Other Policies for Student Life

POLICY ON HAZING

All groups, organizations, or individuals associated with Starr King are forbidden to partake in any form of hazing as defined in Article 5, Sections 32050, and 32051 of the California Education Code.

Section 32050, California Education Code

  • “Hazing is any method of pre-initiation into a student or any pastime or amusement engaged in with respect to such an organization which causes or is likely to cause bodily danger, physical harm, or personal degradation or disgrace result in physical or mental harm to any student or other person attending college, or any other educational institution in this state, but the term hazing does not include customary athletic or other similar contests or competition.”
  • “No student, and/or other persons in attendance at any public, private, parochial or military school, college or other educational institution, shall conspire to engage in hazing, participate in hazing, or commit any act that injures, degrades, or disgraces, or tends to injure, degrade or disgrace fellow student and person attending the institution. The violation of this section is a felony punishable by a fine of no less than $500, nor more than $5,000 and imprisonment in the county jail for no more than one year, or both.”

Intent and Spirit of Hazing Policy

Starr King School for the Ministry shall interpret the word “hazing” to mean any intentional action taken or situation created, whether on or off campus, to produce mental or physical discomfort, embarrassment, harassment or ridicule. Such activities may include, but are not limited to, the use of alcohol, paddling in any form, creation of excessive fatigue, physical or psychological shocks, or any other such activities engaged by the organization inside or outside the confines of the campus, the public wearing of apparel which is conspicuous and not normally in good taste, engaging in public stunts, morally degrading or humiliating games activities, or any other activities not consistent with national, organizational or local policies, or the regulations of the school.

The enforcement of the Starr King policy on Hazing shall be the responsibility of all officers and moderators of each organization. They shall inform all members, pledges, and alumni of this policy and maintain the organization’s strict adherence to this policy. Failure to do so will result in disciplinary action.

Any violation of the school policy on hazing should be reported to the Dean of Students.

POLICY ON EJECTING/THROWING OBJECTS

Students who eject any object from a window, balcony, etc. are displaying inappropriate behavior. This kind of behavior can be extremely dangerous and is a potential hazard. Students who are found to be responsible for ejecting, launching, shooting or throwing any object, including but not limited to fruit, paintballs, rocks, or water balloons, will be subject to disciplinary action.

POLICY ON FIREARMS, WEAPONS, PYROTECHNICS, & EXPLOSIVE DEVICES

The use or possession of firearms, including but not limited to BB guns, paintball guns, air soft guns, pellet guns, ammunition and/or weapons, including knives, is prohibited on the Starr King campus. Knives specifically prohibited include but are not limited to knives larger than 5 inches, switchblades, butterfly knives, swords, hunting knives, etc. Kitchen knives and/or small pocket knives are permitted; however, a weapon is defined by the school as any object used to threaten or cause bodily harm to an individual. Any object can become a weapon, if used to harm or threaten harm to an individual. If an item is deemed a weapon by the school, it will be confiscated and/or destroyed.

The use and/or possession of firecrackers, fireworks, sparklers, and/or other explosive devices are not permitted on campus or in the city of Oakland. All items will be confiscated and/or destroyed.

Note: All of this information can be found in the Student Handbook, Community Policies section