Savannah State University recognizes that traditions, customs, and practices, add value to the collegiate experience. These traditions are welcomed and encouraged. The University, however, strictly prohibits and will not tolerate traditions, customs, and practices that involve hazing of any kind, that interfere with the academic and personal development of students, that are anti-social, or that compromise students’ safety and well-being.
The University will discipline clubs and organizations, including Greek-letter organizations, that engage in underground and clandestine activities and groups that are developed for the purpose of initiation into a club or organization. Students who engage in such activities as well as any form of hazing are subject to suspension from the University, regardless of classification, status, or length at the University. Suspension in these and all other matters, when the sanction is imposed, takes effect immediately.
Anti-Hazing Policy Statement
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.
“Max Gruver Act” Public Disclosure
In compliance with the Max Gruver Act (2021), Savannah State publicly discloses administrative adjudication of hazing or hazing-related convictions. The university is required to maintain and report, timely updates and communicate its hazing policies, reporting procedures, retaliation protections, and disclosure of Hazing or Hazing-related violations and convictions. Within 15 days of final adjudication of institution Hazing conduct cases and/or public notice of criminal Hazing convictions; case findings and outcomes, to include sanctions, is posted on it’s website. Hazing statistics is also published in the Annual Security Report maintained by the Department of Public Safety.
Public Disclosure and Hazing Transparency Reporting
The “Hazing Transparency and Max Gruver” Report will make public the following information for a minimum of 5 years:
- The name of the school / student organization involved;
- The dates on which the hazing incident(s) occurred, the investigation was initiated, the investigation ended with a finding of responsibility, and the institution provided notice to the student / school organization that the incident resulted in a hazing violation; and
- A general description of the violation, including whether the violation involved the abuse or illegal use of drugs or alcohol; and
- A description of the hazing related findings, sanctions, adjudication, and convictions (as applicable).
(Note that no FERPA-protected information should be included in these public disclosures.)
Reporting Hazing Violations
All members of the Savannah State community are strongly encouraged to report suspected instances of Hazing to the Office of Greek Life, the Department of Public Safety, the Dean of Students, or a university employee. All reports of Hazing are investigated by the university’s Hazing Workgroup and/or Public Safety, to determine whether there is sufficient basis to believe that a violation of the Student Code of Conduct may have occurred. Based on the review, the Coordinator for Student Conduct or the Dean of Students may initiate charges or dismiss a case administratively if the claim does not appear to be supported by the facts. If the charges are initiated, the university will serve as the Complainant throughout the student conduct process. Refer to the Standards for Institutional Student Conduct Investigation and Disciplinary Proceedings section of the Student Code of Conduct for the adjudication process for resolving general conduct matters.
To report incidents of hazing, contact the Office of Student Conduct ([email protected]), the Office of Greek Life ([email protected]) 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 [email protected].
If it is an emergency call Campus Police at 912-358-3004 or 911, if off-campus.
Hazing Prevention
As a part of the student group informational, recruitment, and membership intake activities, student groups are required to educate members and prospective members about Hazing and to maintain documentation that they have fulfilled this requirement. Each member of a student group must attend Hazing workshops presented by the Office of Greek Life and sign the Hazing Acknowledgement Form prior to participating in membership recruitment actives.
Definitions
- Hazing means 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 or connection with, the maintenance of membership in, or any other condition or precondition connected to a student organization or school organization; and
- causes or creates a risk, above the reasonable risk encountered in the course of participation in institution or organization activities (such as the physical preparation necessary for participation in an athletic team), of physical or psychological injury including –
- whipping, beating, striking, electronic shocking, placing of 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 other 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.
- School/student organization means an organization (such as a club, society, association, corporation, order, varsity or junior varsity athletic team, club sports team, fraternity, sorority, band, student government, or group living together) in which two or more of the members are enrolled students or alumni, including local affiliate organizations, whether or not the organization is established or recognized by the institution.
- Consumption (e.g., alcohol, drugs, food or any other substance);
- Physical abuse, harm or injury (e.g., paddling, beating, whipping, and calisthenics such as push-ups, sit-ups, jogging, running, etc.);
- Disruption of academic pursuits or endeavors (e.g., road trips, scavenger hunts, not allowing adequate time for study, causing sleep deprivation);
- Degrading activities (e.g., line-ups, berating, nudity, sexual misconduct, acts of personal servitude for members such as driving to class, cleaning individual rooms, serving meals, washing cars, running errands, laundry, etc.); and
- Violation of University policies, or federal, state or local laws (e.g., theft or destruction of property).
