Student Policies & Guidelines

Hazing Policy

Johns Hopkins University remains committed to fostering a safe and respectful environment for all students, free from the dangers and indignities of hazing. The Johns Hopkins University prohibits hazing.

JHU defines hazing in accordance with state and federal law.

The Federal Stop Campus Hazing Act defines hazing as 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.
  • Causes or creates a risk, above the reasonable risk encountered in the course of participation in the institution of higher education or the organization, 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.
  • 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. (Section 2(a)(4), amending 20 U.S.C. 1092(f)(6)(A)(vi)).

In addition to the federal Stop Campus Hazing Act, Maryland has its own anti-hazing law. Under Maryland Anti-Hazing Law, Maryland Code Annotated, Criminal Law, § 3-607, it is illegal for a person to recklessly or intentionally do an act or create a situation that subjects a student to the risk of serious bodily injury for the purpose of initiation into a student organization of a school, college, or university.

The Johns Hopkins University’s definition of hazing applies to any group at the University with two or more student members, including clubs, societies, athletic teams, fraternities, sororities, bands, or student government.

If you’re not sure whether or not something happening to you or to someone else is hazing, ask yourself these questions:

  • Would I feel comfortable participating in this activity if my parents were watching?
  • Would I get in trouble if a school/college administrator walked by and saw us?
  • Am I being asked to keep these activities a secret?
  • Am I doing anything illegal?
  • Does participation in this activity violate my values or those of this organization?
  • Is this causing emotional or physical distress or stress to myself or to others?
  • Am I going to be able to get a job if I have to put a criminal arrest on my application?

Examples of conduct that would violate this policy may include but are not limited to:

  • All forms of physical activity not part of an organized, voluntary athletic context or not specifically directed toward constructive work
  • Any activity (including voluntary athletic contests and constructive work) that might reasonably bring harm to the individual
  • Paddling, beating or otherwise permitting undergraduate or alumni members to hit individuals
  • Depriving individuals of the opportunity for sufficient sleep, decent and edible meals, or access of means of maintaining bodily cleanliness
  • Activities that interfere with an individual’s academic efforts by causing exhaustion, loss of sleep, or loss of reasonable study time
  • Requiring individuals to consume alcohol or drugs
  • Forcing, coercing, or permitting individuals to eat or drink foreign or unusual substances
  • Any requirement which compels an individual to participate in any activity which is illegal, perverse, publicly indecent, contrary to the individual’s moral and/ or religious beliefs, or contrary to the Student Code of Conduct and/ or policies and regulations of the University.

Reporting

Incidents of hazing must be reported to the Office of Student Conduct, Leadership Engagement and Experiential Development (LEED), and/or JHU Public Safety.

Office of Student Conduct

Leadership Engagement and Experiential Development (LEED)

JHU Public Safety

  • Emergency: 410-516-7777
  • Non-emergency: 410-516-4600

Prevention and Awareness Programs

JHU will implement programs to prevent hazing and raise awareness among students, staff, and faculty and those shall be included in the campus safety report. Thee programs will be that are research informed, including primary prevention strategies, bystander intervention, ethical leadership, and group cohesion without hazing (Section 2(b), amending 20 U.S.C. 1092(f)(1)(L))

Campus Hazing Transparency Report

JHU will publish a Campus Hazing Transparency Report summarizing findings on student organizations found in violation of hazing standards (Section 3, amending 20 U.S.C. 1092(f)(9)(A)). The report will be publicly available on JHU’s website and updated at least twice a year (Section 3, amending 20 U.S.C. 1092(f)(9)(A)(iii)). The report will include the name of the student organization, a description of the violation, findings, sanctions, and relevant dates (Section 3, amending 20 U.S.C. 1092(f)(9)(A)(iii)). The report will not include personally identifiable information about individual students (Section 3, amending 20 U.S.C. 1092(f)(9)(C)).

Sexual Misconduct Policy

Complaints of sexual misconduct are processed pursuant to The Johns Hopkins University sexual misconduct policy and procedures.

Drug, Alcohol, and Firearms Policies for Students

The University, in keeping with its basic mission, recognizes that its primary response to issues of alcohol and drug abuse must be through educational programs, as well as through intervention and treatment efforts. In addition to providing appropriate educational programs throughout the year, each division of the University will include such programs as part of its orientation for new students.

The University further recognizes that alcoholism and drug addiction are illnesses that are not easily resolvable by personal effort and may require professional assistance and/ or treatment. Participation in such programs may be required of a student as a “condition of continual enrollment.” The University will adhere to strict policies of confidentiality for all participants in drug/ alcohol abuse rehabilitation programs as described in University and Federal regulations covering confidentiality of student health records. Maryland and District of Columbia laws prohibit the possession or consumption of alcoholic beverages by persons under the age of 21. The possession, use, or distribution of illegal drugs as defined by federal, state, and local statutes is prohibited.

