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<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">We hope your fall semester is going well. 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 in one of over 140 registered student 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 the number 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. Under the Texas Education Code, persons acting in good faith reporting hazing to the appropriate university officials may be exempt (see Sec. 37.155 Immunity from Prosecution).<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 for the purpose of pledging, being initiated into, affiliating with, holding office in, or maintaining membership in an organization if the act:<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">Is 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">Involves 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">Involves consumption of food, liquid, alcoholic beverage, liquor, drug or other substance other than described in the next paragraph,
that 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">Is any activity that induces, causes, or requires the student to perform a duty or task that involves a violation of the Penal Code;
or involves coercing, as defined by Section 1.07, Penal Code, the student to consume a drug; or an alcoholic beverage or liquor in an amount that would lead a reasonable person to believe that the student is intoxicated, as defined by Section 49.01, 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 52. If you have questions about hazing please contact Stephen Hirst, Associate Dean for CLSD 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 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. | 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>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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