Section 2. Respect for the Health, Safety, and Rights of the Community
All members of the community share responsibility for protecting and maintaining community health and safety and the rights of other persons. Concentrated housing, varied activities, and the needs of community members for freedom to pursue their respective educational and co-curricular tasks and to complete job-related responsibilities free from hazards and unreasonable intrusions, require the cooperation of all in maintaining appropriate standards of respect. In furtherance of these goals, students must abide by the following:
2.1. Compliance with Instructions of Officials: Students are expected to comply with instructions of University officials, investigators, committees, or boards. Students are also expected to comply with instructions of those responding on campus in an official capacity. Examples of University officials may include but are not limited to Public Safety, Department of Community Living (DCL) Staff, Dean of Students Office (DOSO), CARE team, Brandeis University Medical Corps (BEMCO), Fire Department, Waltham Police Department, and Office of Equal Opportunity (OEO).
2.2. Compliance with Adjudicative Decisions: Comply with the final decision of the Student Conduct Board, with the outcome from the SCP, an OEO Formal Complaint Process, the Title IX Grievance Process, Restorative Justice resolution or the University Appeals Board, and with any Administrative Action or University Action.
2.3. Obstruction of University Functions: Recognize and allow for the legitimate functions of the University. Obstructing or disrupting teaching, research, or any administrative, public service, disciplinary, or other authorized University functions is unacceptable.
2.4. Threats against Public Safety: Refrain from initiating a false fire alarm or issuing any type of threat, actions which are strictly prohibited. Use safety equipment and/or initiate safety procedures (including, but not limited to, fire equipment, fire alarms, fire drills, and exit lights) only when necessary (see Section 8. and see also Section 9.15).
2.5. Weapons: Do not possess or use, on University property, firearms (including blank pistols and replicas, BB guns, and pellet guns), explosives(including fireworks or any other incendiary devices), knives (of any length), fireworks, nun-chucks, paintball guns, airsoft guns, or other articles or substances intended to function as a weapon or appear to simulate a weapon. All such items are prohibited at Brandeis.
2.6. Loudspeakers and Excessive Noise: Obtain clearance from the Department of Student Engagement for the use of loudspeakers or other sound amplification equipment at events. Obtain clearance from the Dean of Students Office for use of loudspeakers or sound amplification equipment for purposes other than events. Excessive noise may not disrupt the campus residences, academic spaces or University offices.
2.7. Host Responsibility for Visitors: Assume responsibility for the actions of a visitor, damage or injuries caused by a visitor, and costs incurred for services related to hosting a visitor on campus. The University reserves the right to impose requirements related to safety or security concerns arising from a visit by a visitor, and to assess the host for the cost of meeting those requirements (see Sections 9.6. and 9.10.). All visitors must be accompanied by their host at all times.
2.8. Compliance with Official University Policies in Other Publications: Comply with the regulations enumerated in other official University publications and documents (eg., library policies, computer use policies, Dining Services policies, Undergraduate Room & Board License Agreement requirements, traffic and parking policies, financial aid policies, Campus Use of Space Policy).
2.9. Electronic Devices and Privacy: Refrain from engaging in undisclosed and unauthorized recording of other individuals within the University community.
2.9.a. Students are expected to respect the reasonable expectations of privacy of other individuals within the University community. Accordingly, students are not permitted to make or attempt to make a recording of any kind, including but not limited to an audio or video recording, without the consent of all participants subject to such recordings in spaces where there is a reasonable expectation of privacy. People have an expectation of privacy in private areas such as locker rooms, residence hall rooms, and restrooms; and a person has an expectation of privacy if they ask not to be recorded even if they are in a public area.In such circumstances the uses of undisclosed hidden recording devices are prohibited, as is the transmission and/or distribution of any such recordings. (See also, Sections 3, 10, and 16) Brandeis prohibits unauthorized recording of administrative or faculty meetings; to record a meeting, a student must obtain consent of all recorded parties.
