Office of Student Life

Student Conduct

Ohio Law on Hazing

Ohio is one of 44 states with laws against hazing. Collin's Law: The Ohio Anti-Hazing Act, effective October 7, 2021, makes acts of hazing a second-degree misdemeanor and acts of hazing that include coerced consumption of alcohol or drugs or abuse that result in serious physical harm a felony of the third degree. Collin's Law also requires reporting to law enforcement and prevention education and training from the university

The Ohio Revised Code, Section 2903.31 defines hazing as "doing any act or coercing another, including the victim, to do any act of initiation into any student or other organization or any act to continue or reinstate membership in or affiliation with any student or other organization that causes or creates a substantial risk of causing mental or physical harm to any person, including coercing another to consume alcohol or a drug of abuse, as defined in section 3719.011 of the Revised Code."

Hazing can subject individuals to criminal and civil penalties. For more information about Ohio's statutes and those from other states, see the interactive map provided by Hazingprevention.org.