91ΑΤΖζ

Anti-Hazing Policy and Resources

91ΑΤΖζ takes student safety very seriously. To this end, the following policy and procedure has been developed in order to track and report hazing incidents. This policy is in compliance with the Stop Campus Hazing Act.

Policy

91ΑΤΖζ is committed to promoting an environment where all campus members can learn, work, and live free from physical or psychological injury incurred during recruitment, initiation processes, and participation in a student organization, club, or athletics team. To this end, the College prohibits hazing and works to prevent and address all incidents of hazing involving members of the campus community. In accordance with the Stop Campus Hazing Act (SCHA), an amendment to the Jeanne Clery Campus Safety Act, the College will compile hazing statistics for the Annual Security and Fire Safety Report (ASFSR), publish and regularly update a Campus Hazing Transparency Report, and provide hazing prevention awareness programming.

Federal Definition of Hazing (per SCHA): Hazing is defined as 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 – (a) whipping, beating, striking, electronic shocking, placing a harmful substance on someone’s body, or similar activity; (b) causing, coercing, or otherwise inducing sleep deprivation, exposure to the elements, confinement in a small space, extreme calisthenics, or similar activity; (c) causing, coercing, or otherwise inducing another person to consume food, liquid, alcohol, drugs, or other substances; (d) causing, coercing, or otherwise inducing another person to perform sexual acts; (e) any activity that places another person in reasonable fear of bodily harm through the use of threatening words or conduct; (f) any activity against another person that includes a criminal violation of local, State, or Federal law; and (g) any activity that induces, causes, or requires another person to perform a duty or task that involves a criminal violation of local, State, or Federal law.

91ΑΤΖζ’s institutional definition Includes: a wrongful striking, an unauthorized laying hand upon; a threat of violence; an offer to do bodily harm by any student to another student; any other unauthorized treatment by one student toward another student of a tyrannical, abusive, shameful, insulting, or humiliating nature; or a requirement of any student to perform personal services for another student except as specifically provided for cadets in the Blue Book, Regulations for the South Carolina Corps of Cadets.

Furthermore, per student organization, it is defined as an organization at an institution of higher education (such as a club, society, association, varsity or junior varsity athletic team, club sports team, fraternity, sorority, band, student government or cadet unit) in which two or more of the members are students enrolled at the institution of higher education, whether or not the organization is established or recognized by the institution.

Hazing is abusive, degrading, psychologically damaging, and may be life-threatening. It is unacceptable in all forms and has no place in 91ΑΤΖζ community. 91ΑΤΖζ groups, organizations, athletic teams, and employees are important contributors to a vibrant and positive campus life and are expected to act in accordance with applicable policies and codes of conduct to treat others with respect.

Examples of Hazing:

Depending upon circumstances, the following activities have, at one time or another, been construed by the courts and/or institutions of higher education as hazing if they fall outside of a program’s guidelines.

Such activities are often required or implied as conditions of inclusion or exclusion from a group, formal or informal. Hazing, therefore, may be perpetuated by individual(s) against individual(s), individual(s) against the group, the group against individual(s) or group against group.

• β€œPT” (Physical Training): requiring calisthenics such as sit-ups, running or any form of physically abusive or excessive exercise; any physical action or restraint that may reasonably inflict harm or pain on an individual(s) or place them in a position or situation of possible harm or threat.
• Forcing, requiring, recommending and/or coercing consumption of alcoholic beverages or any other kind of drug; requiring ingestion of an undesirable or unwanted substance (food, drink, concoction).
• Harassment or bullying, whether verbal, mental or physical of individual(s) or group(s).
• Scavenger hunts that require or result in theft; dangerous activities, and/ or kidnapping.
• Endorsing or conducting pranks such as stealing items, destruction of property or objects, pulling false fire alarms, or any other activity in violation of the law.
• Personal servitude (excessive or inappropriate chores, errands, etc. for the group(s) or individual members).
• Sleep interruption or deprivation; conducting activities that do not allow reasonably adequate time to study.
• Degrading, humiliating or significantly embarrassing games or activities.
• Line-ups or any interrogation for information about the history, purpose or direction of the organization that is not consistent with legitimate testing.
• Forced isolation from other members, friends or the rest of the campus. This includes any prohibition on speaking or social interaction (including public marching or walking in lines or β€œonline.”)
• Deception and/or threats contrived to convince the pledge he/ she will not be able to join the organization or that inflicts mental stress by not revealing the requirements or basic timetable for joining.

Warning Signs of Hazing:

If you’re wondering if something is hazing, look for key indicators and ask some questions.

• Sudden change in behavior or attitude after joining the organization or team
• Wanting to leave the organization or team with no real explanation
• Sudden decrease in communication with friends and family
• Physical or psychological exhaustion
• Unexplained weight loss
• Unexplained injuries or illness
• Change in sleeping or eating habits
• Withdrawal from normal activities
• Expressed feeling of sadness or feeling of worthlessness
• Increase in secrecy and unwillingness to share details

Report Hazing:

91ΑΤΖζ encourages the reporting of incidents of hazing and takes every such report seriously. 91ΑΤΖζ will investigate all reports diligently and thoroughly in accordance with applicable employee, student, and cadet policies. Individuals found responsible for committing, soliciting, encouraging, directing, aiding, or recklessly permitting hazing to occur will be subject to disciplinary sanctions that could include termination for employees and expulsion for students. Any person may report hazing in person, by mail, by telephone, or by electronic mail to, but not limited to, the following offices/individuals:

Non-Confidential Reporting Options: Citadel Public Safety, COL Heyward Hutson, John A. Robinson Jr., Valerie Mercado and Lean Schonfeld.

Confidential Reporting Options: MAJ Eileen Quinn, Dr. Lee Westberry and Shamus Gillen. Electronic and anonymous reporting may also be done by using the Fraud, Waste, and Abuse Compliance Hotline found at the bottom of the www.citadel.edu homepage.

Reports of hazing will be reviewed promptly and referred to the appropriate office: Office of the Commandant investigates hazing involving cadets, Office of the Provost investigates hazing involving non-cadet students and Human Resources investigates hazing involving employees. If the incident may involve criminal activity, 91ΑΤΖζ will notify Public Safety and/or local law enforcement and assist with any ongoing investigation.

Resources:

• Additional resources are available online at or
• 91ΑΤΖζ’s