Per the Student Conduct Code, the unauthorized or illegal use, possession, storage, transportation, sale, distribution, manufacture, or transfer of any weapons (including without limitation guns, firearms, shotguns, rifles, air rifles, paintball and pellet guns, BB guns, Tasers, and knives), chemicals, or explosives (including without limitation fireworks), or conduct that violates the University’s Policy on Possession of Firearms on University Premises is strictly prohibited.

Students are expected to obey the law. Individuals who violate the law, in addition to being subject to criminal penalties, may be subject to University disciplinary measures. The University will not excuse acts of misconduct committed by students whose judgment is impaired due to alcohol or drug abuse.

Open Space Policies

This policy governs any open space on campus and applies to all Johns Hopkins University students, alumni, employees, and visitors.

  • Alcoholic beverages are prohibited in open spaces at all times, except when approved as a university-sanctioned event or tradition.
  • Glass bottles of any kind are prohibited in open spaces after dark.
  • All trash must be disposed of in trash cans or removed from open space.
  • The operation of any non-university vehicle in open space is strictly prohibited.
  • Disorderly conduct, disruptive or mischievous behavior, vandalism, fights, assaults, or any other violation of university policy, the Student Conduct Code, state law, or city ordinance is prohibited.
  • All persons on open spaces, including Johns Hopkins University students and guests, must comply promptly and completely with the requests of university staff acting in accordance with their duties, including, but not limited to, requests for identification, for noise or activity abatement, dispersal, and for the surrender of beverages for examination and/ or confiscation.
  • Students are responsible for informing their guests of all university policies, in and out of buildings, and are accountable for the actions of
    their guests.
  • Skateboarding is permitted on paved and bricked paths only. Skateboarding on stairs, benches, railings, and any place other than paved or bricked paths is prohibited. Skateboarders are urged to use caution and yield to pedestrians.
  • Assembling tents and/or temporary structures is not permitted without prior approval. View the Campus Ground Use Guidelines for more information.

While voluntary compliance with open space policy is expected, where violations are found, enforcement staff may, at their discretion, issue a warning or, without warning, require any person or group of people to leave open space for a policy violation and/or for exigent circumstances.

Enforcement staff, at their discretion, may confiscate alcoholic beverages from people in open spaces. Violators of state law or city ordinances may be subject to arrest.

Students who are found in violation of the alcoholic beverage restriction in this policy may be subject to disciplinary action, including up to a $50 fine for a first violation, and may face additional sanctions based on the nature and circumstances of the misconduct incident. Additional violations of the policy will bring more severe sanctions. In addition to fines, sanctions for misconduct may range from a warning through expulsion.

Students who violate other sections of this policy, or who fail to comply with campus security officers and other staff acting to enforce this policy, may face disciplinary action.

Policy on Pets

No pets of any kind are permitted in university housing. The University also has the following policy on dogs:

  1. While on university property, dogs must be leashed, licensed, and under the control of their owners or handlers at all times.
  2. Dogs are not allowed in the common areas of any University building, including classrooms, except when being taken to and from non-public areas. (Guide dogs for the visually impaired are permitted in common areas.)
  3. Dogs may not be tied up and left unattended on any campus grounds.
  4. Owners or handlers are responsible for the removal of excrement deposited by their animals on University property.

If any infraction of these rules is observed, Campus Security should be notified (410-516-4600), and they will attempt to resolve the problem with the owner. If unsuccessful, or unable to locate the owner, the Municipal Animal Shelter will be notified to impound the dog in accordance with applicable animal control laws. Owners will be responsible for all impoundment fees.

The University strongly encourages students not to bring their pets to school unless they have cleared it with both their landlord and their roommates and are sure they have the means to care for their pets properly. Pets are often abandoned because there is no one to care for them over vacations, or the landlord threatens to evict the owner. If you do own a pet and cannot keep it, contact Animal Rescue (410) 636-1360, the Humane Society (410) 833-8848, or Baltimore SPCA (410) 235-8826 which will do its best to find the animal a new place to live.

Jay the Blue Jay Statue: Guidelines for Use

The statue of Jay the Blue Jay, located near the Freshman Quad, was created by students for students as an outlet to express themselves creatively and spontaneously and promote the Blue Jay spirit. Students use it to promote events, programming, and community spirit, and to further the free and open exchange of ideas that is a hallmark of the Johns Hopkins University community.

The following Guidelines apply to the painting of Jay:

  1. Only Johns Hopkins students, student groups, and student organizations, and authorized University staff, may paint on Jay.
  2. Painters should paint only the statue. No individual, group, or organization is permitted to paint the sidewalk, lamp posts, grass, or buildings surrounding Jay, and any individual, group, or organization that does so will be held financially responsible for the University cleaning costs incurred as a result.
  3. Painters should remove all painting supplies when finished. Any supplies left at or near the statue will be disposed of.
  4. As a medium for spontaneous expression shared by all Johns Hopkins students, with no advance permission required, the statue may be painted over by other students at any time.
  5. The University expects students to comply with the law and University policies when painting on Jay, and reserves the right to remove paintings that may violate a law or policy, such as paintings containing threats, hate symbols, or epithets directed at a specific person or group.