Hazing at Northern Arizona University

The school's hazing policy

Northern Arizona University has a hazing policy, Hazing Prevention, last revised June 18, 2025. It prohibits intentional, knowing or reckless acts tied to joining or belonging to a university-affiliated group that risk or cause physical injury, mental harm or degradation, and it requires students, faculty and staff to report hazing. It says consent, or going along with it, is not a defense. The policy is on the school's site: read the policy. Arizona law also makes hazing a crime, and consent is not a defense to that either. See what counts as hazing in Arizona.

How to report hazing at NAU

Whether to report to the school is your choice. A report to the school is separate from a legal claim, and you can talk to a lawyer before or after. These are the school's own reporting routes:

Dean of Students and Student Rights & Responsibilities. 928-523-5181, [email protected], or the online form. Link .
NAU Police Department. 928-523-3611 for non-emergencies. Anonymous tips go to Silent Witness at 928-774-6111. Link .

In an emergency, call 911.

What happens after a report

The Dean of Students investigates and decides, using a more-likely-than-not standard. A University Hearing Board advises on appeals of disciplinary sanctions, and the Vice President for Student Affairs decides. NAU revised these procedures as an interim policy in late September 2026, so check the school's page for updates. See the school's procedures.

What NAU has published

NAU posts a hazing transparency report. It lists two hazing findings: Ice Jacks D3, a club hockey team, found on October 17, 2022, and Delta Chi, found on June 4, 2024. The page shows no update date. See what Arizona universities have published for the entries we summarized. A university finding is a record of what the school found under its own rules. It is not a court judgment, and a claim doesn't depend on one.

A 2026 criminal case

In 2026 a Northern Arizona University fraternity chapter was closed after a student died following an off-campus event. A grand jury indicted a former chapter member on one felony hazing count in March. He pleaded guilty in August and was sentenced on September 30, 2026. Under Arizona law, hazing that causes a death is a class 4 felony (A.R.S. § 13-1215). NAU's own transparency report does not list a hazing finding for that chapter.

If you are thinking about a claim against NAU

Northern Arizona University is a public university governed by the Arizona Board of Regents. A claim against a public entity starts with a written notice of claim within 180 days, with a specific settlement amount, and a lawsuit must follow within one year (A.R.S. §§ 12-821.01, 12-821). The Board of Regents says the universities themselves cannot accept notices of claim or lawsuits, and it names its own office for that. A report to the school is not a notice of claim. A lawyer can handle this for you. You don't have to decide anything today.

See your rights after hazing in Arizona and who can be responsible.

Quick answers

How do I report hazing at Northern Arizona University?

Contact the Dean of Students and Student Rights & Responsibilities at 928-523-5181 or [email protected], or use the online report form. The NAU Police Department is at 928-523-3611 (non-emergency), and anonymous tips go to Silent Witness at 928-774-6111. Call 911 in an emergency.

Does the NAU hazing policy say consent is a defense?

No. NAU's hazing policy says consent or going along with it is not a defense. The policy also says students, faculty and staff must report hazing.

Can I sue Northern Arizona University over hazing?

Sometimes. A claim against a public university starts with a written notice of claim within 180 days and a lawsuit within one year (A.R.S. §§ 12-821.01, 12-821). Whether the university is responsible depends on the facts.

Sources

More about hazing law in Arizona

Updated October 8, 2026. This page is general information, not legal advice. Laws change, and the right answer depends on the facts.