Title
Department of Athletics: Reminders About Harassment and Hazing
UNC Department of Athletics Policy Number: 00084845
A. Commitment to Providing a Harassment-Free Environment
The Department of Athletics (“Department”) at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (“University” or “UNC”) is committed to providing a harassment-free environment for all student-athletes, coaches, and staff. In furtherance of this objective, the Department has developed this Policy on Harassment.
- Any report, comment, or correspondence made to a staff member regarding safety or harassment issues (including sexual harassment, racial harassment, hazing, or other forms of harassment) should be reported as soon as possible in accordance with the Department’s “Up and Out” Incident Reporting Guidelines.
- Any student-athlete who may have concerns regarding safety or harassment issues should call and report them to the Department’s Executive Team member with oversight of Risk Management. Alternatively, the student-athlete may contact and report their concerns to a Report and Response Coordinator with the Equal Opportunity and Compliance Office (“EOC”). If there is concern about imminent harm, the student-athlete should call 9-1-1 first.
- When a harassment complaint is reported to one of the above individuals, the following response plan will be followed:
- Complaints of discrimination or harassment based on protected status (age, color, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran status, for example), including sexual violence, as well as dating or domestic violence and stalking will be immediately referred to the EOC. The EOC will follow up with the students and/or staff involved with information about support and reporting options as well as any interim protective measures that may be needed. The EOC will also discuss next steps in the process of assessing and responding to the complaint.
- If reported to the Department’s Executive Team member with oversight of Risk Management, the Director of Athletics will be informed immediately.
B. University Policy on Prohibited Discrimination, Harassment, and Related Misconduct
The University Policy on Prohibited Discrimination, Harassment, and Related Misconduct prohibits all forms of discrimination and harassment based on protected status. It expressly, therefore, also prohibits sexual violence and sexual exploitation, which by definition involve conduct of a sexual nature and are prohibited forms of sexual or gender-based harassment. This Policy further prohibits stalking and interpersonal violence, whether or not these acts are based on an individual’s protected status. Finally, this Policy prohibits complicity for knowingly assisting in an act that violates this Policy and retaliation against an individual because of their good faith participation in the reporting, investigation, or adjudication of violations of this Policy. University students and employees who violate this Policy may face discipline up to and including expulsion or termination.
More information about the Policy can be found on the EOC website.
To report discrimination, harassment and related misconduct visit the EOC website.
Reporting an incident does not necessarily mean that formal action will be taken immediately, or at all. When a report is made, the EOC Office will contact the reporting party and other appropriate individuals to assess immediate needs and discuss options.
C. Sexual and Gender-Based Harassment and Violence
The University takes all allegations of sexual or gender-based harassment and violence very seriously. Sexual or gender-based harassment includes, but is not limited to: unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal, physical, or electronic conduct of a sexual nature that creates a hostile, intimidating, or abusive environment. Sexual violence is a form of sexual or gender-based harassment that involves having or attempting to have sexual contact with another individual without consent. Sexual violence includes, but is not limited to: rape, sexual assault, sexual exploitation, and sexual coercion.
More information about consent and other terms listed here can be found on the EOC website
To access confidential support, visit the Safe at UNC website.
To report sexual and gender-based harassment and violence, visit the EOC website.
Reporting an incident does not necessarily mean that formal action will be taken immediately, or at all. When a report is made, the EOC Office will contact the reporting party and other appropriate individuals to assess immediate needs and discuss options.
For more information and resources, visit the Safe at UNC website.
D. Hazing or Initiation
- The Department has established a Code of Conduct that applies to each student-athlete participating on an intercollegiate athletics team. Among other things, this Code requires basic respect for human dignity. The Department believes that hazing demeans those who participate and is fundamentally incompatible with the standard of integrity expected by the University and its intercollegiate athletics program. In accordance with State of North Carolina law and University policy, hazing or initiations are strictly prohibited, whether or not the person has consented to participation in the activity. Thus, no student-athlete can be required, expected, or allowed to participate in any hazing activity for any reason.
- Examples of such hazing or initiation activities may include, but are not limited to, a student-athlete being:
- Yelled at, cursed or sworn at, humiliated, ridiculed, or physically or psychologically abused;
- Forced or expected to participate in tattooing, piercing, head shaving, or branding;
- Forced or expected to wear embarrassing clothing;
- Forced or expected to drink alcohol;
- Instructed to participate in calisthenics not related to required conditioning for the sport in which the student-athlete participates;
- Required to act as a personal servant to players;
- Transported and abandoned;
- Forced or expected to consume inappropriate concoctions;
- Expected to associate only with specified people;
- Required to conduct hunts or quests;
- Forced to engage in public stunts or buffoonery;
- Required to engage in or simulate sexual acts;
- Threatened or physically restrained or abused (such as being held down, tied or taped up, or confined in a small place);
- Required to appear nude or semi-nude in either public or private places; and/or
- Expected to damage, destroy, or steal property.
- The Department is firmly committed to vigilant enforcement of this Policy and, in conjunction with other entities as appropriate, will promptly and thoroughly investigate any allegation of hazing or initiation. Should a violation be found, the student-athlete(s) involved will be expelled or suspended from the team for a specified time. The Department expects captains, team leaders, and upper class student-athletes to help ensure that no such activities occur. Team sanctions will be imposed if it is determined that hazing or initiation in violation of this Policy was conducted by team members. In addition, the Dean of Students will be notified if the Department determines that hazing or initiation has occurred.
- Suspected incidents of hazing or initiation, as well as any related concerns, should be reported as soon as possible to either the Department’s Executive Team member with oversight of Risk Management.
Related Requirements
External Regulations and Consequences
University Policies, Standards, and Procedures
Contact Information
Policy Contacts
UNC Department of Athletics
Executive Team Member with Oversight of Risk Management
919-962-6000
UNC Equal Opportunity and Compliance Office
214 W. Cameron Ave.
Campus Box 9160
Chapel Hill, NC 27599
919-966-3576
eoc@unc.edu