No more "boys will be boys" excuses.
The Jordan Board of Education has adopted a policy strictly prohibiting hazing and requiring staff to immediately report such acts to administrators.Students who take part in hazing incidents are to be suspended from school into the custody of a parent until a conference can be conducted to determine discipline.
Employees who initiate, promote or engage in hazing also face sanctions including firing, according to the new policy adopted Tuesday night.
Two hazing incidents involving football players - one at Hillcrest High School and another at Roy High School in the fall 1996 - prompted the Utah Legislature and the Utah Board of Education to establish rules over student conduct.
State school board rules required districts to adopt their own policies.
Jordan officials have deliberated over a district-level policy for more than a year, said Brenda Hales, assistant superintendent for the district's southeast area.
"Everyone agreed we need to have proper conduct from kids and employees. This makes it a win-win for everyone," Hales said.
The policy defines hazing as "intentional, knowing or reckless acts of demeaning or assaultive nature, whether or not consensual."
The policy also addresses initiation or affiliation into any organization and prohibits students from being coerced to wear outrageous, ridiculous or embarrassing articles of clothing.
The policy establishes expectations of student athletes and leaders to behave as role models for fellow classmates. Likewise, employees are expected to model exemplary behavior.
In the case of the Hillcrest football players, at least two teammates were tied to a bench, doused with water, mooned and flatulated upon, according to court records.
One student said in an affidavit that he was taped to a bar in a public hallway with his genitals exposed.
The perpetrators were expelled and moved to other schools in the district. One student sought a temporary restraining order to return to Hillcrest but the request was denied by a 3rd District Court judge.