a violation of CMU policy and Pennsylvania law. The university will vigorously investigate any reports of alleged hazing and may also elect to refer the matter to the Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office. University disciplinary action and criminal charges can be pursued consistent with our community’s standards and the law.
- An individual contacted emergency services personnel based on a reasonable belief that another individual needed immediate medical attention, which had not otherwise been sought, to prevent death or serious bodily injury;
- The individual seeking assistance provided their own name to the emergency services personnel; and
- The individual requesting assistance remained with the individual believed to be in need of medical assistance until emergency services personnel arrived and the need for the concerned individual's presence had ended.
Those seeking assistance will be assured that the university will likewise not pursue further university action against any individual or organization involved in such an incident when appropriate medical attention is sought. Students who are directly involved in attending to the compromised student until help arrives will also be granted amnesty from university action. Students involved in an incident for which amnesty is granted will be provided appropriate educational or developmental interventions.
AMAP also provides amnesty from the student conduct process relating to alcohol and drug abuse if these conditions are satisfied. If you feel that an immediate threat to an individual’s wellbeing exists, please contact University Police at 412-268-2323.
Carnegie Mellon provides a number of updated resources on the hazing prevention and response website, which includes prevention resources, reporting guidance and educational information. The website also includes all bi-annual reports that have been filed by the university.
We aspire for Carnegie Mellon to embody a community of care, support and respect. Ours must be a welcome, inclusive and safe environment for all, and we will work together to ensure that is the reality. Thank you for joining us in this pursuit.
Regards,
Gina Casalegno
Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students
Carnegie Mellon University
Josh Centor, Ph.D.
Associate Vice President of Student Affairs
Director of Athletics, Physical Education and Recreation
Carnegie Mellon University