Anti-hazing policy
Compliance With Stop Campus Hazing Act and Iowa Code
Iowa Lakes Community College prohibits any form of “hazing,” which is criminal under Iowa Code Section § 708.10. The Stop Campus Hazing Act (SCHA) (S.2901, H.R.5646), enacted on December 23, 2024, also requires colleges and universities to track incidents and emphasize prevention and transparency of hazing incidents on campus.
Forbiddance of Hazing
Iowa Lakes Community College prohibits any type of hazing by individuals or student organizations. With the exception of Educational Counselors who are exempt from mandatory reporting because of the therapeutic service they offer to Iowa Lakes students, anyone aware of a hazing incident at Iowa Lakes Community College must report the incident immediately (please see Reporting to the College Section).
Definitions of Hazing
For purposes of this policy, “hazing” is “any intentional, knowing, or reckless act committed by a person (whether individually or in concert with other persons) against another person or persons regardless of the willingness of such other person or persons to participate that:
- is committed in the course of an initiation into, an affiliation with, or the maintenance of membership in a student organization; and
- causes or creates a risk, above the reasonable risk encountered in the course of participation in the institution of higher education or the organization (such as the physical preparation necessary for participation in an athletic team), of physical or psychological injury including—
- whipping, beating, striking, electronic shocking, placing of a harmful substance on someone’s body, or similar activity;
- causing, coercing, or otherwise inducing sleep deprivation, exposure to the elements, confinement in a small space, extreme calisthenics, or other similar activity;
- causing, coercing, or otherwise inducing another person to consume food, liquid, alcohol, drugs, or other substances;
- causing, coercing, or otherwise inducing another person to perform sexual acts;
- any activity that places another person in reasonable fear of bodily harm through the use of threatening words or conduct;
- any activity against another person that includes a criminal violation of local, State, Tribal, or Federal law; and
- any activity that induces, causes, or requires another person to perform a duty or task that involves a criminal violation of local, State, Tribal, or Federal law.”
Iowa Code § 708.10(1)(a) is a criminal law on hazing. This law defines hazing as an intentional or reckless act or acts involving forced activity which endangers the physical health or safety of a student for the purpose of initiation or admission into, or affiliation with, any organization operating in connection with the College, regardless of the student’s willingness to participate. Under this law, “hazing” is a simple misdemeanor, rising to the level of a serious misdemeanor if the act causes “serious bodily injury.”
Definition of Student Organization
For purposes of the definition of “hazing” under this policy, a student organization is defined as “an organization at the College (such as a club, society, association, varsity or junior varsity athletic team, club sports team, fraternity, sorority, band, or student government) in which two or more of the members are students enrolled at the institution of higher education, whether or not the organization is established or recognized by the College.”
Reporting Hazing Incidents
Hazing may be reported internally to the College, or externally to local authorities. It is not required to report a hazing incident to law enforcement in order for Iowa Lakes Community College to initiate an investigation or pursue a resolution process.
Reporting to Law Enforcement
Individuals who believe they have been subjected to hazing are strongly encouraged to notify local law enforcement.
To report hazing to local law enforcement, contact:
| Police Department | Phone | Address |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency | 911 | |
| Algona | (515) 295.3515 | 121 W State St, Algona, IA 50511 |
| Emmetsburg | (712) 852.2424 | 2302 23rd St, Emmetsburg, IA 50536 |
| Estherville | (712) 362.3515 | 114 N 6th St, Estherville, IA 51334 |
| Spencer | (712) 262.2151 | 712 Grand Ave, Spencer, IA 51301 |
| Spirit Lake | (712) 336.2525 | 1607 Ithaca Ave, Spirit Lake, IA 51360 |
Reporting to the College
Incidents of hazing can either be reported anonymously through the Iowa Lakes Anonymous Reporting link or to designated staff.
To report an incident of hazing:
For Online Reporting, use the form at this link.
Iowa Lakes Administration & Staff
Trudy Ahrens,
Executive Director of HR
Title IX Coordinator
(712) 363.0433
tahrens@iowalakes.educreate new email
Former or current employees
Troy Larson,
Executive Dean of Students
Athletic Director
Title IX Coordinator
(712) 362.7915
tlarson@iowalakes.educreate new email
Former or current students
Who Can Report
Hazing can be reported by any person with knowledge of a hazing incident, whether they experienced it or learned about it indirectly.
