Policy, Laws and Statistics

Canisius University's Public Safety Department complies with and enforces New York State, federal and local laws.  To read more about these laws, visit the New York State Law homepage. 

Campus Drug and Alcohol Policy

The following are prohibited:

• Distribution, possession or use of any illegal drug or controlled substance, or drug paraphernalia.
• Providing alcoholic beverages to individuals under 21 years of age or possession of alcoholic beverages by individuals under 21 years of age.
• Public intoxication, driving while intoxicated or illegal possession of an open container of an alcoholic beverage.

Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act

Hazing

Any intentional, knowing, or reckless act committed by a person (whether individually or in concert with other persons) against another person or persons regardless of the willingness of such other person or persons to participate that:

• is committed in the course of an initiation into, an affiliation with, or the maintenance of membership, in a student organization; and
• causes or creates a risk, above the reasonable risk encountered in the course of participation in the institution of higher education or the organization (such as physical preparation necessary for participation in an athletic team), of physical or psychological injury including:
  • whipping, beating, striking, electronic shocking, placing a harmful substance on someone’s body, or similar activity
  • causing, coercing, or otherwise inducing sleep deprivation, exposure to the elements, confinement in a small space, extreme calisthenics, or similar activity;
  • causing, coercing, or otherwise inducing another person to consume food, liquid, alcohol, drugs, or other substances;
    causing, coercing, or otherwise inducing another person to perform sexual acts;
  • any activity that places another person in reasonable fear of bodily harm through the use of threatening words or conduct;
  • any activity against another person that includes a criminal violation of local, State, Tribal, or Federal law; and
  • any activity that induces, causes, or requires another person to perform a duty or task that involves a criminal violation of local, State, Tribal, or Federal law.

Campus Hazing Transparency Report

The information below includes the name of the student organization, the dates (if known) of the hazing behavior, the date such behavior was reported to the University, the dates of investigation, and when the organization was found responsible, and a description of the findings. Reports of hazing that did not result in a finding of responsibility are not included. Annual statistics on hazing are available in the University’s Annual Fire Safety and Security Report. Please note that hazing statistics will be included beginning with the 2025 report (issued in 2026). Hazing statistics include incident reports that meet the federal definition of hazing. Such statistics do not reflect actual findings of hazing behavior, which are included in the Campus Hazing Transparency Report.

Suspended Student Organizations
Any student organization under active investigation will not be included in the Campus Hazing Transparency Report. For more information regarding organizations that may be suspended pending investigation, please visit the Suspended Student Organizations page.

Weapons Possession

The unauthorized possession, use, or sale of firearms, airguns, paintball guns, ammunition, fireworks, explosives or any lethal weapon, is strictly forbidden on campus and subject to college discipline as well as criminal charges.  Approval for possession and use of firearms is limited to specific situations such as Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) supervised activities, Canisius Public Safety Officers engaged in their official duties, and commissioned law enforcement officers engaged in their official duties.  All other possession or use must be authorized in writing by the Canisius University Director of Public Safety.

Crime Statistics

Canisius University complies with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act and makes available information regarding campus security and personal safety. This includes information on crime prevention, public safety, law-enforcement authority, crime reporting polices, disciplinary procedures, and other important matters pertaining to security on campus. Statistics of reported crimes are made public for the three previous calendar years. These reports include crimes that occurred on campus, in certain off-campus buildings or property owned or controlled by Canisius University, and on public property within or immediately adjacent to and accessible from the campus. The Canisius University Advisory Committee on Campus Safety will provide upon request all campus crime statistics as reported to the United States Department of Education. 

Download 2024 Clery Report

Printed copies of the Annual Safety Report are available in Public Safety.