Many students may see hazing as a college tradition, especially when being initiated into a fraternity, sorority, or sports team. The truth is, hazing is a crime in Pennsylvania and most states across the nation.
Villanova University has long made clear that hazing has no place in its community. Yet despite the school's efforts to increase awareness and prevention, these acts continue to occur. Villanovans should feel free to have fun, be a proud Wildcat, and throw themselves into the campus community, but understand that engaging in hazing can bring harsh, long-term consequences. Not only might you suffer severe sanctions from the university, but you could also wind up with a criminal record. And that's not the way you want to start your adult life.
If you have been accused of hazing at Villanova and face criminal charges, you need legal counsel–and fast. Call the LLF Law Firm's Criminal Defense Team at 888-535-3686 or fill out our online contact form. We handle hazing cases across Pennsylvania and know how to protect students at Villanova or beyond.
What is Villanova's Hazing Policy?
Villanova University flatly prohibits hazing and promises that students engaging in hazing will be held accountable. The school's Code of Student Conduct defines hazing as any intentional, knowing, or reckless action committed for the purposes of initiation, admission, or continued membership in an organization that endangers the mental or physical health, safety, well-being, or dignity of an individual, or destroys public or private property.
Specific hazing actions may include:
- Physical brutality such as whipping, beating, branding, or forced physical activity
- Emotional, mental, or sexual brutality
- Forced consumption of substances such as alcohol, food, or drugs
- Sleep deprivation
- Social exclusion or embarrassment
- Coerced or illegal conduct
Villanova presumes that any activity that meets the definition of hazing has been, regardless of whether the hazed individual claims to have agreed to such actions. In other words, consent is not a defense to hazing at Villanova.
What Penalties Might a Villanova Student Face for Hazing?
Villanova's Code of Student Conduct also lists the penalties an individual student may face if found to have engaged in hazing. These include:
- Suspension or expulsion
- Removal from the organization affiliated with the hazing
- Community service or restitution
It's important to note that any Villanovan found to have engaged in hazing will face these consequences, even if the acts took place off-campus. This broad scope allows the university to hold students and organizations accountable during off-site retreats, parties, or informal gatherings where hazing may occur.
What is Pennsylvania State Law on Hazing?
In addition to potential sanctions by Villanova, you may also face state criminal charges. In 2018, Pennsylvania passed the Timothy J. Piazza Anti-Hazing Law, one of the most comprehensive anti-hazing laws in the country. It is named in honor of a Penn State student who tragically died following a hazing incident at the school in 2017.
The statute has a tiered classification system for hazing offenses. First, it defines hazing as when an individual “causes, coerces, or forces a minor or student” to engage in any one of several enumerated activities, such as (similar to Villanova), physical or mental brutality, or forced consumption of food or alcohol.
If such actions are reasonably likely to result in bodily injury, they will be punishable as a summary offense. If they result in actual bodily injury, they are punishable as a third-degree misdemeanor, including fines up to $2,500 and up to one year in jail.
The offense will be elevated to “aggravated” and penalized as a third-degree felony if the hazing results in serious injury, and the person accused acted with “reckless indifference to the health and safety of the minor or student.” The charge will also be elevated to aggravated if the hazing involved alcohol or drugs. If convicted of aggravated hazing, the charge can bring fines up to $15,000, up to seven years of jail time, not to mention a permanent criminal record.
The Piazza statute also penalizes organizations for allowing hazing and requires institutions to adopt anti-hazing policies and more comprehensive reporting of these incidents. It's important to note that the law gives immunity to individuals who attempt to seek medical assistance for another during a hazing incident.
What is the Federal Anti-Hazing Law?
The Timothy J. Piazza Anti-Hazing Law helped give rise to a federal anti-hazing statute, called The Stop Campus Hazing Act (SCHA). SCHA was signed into law in December 2024 and is the first comprehensive federal legislation explicitly aimed at combating hazing.
The law is intended to bolster campus safety efforts and hold schools accountable for hazing incidents by requiring them to:
- Report hazing incidents in their Annual Security Report along with other campus crimes.
- Implement research-based prevention programs to educate students and faculty about hazing, its warning signs, and how to intervene.
- Publish hazing policy violations and enforcement data on school websites, increasing transparency for prospective students and parents.
This law means increased scrutiny and visibility of allegations for students accused of hazing, whether at Villanova or beyond, even if the incident occurred off-campus or within informal settings. Villanova has already produced two anti-hazing reports that describe incidents and actions taken, dating from 2019 through 2025.
With hazing now firmly in the federal spotlight, the law also increases the risk of college students accused of hazing being brought up on criminal charges.
Potential Legal Defenses in Villanova Hazing Incidents
Villanova takes hazing accusations very seriously. However, individuals accused of hazing deserve fairness, due process, and strong legal advocacy. Hazing charges and a conviction can haunt you for the rest of your life, affecting your academic career, future employment, and reputation.
If you're a Villanovan accused of hazing and face criminal charges, the LLF Law Firm's Criminal Defense Team is here to help. We have years of experience defending students and will work hard to protect your future by investigating the facts of the case and building a strong, appropriate defense. Potential defenses may include:
- Violation of Due Process. If the police or prosecution took improper or illegal steps to gather evidence or deny you your rights, we can seek to have the case dismissed or negotiate a lower-level charge.
- Non-participation. Just because you witnessed hazing does not mean that you participated in it. The prosecution has the burden of proving that you participated in the hazing. Our team will work to show that they have not met their burden.
- Mistaken identification. Hazing incidents can be confusing incidents that involve numerous people, sometimes under the influence of alcohol or drugs. In the confusion of these circumstances, the victim may mistakenly accuse someone of being a participant when they were not.
- False identification. In some cases, the victim may intentionally make a false allegation of hazing against another student. Perhaps they have a grudge against the student or want to cause trouble for other reasons. Our team will investigate such situations and ensure that the judge or jury factors this doubt-raising element into their deliberations.
- The accused was also a victim. In the heat and confusion of the moment, an alleged victim may believe that the person accused was hazing them when they might have been an actual victim of hazing themselves.
- Harm not caused by hazing: The prosecution must be able to prove that bodily harm occurred and that it happened as a result of the hazing. However, the alleged victim may have had a pre-existing injury orcondition that was unrelated to the alleged hazing. We will thoroughly investigate the cause of any injury and, if possible, show that the alleged hazing didn't cause the harm that the victim and prosecution claim.
- No harm occurred. We may be able to argue that no harm occurred or that the injury was much less serious than portrayed by the alleged victim and prosecution. Under such circumstances, we will seek to negotiate a lesser charge or have the case dropped altogether.
An Experienced Criminal Defense Lawyer Can Help Protect Your Future
Hazing may once have been brushed off as a rite of passage at Villanova, but today, it's a serious legal and ethical violation with potentially life-changing consequences. An experienced criminal defense attorney familiar with both university disciplinary proceedings and Pennsylvania criminal proceedings is essential.
The knowledgeable Criminal Defense Team of the LLF Law firm will ensure your rights are protected and your voice is heard. We can guide you through university proceedings and the court system, carefully investigating the allegations and evidence, speaking with potential witnesses, reviewing medical files, and employing expert witnesses, if necessary. Most importantly, we will vigorously advocate for the most favorable outcome, whether that means reduced sanctions, dropped charges, or other resolutions.
If you or someone you love has been accused of hazing, call the LLF Law Firm's Criminal Defense Team at 888-535-3686 today to discuss your case or fill out our online contact form. Let us help you understand your options and build the strongest possible defense. You're just getting started in life–we want to do all we can to protect your future.
