<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40">
<head>
<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=us-ascii">
<meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 15 (filtered medium)">
<style><!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:"Cambria Math";
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:Calibri;
panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:"Bell MT";
panose-1:2 2 5 3 6 3 5 2 3 3;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{mso-style-priority:1;
margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
text-autospace:none;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;}
p.MsoBodyText, li.MsoBodyText, div.MsoBodyText
{mso-style-priority:1;
mso-style-link:"Body Text Char";
margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
text-autospace:none;
font-size:12.5pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;}
a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:#0563C1;
text-decoration:underline;}
a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:#954F72;
text-decoration:underline;}
p.MsoListParagraph, li.MsoListParagraph, div.MsoListParagraph
{mso-style-priority:1;
margin-top:0in;
margin-right:8.55pt;
margin-bottom:0in;
margin-left:7.4pt;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
text-indent:.45pt;
text-autospace:none;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;}
span.BodyTextChar
{mso-style-name:"Body Text Char";
mso-style-priority:1;
mso-style-link:"Body Text";
font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;}
span.EmailStyle20
{mso-style-type:personal-compose;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
color:windowtext;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
font-size:10.0pt;}
@page WordSection1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
--></style><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapedefaults v:ext="edit" spidmax="1026" />
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapelayout v:ext="edit">
<o:idmap v:ext="edit" data="1" />
</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]-->
</head>
<body lang="EN-US" link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72">
<div class="WordSection1">
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-top:10.5pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:#232A24">Dear Lions,</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-top:.15pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-right:4.6pt;line-height:95%"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:95%;color:#232A24">Welcome<span style="letter-spacing:-1.3pt">
</span>to<span style="letter-spacing:-1.4pt"> </span>the <span style="letter-spacing:-1.4pt">
F</span>all <span style="letter-spacing:-1.45pt">2018</span><span style="letter-spacing:-1.55pt">
</span>semester<span style="letter-spacing:-1.3pt"> </span>at<span style="letter-spacing:-1.55pt">
</span>Texas<span style="letter-spacing:-1.35pt"> </span>A&M<span style="letter-spacing:-1.35pt">
</span>University-Commerce! Research<span style="letter-spacing:-1.15pt"> </span>
shows<span style="letter-spacing:-1.3pt"> </span>that<span style="letter-spacing:-1.5pt">
</span>campus involvement<span style="letter-spacing:-.7pt"> </span>increases<span style="letter-spacing:-1.5pt">
</span>a<span style="letter-spacing:-1.5pt"> </span>chance<span style="letter-spacing:-1.15pt">
</span>for<span style="letter-spacing:-1.35pt"> </span>a<span style="letter-spacing:-1.7pt">
</span>student's<span style="letter-spacing:-1.1pt"> </span>success<span style="letter-spacing:-1.25pt">
</span>in<span style="letter-spacing:-1.7pt"> </span>college.<span style="letter-spacing:.75pt">
</span>We<span style="letter-spacing:-1.3pt"> </span>invite<span style="letter-spacing:-1.25pt">
</span>you<span style="letter-spacing:-1.3pt"> </span>to<span style="letter-spacing:-1.4pt">
</span>take<span style="letter-spacing:-1.25pt"> </span>the<span style="letter-spacing:-1.4pt">
</span>next<span style="letter-spacing:-1.4pt"> </span>few<span style="letter-spacing:-1.4pt">
</span>weeks<span style="letter-spacing:-1.4pt"> </span>to consider<span style="letter-spacing:-1.3pt">
</span>involvement<span style="letter-spacing:-1.0pt"> </span>in<span style="letter-spacing:-1.3pt">
</span>one<span style="letter-spacing:-1.5pt"> </span>of<span style="letter-spacing:-1.45pt">
</span>more<span style="letter-spacing:-1.4pt"> </span>than<span style="letter-spacing:-1.5pt">
</span>140<span style="letter-spacing:-1.35pt"> </span>registered<span style="letter-spacing:-1.35pt">
</span>student<span style="letter-spacing:-1.3pt"> </span>organizations<span style="letter-spacing:-1.4pt">
</span>on<span style="letter-spacing:-1.4pt"> </span>campus.<span style="letter-spacing:.4pt"> We also
</span>hope<span style="letter-spacing:-1.6pt"> </span>you will attend one of the many activities offered on<span style="letter-spacing:-1.75pt">
</span>campus.</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:95%"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-top:.1pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-right:4.6pt;line-height:95%"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:95%;color:#232A24">We want all of our student organizations to provide positive experiences for our students. In an effort to assure that our students
are informed, we are sharing this information about hazing and its prevention to help you make good decisions about student organization involvement. This message provides a summary of the Texas statutes related to hazing, as well as a list of registered student
organizations sanctioned for hazing during the last three years.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-right:4.6pt;line-height:95%"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:95%;color:#232A24"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-right:4.6pt;line-height:95%"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:95%;color:#232A24">Prohibition of Hazing<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-right:4.6pt;line-height:95%"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:95%;color:#232A24"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-right:4.6pt;line-height:95%"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:95%;color:#232A24">Under state law (sections 37.151 through 37.157 and 51.936, Texas Education Code), individuals or organizations engaging in hazing
could be subject to fines and charged with a criminal offense.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-right:4.6pt;line-height:95%"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:95%;color:#232A24"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-right:4.6pt;line-height:95%"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:95%;color:#232A24">According to law, a person can commit a hazing offense not only by engaging in a hazing activity, but also by soliciting, directing,
encouraging, aiding or attempting to aid another in hazing; by intentionally, knowingly or recklessly allowing hazing to occur; or by failing to report in writing to the Office of Campus Life and Student Development firsthand knowledge that a hazing incident
is planned or has occurred. The fact that a person consented to or acquiesced in a hazing activity is not a defense to prosecution for hazing under the law.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-right:4.6pt;line-height:95%"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:95%;color:#232A24"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-right:4.6pt;line-height:95%"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:95%;color:#232A24">The penalty for failure to report hazing activities is a fine not to exceed $2,000, or up to 180 days in jail, or both. Penalties
for other hazing offenses vary according to the severity of the injury that results; they range from individual fines of $4,000 and/or up to one (1) year in jail, to individual fines of up to $10,000 and/or a state jail term of not less than 180 days or more