What to Include in Report
Include as much detail as possible in the report, including:
- Name of the individual(s) or organization involved in hazing
- Date, location, and time of the event
- Who was involved in the event
- Any other individual(s) who were involved or witnessed the event (please provide contact information if possible)
- How you became aware of the event
- Any documentation, videos, or photographs available of the event
- Your name, phone number, and email address (if report is not submitted anonymously)
Retaliation
No student or employee will suffer retaliation for reporting alleged instances of hazing at Iowa Lakes Community College. College policy prohibits retaliation against any individuals for filing a complaint or participating in the investigation of the complaint. Any individual who believes they have experienced retaliation should immediately report it (see Reporting to the College).
Investigation/Disciplinary Process
All allegations of hazing will be taken seriously and investigated. Allegations against students and/or student organizations will be handled under the Student Conduct policies and procedures. Any allegations against faculty or staff will be investigated and handled under appliable employee policies, procedures, and law.
Consequences for founded incidents of hazing can include discipline up to and including suspension or expulsion for students, serious sanctions for student organizations, and termination of employees.
Prevention & Awareness Programs
Iowa Lakes Community College understands the importance of providing prevention and awareness programs regarding hazing. The following strategies will be enacted at Iowa Lakes Community College to reduce incidents of hazing:
- Student Leadership Development: Student leaders will be taught about awareness, communication, effective decision-making, and responsibility to ensure effective group conduct.
- Campus displays: Posters and information regarding hazing as well as bystander intervention will be made available to students through displays around campus and through the Educational Counseling Department.
- Freshman orientation: Students will receive training on bystander intervention and hazing prevention strategies.
- Faculty and staff training: Employees designated as Campus Security Authorities (CSA’s), which include Graduate Assistants, will be required to complete annual mandatory training regarding hazing awareness and prevention.
- Information Gathering: Iowa Lakes Community College will collect data regarding hazing experiences, beliefs, and knowledge from students in the annual Campus Climate Survey to better serve the needs of students.
Campus Hazing Transparency Report
In accordance with the Clery Act, statistical information on hazing incidents within the College’s Clery geography are included in the Annual Security Report which is distributed to the campus community each year on or before October 1st.
Consistent with applicable law, Iowa Lakes Community College will also collect information on hazing incidents involving student organizations and publish a Campus Hazing Transparency Report on its website, if there are violations to report. If there are violations, the College will update the Transparency Report with the following information:
- A statement notifying the public of the annual availability of the College’s hazing statistics in the Annual Security Report;
- Information about this Policy and Iowa’s hazing law;
- For each period of time since the last update, the following information about each finding of responsibility for a hazing violation against a student organization:
- The name of such student organization;
- A general description of the violation that resulted in a finding of responsibility, including:
- whether the violation involved the abuse or illegal use of alcohol or drugs,
- the findings of the institution, and
- Any sanctions placed on the student organization by the institution, as applicable; and
- The dates on which:
-
- the incident was alleged to have occurred
- the investigation into the incident was initiated
- the investigation ended with a finding that a hazing violation occurred, and
- the institution provided notice to the student organization that the incident resulted in a hazing violation.
The Campus Hazing Transparency report cannot include personally identifiable information.
As required, the Campus Hazing Transparency Report will be published biannually each year:
- by December 23, reporting data from the previous July 1
- by June 30, reporting data from the previous December 23
The Campus Hazing Transparency Report can be found here.
Additional information can be found in the Annual Campus Security and Fire Safety Report
It is the policy of Iowa Lakes Community College not to discriminate in its programs, activities, or employment on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, creed, religion, and actual or potential family, parental or marital status. If you have questions or complaints related to compliance with this policy, please contact a title IX coordinator for Iowa Lakes Community College, Administration Building, 19 South Seventh Street, Estherville, IA 51334, telephone: 712-362-0430, equity@iowalakes.edu, or the Director of the Office for Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Education, Cesar E. Chavez Memorial Building, 1244 Speer Boulevard, Suite 310, Denver, CO 80204-3582, Telephone: (303) 844-5695 FAX: (303) 844-4303, TDD 800-877-8339 Email: OCR.Denver@ed.gov.