Learn more about Merrimack College’s hazing response process.
The Hazing Prevention and Response Team is committed to Merrimack College’s mission to enlighten minds, engage hearts and empower lives. This team is inspired by the Catholic faith and the Augustinian tradition of seeking truth through inquiry and dialogue.
Our mission is to eliminate hazing in all forms by fostering a culture of respect, dignity and accountability. We are committed to education, prevention, and support to ensure that every individual feels safe, valued, and empowered. Through collaboration, transparency, and leadership, we strive to build communities where initiation and bonding are grounded in inclusion—not intimidation.
Hazing means any act, whether physical, mental, emotional, or psychological, which subjects another person, voluntarily or involuntarily, to anything that may abuse, mistreat, degrade, humiliate, harass, or intimidate the person, or which may, in any fashion, compromise the inherent dignity of the person. In addition, any requirements by a member of a Student Organization which compels another member to participate in any activity which is against College policy or state/federal law will be defined as hazing.
The act also needs to meet the following criteria:
Hazing incidents apply to student organizations, which are defined as organizations at an institution of higher education.
Examples of student organizations include:
These student organizations have two or more of its members enrolled as students at an institution of higher education, whether or not the organization is established or recognized by the institution. This covers all student organizations (as defined above) and individual students.
The Hazing Prevention Team strives to educate and train the campus community on what is hazing, who it can affect and recommending steps to minimize hazing on campus.
The Hazing Response Team strives to provide a campus environment that is safe and where all members are respected. The team’s responsibilities include supporting people who experience a hazing incident, monitoring the reporting of these incidents, and investigation processes per the student handbook.
It is important to report a hazing incident if you are the target or witness of a hazing incident. All reports are managed as sensitively and confidentially as possible. The Hazing Response Team or its designees are the essential personnel who will be involved in responding.
If this is an emergency, please contact Merrimack College Police Department at 978-837-5911.
Nick Cidado M’19, an assistant strength and conditioning coach at Boston College, will publish his first book later this month.