than two (2) years. Organizational penalties include fines of not less than $5,000 or more than $10,000. If the organizational hazing activity resulted in personal injury, property damage or other loss, the penalty is a fine of not less than $5,000 or more
than doubles the amount lost or expenses incurred because of the injury, damage, or loss.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-right:4.6pt;line-height:95%"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:95%;color:#232A24"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-right:4.6pt;line-height:95%"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:95%;color:#232A24">The law defines hazing as any intentional, knowing, or reckless act, occurring on or off the campus of an educational institution,
by one person alone or acting with others, directed against a student that endangers the mental or physical health or safety of a student for the purpose of pledging, being initiated into, affiliating with, holding office in, or maintaining membership in any
organization whose members are or include students at an educational institution.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-right:4.6pt;line-height:95%"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:95%;color:#232A24"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-right:4.6pt;line-height:95%"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:95%;color:#232A24">Hazing includes, but is not limited to:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-right:4.6pt;line-height:95%"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:95%;color:#232A24"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-right:4.6pt;line-height:95%"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:95%;color:#232A24">any type of physical brutality, such as whipping, beating, striking, branding, electrical shocking, placing of a harmful substance
on the body, or similar activity;<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-right:4.6pt;line-height:95%"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:95%;color:#232A24"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-right:4.6pt;line-height:95%"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:95%;color:#232A24">any type of physical activity, such as sleep deprivation, exposure to the elements, confinement in a small space, calisthenics or
other activity that subjects the student to an unreasonable risk of harm or that adversely affects the mental or physical health or safety of the student;<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-right:4.6pt;line-height:95%"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:95%;color:#232A24"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-right:4.6pt;line-height:95%"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:95%;color:#232A24">any activity involving consumption of food, liquid, alcoholic beverage, liquor, drug or other substance which subjects the student
to an unreasonable risk or harm or which adversely affects the mental or physical health of the student;<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-right:4.6pt;line-height:95%"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:95%;color:#232A24"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-right:4.6pt;line-height:95%"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:95%;color:#232A24">any activity that intimidates or threatens the student with ostracism; that subjects the student to extreme mental stress, shame or
humiliation; that adversely affects the mental health or dignity of the student or discourages the student from entering or remaining registered in an educational institution; or that may reasonably be expected to cause a student to leave the organization
or the institution rather than submit to acts described in this section; any activity that induces, causes or requires the student to perform a duty or task which involves a violation of the Penal Code.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-right:4.6pt;line-height:95%"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:95%;color:#232A24"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-right:4.6pt;line-height:95%"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:95%;color:#232A24">Hazing Violations in the Past Three (3) Years: One<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-right:4.6pt;line-height:95%"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:95%;color:#232A24"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-right:4.6pt;line-height:95%"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:95%;color:#232A24">Find more information on this topic in the Student Guidebook at
<a href="http://www.tamuc.edu/student_guidebook/Student_Guidebook.pdf">http://www.tamuc.edu/student_guidebook/Student_Guidebook.pdf</a></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:95%">
<span style="color:#232A24">on page 51. If you have questions about hazing please contact Stephen Hirst at
<a href="mailto:Steve.Hirst@tamuc.edu"><span style="color:#232A24;text-decoration:none">Steve.Hirst@tamuc.edu</span></a>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-right:4.6pt;line-height:95%"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:95%;color:#232A24"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-right:4.6pt;line-height:95%"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:95%;color:#232A24">If you need to make a report of any hazing activity, past, present, or in the planning stages, please contact Stephen Hirst at
<a href="mailto:Steve.Hirst@tamuc.edu"><span style="color:#232A24;text-decoration:none">Steve.Hirst@tamuc.edu</span></a> in the office of Student Rights & Responsibilities or the University Police Department to file your report per state law.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-right:4.6pt;line-height:95%"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:95%;color:#232A24"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-right:4.6pt;line-height:95%"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:95%;color:#232A24">Thank you for your cooperation and we hope you all have a safe and engaging Fall semester.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-right:4.6pt;line-height:95%"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:95%;color:#232A24"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-right:4.6pt;line-height:95%"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:95%;color:#232A24">Sincerely,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-right:4.6pt;line-height:95%"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;line-height:95%;font-family:"Bell MT",serif;color:#232A24"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F497D">Thomas W. Newsom, Ph.D. | Associate Vice President/Dean of Students</span></b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#1F497D"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F497D">Campus Life and Student Development</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:#1F497D"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><a href="mailto:Thomas.Newsom@tamuc.edu">Thomas.Newsom@tamuc.edu</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D"> </span><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F497D">Mail: P.O. Box 3011 | Commerce, TX 75429<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F497D">Ship: 2600 South Neal Street | Commerce, TX 75428</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:#1F497D"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F497D">Tel: 903.886-5171 | Fax: 903.468.6040|
</span><a href="http://www.tamuc.edu/"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">www.tamuc.edu</span></a><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
</div>
</body>
</html>