Office of Student Life

Reporting Hazing

Reporting Requirements & Instructions

Section 3335-23-04 (L) of the Code of Student Conduct prohibits hazing and includes in the definition of hazing the failure to intervene, prevent or report acts of hazing. Students should report hazing by submitting a Hazing Incident Report.

Collin's Law, Ohio's Anti-Hazing Act has additional reporting requirements:

Sec. 2903.311 (B) No administrator, employee, faculty member, teacher, consultant, alumnus, or volunteer of any organization, including any primary, secondary, or post-secondary school or any other public or private educational institution, who is acting in an official and professional capacity shall recklessly fail to immediately report the knowledge of hazing to a law enforcement agency in the county in which the victim of hazing resides or in which the hazing is occurring or has occurred.

If you are a university employee and have questions about your reporting obligations under Ohio law, please contact the Office of Legal Affairs at 614-292-0611. If you are a student and have questions about your reporting obligations under Ohio law, please contact Student Legal Services at 614-247-5853.

Emergencies and concerns for health and safety should always be reported immediately to law enforcement by calling 9-1-1.

  • To report to Columbus police, call 614-645-4545
  • To report to OSU police, call 614-292-2121

Information about reporting hazing on regional campuses can be found at Hazing Resources.

Individuals required to report to law enforcement under Collin's Law should also report to the university by a Hazing Incident Report.

Anonymous reporting

We want everyone with knowledge of hazing to report. If you will only report anonymously, please use the university's Anonymous Reporting Line. That system allows users—without disclosing their name or other identifiable information—to follow-up on a report to read the university's response or to provide additional information.

Anonymous reports do NOT satisfy the obligations found in the Code of Student Conduct or under Collin's Law.

A hazing incident may be reported to Student Conduct by anyone: a person who was directly affected by the activity, a person who was involved in the incident; faculty, staff, parents, friends, or community members; or anyone who is generally concerned about a student or group. If you have witnessed or have knowledge of a possible hazing incident, report the incident immediately to Student Conduct and/or the police.

When reporting, please be prepared to provide the following information as best as you can:

  • What is the name of the organization that you are reporting for acts of hazing?
  • When did the event(s) occur?
  • Where did the event(s) take place?
  • What time of day did the event(s) occur?
  • Who was involved in this event?
  • Are there any other people that were present or can corroborate the information you are providing? Please provide their names and contact information (if available).
  • How did you become aware of the event(s)?
  • Please describe the event(s) in as much detail as possible.
  • Please provide any documentation or photographs you may have.
  • Your name, phone number, and e-mail address

After submitting a report, you may also request a meeting with a Student Conduct investigator without providing personally identifying information. Please call 614-292-0748 and request a "Witness Meeting" and state you wish to schedule without providing your name. Our investigator will meet with you, explain the investigation process, and if you wish to proceed, the investigator will record the information you share without including identifying information. This meeting can take place in person or over the phone.