2.9.b. Electronic Devices and Privacy: Making, attempting to make, transmitting, or attempting to transmit audio or video of any person(s) in bathrooms, showers, bedrooms, or other premises where there is an expectation of privacy with respect to nudity and/or sexual activity, without the consent of all participants subject to such recordings is prohibited and may also violate the University's Policy Against Discrimination, Harassment and Sexual Violence. (See also, Sections 3, 10, and 16)
*This policy is not intended to prohibit commonly-accepted journalistic practice as defined by the Associated Press, Society of Professional Journalists, or the New York Times for Brandeis students. This policy is not intended to restrict the work of student journalists to cover open, public events on campus. A public event is defined as an event held either in a public and open space on campus or to which a general announcement has been made or a general invitation has been extended.
2.10. Respect for the Integrity and Personal Rights of Others: (Note: Due to the seriousness of any accusations regarding these policies, any students accused of being involved in incidents of this kind may be placed on campus restrictions or emergency suspension pending the outcome of an investigation or conduct process.) Refrain from any behavior toward others, including but not limited to students, faculty, staff, and visitors, that could reasonably be interpreted to constitute any of the following behaviors:
- 2.10.a. Intimidates.
- 2.10.b. Threatens.
- 2.10.c. Harasses. Harassment is unwelcome verbal or physical conduct directed at an individual or individuals that has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with a person’s educational, living, or work environment.
- 2.10.d. Bullies. Bullying includes any electronic, written, verbal, or physical act or a series of acts intended to cause physical or emotional harm to another community member or group of community members.
- 2.10.e. Physically harms or is considered unwanted physical contact (for example: hitting, pushing, or physical altercations, or engaging in violence of any kind).
- 2.10.f. Invades personal privacy.
- 2.10.g. Endangers the health, safety, or welfare of any other person on or off campus.
- 2.10.h. Discrimination, harassment or sexual violence as discussed in Section 3 and the Policy Against Discrimination, Harassment and Sexual Violence.
- 2.10.i. Behavior that could offend or frighten a reasonable person.
2.11. Hazing: Is defined as any intentional, knowing, or reckless act committed by a person (whether individually or in concert with other persons), whether on or off campus, against another person(s), regardless of the willingness of such other person(s) to participate, that-
- I. is committed in the course of an initiation into, an affiliation with, or the maintenance of membership in, a student organization; and
- II. 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
Examples include but are not limited to:
- A. whipping, beating, striking, electronic shocking, placing of a harmful substance on someone’s body, or similar activity;
- B. causing, coercing, or otherwise inducing sleep deprivation, exposure to the elements, confinement in a small space, extreme calisthenics, or other similar activity;
- C. causing, coercing, or otherwise inducing another person to consume food, liquid, alcohol, drugs, or other substances;
- D. causing, coercing, or otherwise inducing another person to perform or simulate sexual acts;
- E. any activity that places another person in reasonable fear of bodily harm through the use of threatening words or conduct;
- F. any activity against another person that includes a criminal violation of local, State, Tribal, or Federal law;
- G. 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.
- H. any activity, treatment, or forced physical activity that humiliates, degrades, abuses, or endangers another person or is likely to adversely affect the physical health or safety of a person, or which subjects a person to extreme mental stress.
Student Organizations:
For the purposes of this policy, student organizations are groups in which two or more of the members are Brandeis University students whether or not the organization is established or recognized by the University. Furthermore, student organizations are ones that are permitted by the institution to use its name or facilities, student groups, student teams, or are known by the institution to exist as an unaffiliated student group.
Reporting
If a Brandeis community member knows that a student is being hazed, is directed by another to haze someone, witnesses an act of hazing, or they are made aware of hazing at or within the Brandeis University community, there are a variety of reporting options available to them.
Massachusetts law provides that, if a person knows that another person is the victim of Hazing and is at the scene of such crime, they should report the crime to an appropriate law enforcement official as soon as reasonably practicable, to the extent they can do so without danger or peril to themselves or others. Failure to report a Hazing crime is punishable by a fine of up to $1,000.
