Campus Hazing Transparency Report

WVSOM Commitment to Campus Safety

In accordance with the Higher Education Act of 1965, Jeanne Clery Campus Safety Act, The West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine (WVSOM) has established the Campus Hazing Transparency Report. This report reflects WVSOM’s ongoing commitment to fostering a safe, respectful, and supportive campus environment.

WVSOM actively monitors, investigates, and responds to all reported allegations of hazing in accordance with institutional policy and applicable law.

WVSOM began collecting hazing data and statistics in January 2025. This information will be included in the 2026 Annual Security and Fire Safety Report.

The 2025 Campus Hazing Transparency Report is a newly developed document that provides data information regarding Hazing incidents that were determined to be violations of WVSOM policy ST-07.

Stop Campus Hazing Act Overview

The Stop Campus Hazing Act, signed into law, December 23, 2024, represents a significant advancement in protections for students and accountability for institutions of higher education. This bipartisan legislation, amends the Jeanne Clery Campus Safety Act (formerly the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crimes Statistics Act) and establishes new federal requirements for the reporting and prevention of hazing.

Under this law, colleges and universities must:

  • Publicly disclose hazing violations by student organizations,
  • Implement comprehensive education and prevention programs, and
  • Maintain a publicly accessible Campus Hazing Transparency Report

These measures reflect years of advocacy by families, organizations, researchers, subject matter experts, and lawmakers, with guidance and leadership from the Clery Center and StopHazing.

Background

In 2007, Gary DeVercelly, Jr., a student at Rider University, died following a fraternity hazing event where he was encouraged to drink an entire bottle of vodka. His blood alcohol content was later determined to be 0.426, more than five times the legal limit. Since that time, his parents, Julie and Gary DeVercelly, have worked tirelessly to bring national attention to the dangers of hazing and to promote meaningful legislative reform.

Their advocacy played a critical role in the passage of the Stop Campus Hazing Act.

Required Contents of the Campus Hazing Transparency Report

In accordance with federal requirements, the Campus Hazing Transparency Report includes the following, when applicable:

  • The name of any student organization found responsible for hazing.
  • A general description of the violation, including whether the incident involved:
    • The use or abuse of alcohol, and/or
    • Illegal drugs.
  • Sanctions imposed by the institution, if applicable.
  • Key dates associated with the incident, including:
    • Date of the alleged incident
    • Date the investigation was initiated
    • Date the investigation concluded with a finding of responsibility
    • Date the student organization was notified of the violation

The Campus Hazing Transparency Report is updated twice per calendar year. If no violations are recorded during a reporting period, a public statement indicating no findings of hazing behavior will be posted in place of new entries.

Hazing defined for Clery Act Reporting

“The term ‘hazing’, for purposes of reporting statistics on hazing incidents, means any intentional, knowing, or reckless act committed by a person (whether individually or in concert with another person) against another person or persons regardless of the willingness of such other person or person 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.”
  • A student organization is defined as “an organization at an institution of higher education (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 institution”.

2025 Academic Year: There were no findings of hazing behavior/actions during this reporting period.

  • Student Organization
  • Description of Violation
  • Us/Abuse of Drugs or Alcohol
  • Sanctions Imposed
  • Date Incident Occurred
  • Date Investigation Initiated
  • Date Investigation Concluded with Responsibility
  • Date Student Organization Notified of Violation