University Anti-Hazing Policy

University Statement on Hazing

Involvement in a student club, organization or group tends to enhance the collegiate experience. Meaningful involvement in such out-of-class experiences is likely to provide opportunities for the development of self-governance, leadership, decision-making, and planning skills. In addition, student clubs, organizations and groups should offer students personal development, education and enriching experiences.

Hazing is a destructive and harassing activity that is not only in opposition to those goals, but are also in violation of state and federal laws. As such, Savannah State University regards any form of hazing as unproductive and is a hazardous custom contrary to the mission of the institution. Under the current law, individuals, clubs, organizations or group could be subject to fines and charged with a criminal offense for hazing. Any person can commit a hazing offense by engaging in a hazing activity, to include soliciting, directing, encouraging, aiding, or attempting another in hazing by knowingly or recklessly allowing hazing to occur or by failing to report in writing to the appropriate university official firsthand knowledge that a hazing incident has occurred.

The fact that a person consented to or acquiesced in a hazing activity is not a defense to prosecution for hazing under state law. SSU’s dedication to the highest ideals of education and society. Therefore, participation in hazing related activities is not consistent with the membership in any university club, organization or group and will not be tolerated, whether the participation is as an initiator or as a victim. It is the responsibility of all club, organization or group officers and advisors to ensure that this information is distributed, read and understood by all members of their organization. Ignorance of this information is not a defense to university disciplinary procedures, civil, or criminal liability.

Anti-Hazing Policy

‘Haze’ or ‘hazing’ means to subject a student to an activity which endangers or is likely to endanger the physical health of a student, or coerces the student through the use of social or physical pressure to consume any food, liquid, alcohol, drug, or other substance which subjects the student to a likely risk of vomiting, intoxication, unconsciousness regardless of a student’s willingness to participate in such activity. It is the act of intentional, knowing, or reckless act, occurring on or off the campus, by one person alone or acting with others, directed against a student for the purpose of ‘pledging’, being initiated into, affiliating with, holding office in, or maintaining membership in a club, organization or group if the act:

is any type of physical brutality, such as whipping, beating, striking, branding, electronic shocking, placing of a harmful substance on the body, or similar activity;
involves sleep deprivation, exposure to the elements, confinement in a small space, calisthenics, or other similar activity that subjects the student to an unreasonable risk of harm or that adversely affects the mental or physical health or safety of the student;
involves consumption of a food, liquid, alcoholic beverage, liquor, drug, or other substance, that subjects the student to an unreasonable risk of harm or that adversely affects the mental or physical health or safety of the student;
is any activity that intimidates or threatens the student with ostracism, that subjects the student to extreme mental stress, shame, or humiliation, that adversely affects the mental health or dignity of the student or discourages the student from entering or remaining registered in an educational institution, or that may reasonably be expected to cause a student to leave the organization or the institution rather than submit to acts described in this subdivision; and/or
is any activity that induces, causes, or requires the student to perform a duty or task that involves a violation of the Student Code of Conduct; other university policies; or local, state, or federal laws; or involves coercing the student to consume:
a drug;
or an alcoholic beverage or liquor in an amount that would lead a reasonable person to believe that the student is intoxicated.

The law defines ‘school organization’ as any association, corporation, order, club, society, fraternity, sorority, athletic team, student government, a band or musical group or an academic, cheerleading, or dance team or a group living together which has students or alumni as its principal members, including local affiliate organizations. It is also inclusive of any service, social or similar group, whose members are primarily students. ‘Student’ means any person enrolled or prospectively enrolled in a school in this state and ‘school’ is defined as any unit of the University System of Georgia, any unit of the Technical College System of Georgia, or any private postsecondary school, college, or university in this state.

For more information, please refer to Georgia Anti-Hazing Law § 16-5-61. Hazing (2021).

Reporting

Any person who voluntarily reports a specific hazing incident involving a student to the Dean of Students or other appropriate official of the institution is immune from civil or criminal liability that might otherwise be incurred or imposed as a result of the reported hazing incident, if the person:

reports the incident before being contacted by the institution concerning the incident or otherwise being included in the institution’s investigation of the incident; and
as determined by the Dean of Students or other appropriate official designated by the institution, cooperates in good faith throughout any institutional process regarding the reported incident.

Amnesty extends to participation in any judicial proceeding resulting from the report. Amnesty is not extended if the person:

reports the person’s own act of hazing; and/or
reports an incident of hazing in bad faith or with malice.

Hazing Report

Effective July 1, 2021, as mandated by law, SSU will, before the first class day of the Fall and Spring semesters, provide each enrolled student a summary of the hazing policy, and a copy of the SSU Hazing Report, which provides information regarding:

reporting, investigation, provision of due process, and administrative adjudication of alleged incidents of hazing as related to students and student organizations; and
public disclosure of administrative adjudications of hazing or hazing related convictions within 15 calendar days of final adjudication or public notice of criminal conviction.

The public disclosure of each incident of hazing adjudicated, criminal convictions for hazing, and other criminal convictions arising from any incident of hazing shall be posted prominently on the university’s website for a period of not less than five years after final adjudication or conviction. The information will include (1) The name of any school organization involved; (2) The date or dates on which the hazing occurred; and (3) A description of the specific hazing related findings, sanctions, adjudications, and convictions for any person or school organization. Public disclosure shall not include the personal identifying information of any individual student and shall be subject to the requirements of the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).

To report incidents of hazing, contact the Office of Student Conduct (jenningsc@savannahstate.edu), the Office of Greek Life (williamsd@savannahstate.edu) or complete the university's complaint form and submit to the Office of the Dean of Students located in the King-Frazier Student Center, suite 247 or email to bradleyb@savannahstate.edu.

If it is an emergency call Campus Police at 912-358-3004 or 911, if off-campus.