Emergency Reporting: Contact Brandeis Public Safety at (781) 736-3333 or if you are off campus, contact 911 or local law enforcement.
Non-Emergency Reporting: You should submit a Community Standards Report (CSR).
Education:
Educational information can be found on the Health and Wellness Promotion website here: https://www.brandeis.edu/health/promotion/resources/health-info/hazing.html. Additional education information related to Hazing can be found on the Student Rights and Community Standards website at:https://www.brandeis.edu/student-rights-community-standards/hazing/information-for-students.html . Information on this website includes how to report, education for students, resources, and information for employees.
Campus Hazing Transparency Report: Brandeis University will publish findings of Hazing Violations committed by an established or recognized University Student Organization in a Campus Hazing Transparency Report starting on December 23, 2025, for the period beginning July 1, 2025, and updated bi-annually thereafter. Bi-annual updates will only be made to the report when new Hazing Violations have occurred. The report will be published on the Brandeis Student Rights and Community Standards website page. Https://www.brandeis.edu/student-rights-community-standards/hazing/transparency-report.html
This bi-annual report must be completed pursuant to the Federal Stop Campus Hazing Act. Stop Campus Hazing Act, Public Law 118-173, enacted December 23, 2024.
Note: Hazing statistics are also included in the Clery Report located on the Brandeis Public Safety website.
Processes:
For incidents of Hazing involving students, the reports and available information will be reviewed and the appropriate office identified to investigate in accordance with the procedures outlined in Rights & Responsibilities (R&R). Most commonly, this may be Student Rights and Community Standards or the Office of Equal Opportunity.
Section 18 of R&R details Procedural Standards in the Student Conduct Process.
2.12. Retaliation: Retaliation against anyone who makes a good faith report or complaint regarding a violation of policy, or who in good faith participates in an inquiry or investigation of policies is strictly prohibited. Retaliatory conduct is when another party, who knows of that activity, takes an adverse action against the person engaged in it, and the adverse action was caused or motivated by the protected activity. Retaliation against the peer group, family, or associates of a reporter (third parties) is also prohibited, regardless of whether or not those individuals have participated in an adjudicative process. Examples of retaliatory action may include, but are not limited to: coercion, threats, intimidation, or any other discriminating behavior against the individual who filed the complaint. Retaliation is an offense separate from the complaint of a violation of University policy and will be considered independently from the merits of the underlying matter. The Community Standards Report (CSR) is the official reporting mechanism for all allegations of retaliation. The University takes concerns of retaliation seriously and as a result findings of responsibility may result in sanctions up to dismissal from the University.
2.13 Drones: The recreational use of drones on or above University property, including inside University buildings, is prohibited. The indoor use of drones in teaching and research is permitted with appropriate training, supervision, and notification of building administrators. However, outdoor teaching or research uses of drones require the permission of the Federal Aviation Administration and the Brandeis Police Department.
2.14. Community Disturbance: Each student is responsible for the expectations of the community they are a part of, and/or are present in. Students may not participate in or create conditions that violate federal, state, or local laws, ordinances, regulations, and/or orders. This includes compliance with required public health and safety measures. This policy applies to students both on and off campus.
2.15. Personal Electric Vehicles (PEV): Students are required to align with the University’s policy on PEVs. This policy promotes the safe and responsible use of personal electric vehicles (PEVs) on the Brandeis University campus to ensure community safety, minimize risks, and protect university property. PEVs include e-bicycles, e-scooters, hoverboards, self-balancing scooters, and other electric-powered devices designed for individual transportation.
2.16. Animals on Campus: Refrain from bringing any dog or other animal onto the campus without a leash or other proper restraint. Students are prohibited from allowing any animal to enter any campus building including, but not limited to dining service buildings, campus centers, libraries, or residence halls (see Section 9.14.), unless that animal is a service or assistance animal. Student emotional support animals may be allowed on campus only after approval by SAS in collaboration with the Department of Community Living.