The law & the institutional rules
What Wisconsin’s hazing statute says, how university discipline differs from criminal proceedings, and where to read the rules yourself.
Wis. Stat. § 948.51
Wisconsin defines “forced activity” as an activity that is a condition of initiation, admission, or affiliation with an organization, regardless of a student’s willingness to participate.
The statute prohibits intentionally or recklessly endangering a student’s physical health or safety for initiation, admission, or affiliation with an organization operating in connection with a school, college, or university. Its examples include physical brutality, forced consumption of substances, forced confinement, and other forced activity that endangers physical health or safety.
The archived statute lists a Class A misdemeanor when the act results in or is likely to result in bodily harm; a Class H felony when it results in great bodily harm; and a Class G felony when it results in death. Applying those provisions requires evidence about the conduct and the relevant legal elements.
Different responsibilities
Police investigate; prosecutors make charging decisions; courts decide criminal cases. A police allegation or arrest does not establish guilt. The archive’s incident release is a police account, not a court judgment.
Read what police actually saidUWS Chapter 17 describes nonacademic misconduct and disciplinary procedures. Its policy statement explains that university responsibility is separate from civil or criminal action. UW’s September 25 message says it will investigate individual students.
Read the disciplinary rulesQuestions that matter
The statute’s definition of forced activity expressly applies regardless of willingness to participate. Whether conduct violates the law still depends on the statutory elements and evidence.
The archived statute prohibits the specified intentional or reckless endangerment. Its misdemeanor provision includes an act that is likely to result in bodily harm, even if it does not actually cause great bodily harm. The more serious listed classifications depend on the result.
No. UW-2001 includes physical, mental, emotional, and psychological health and conduct connected to initiating, affiliating, or maintaining membership in a group. Criminal law and university policy have different language, processes, and consequences.
UW’s archived response says AEPi’s recognition was terminated in 2015 and that the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards will investigate individual students. UWS 17.08 addresses misconduct on and outside university lands under specified conditions.
No. The archived release reports arrests for hazing and disorderly conduct. It is not a conviction or judicial finding, and this archive does not infer a case outcome from the arrests.
The federal act adds hazing-related reporting, policy, and prevention requirements for covered institutions. For incident statistics, its student-organization definition includes groups whether or not recognized. Its Campus Hazing Transparency Report provision addresses findings involving organizations established or recognized by the institution. These are distinct reporting requirements.
No. Wisconsin public-records procedures provide a route to request records, but exemptions, student privacy, and other applicable limits may affect disclosure. Ask for the releasable portions and a written explanation of any withholding rather than assuming every record must be public.
Primary sources
The definition of forced activity, prohibited conduct, and listed penalties.
Read § 948.51Nonacademic misconduct, jurisdiction, procedures, and sanctions.
Read Chapter 17The university’s definitions, reporting routes, investigation process, and prevention requirements.
Read UW-2001The archived federal act concerning hazing statistics, policy, prevention, and transparency reports.
Read the actUW’s process for requesting releasable records.
Find the records processCompare the laws and policies with the police release, university statements, and historical records.
Open the case file