Hazing Policy and Regulations

Clemson University prohibits all forms of hazing. Students, employees, and affiliates must not engage in, promote, assist with, or ignore hazing activities. This policy applies to all members of the University community — including students, employees, affiliates, and any individual involved with a University organization.

Clemson's Hazing Policy

SECTION 59-101-200.Hazing prohibited; penalties.

(A) For purposes of this section:

1. "Student" means a person enrolled in a state university, college, or other public institution of higher learning.
2. "Superior student" means a student who has attended a state university, college, or other public institution of higher learning longer than another student or who has an official position giving authority over another student.
3. "Subordinate student" means a person who attends a state university, college, or other public institution of higher learning who is not defined as a "superior student" in item (2).
4. "Hazing" means the wrongful striking, laying open hand upon, threatening with violence, or offering to do bodily harm by a superior student to a subordinate student with intent to punish or injure the subordinate student, or other unauthorized treatment by the superior student of a subordinate student of a tyrannical, abusive, shameful, insulting, or humiliating nature.

(B) Hazing at all state supported universities, colleges, and public institutions of higher learning is prohibited. When an investigation has disclosed substantial evidence that a student has committed an act or acts of hazing, the student may be dismissed, expelled, suspended, or punished as the president considers appropriate.

(C) The provisions of this section are in addition to the provisions of Article 6, Chapter 3 of Title 16.

(D) The provisions of Section 30-4-40(a)(2) and 30-4-70(a)(1) continue to apply to hazing incidents.

HISTORY: 1994 Act No. 328, Section 1.

The term hazing, as defined by the Jeanne Clery Campus Safety Act, 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 other persons to participate, that:

• is committed in the course of an initiation into, an affiliation with, or the maintence of membership in, a student organization; and
• causes of creates a risk, above the reasonable risk encountered in the course of participation in the institution of higher education or the organization (such as the physical preparation necessary for participation in an athletic team), or 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.
• A student organization 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, or student government) in which two or more of the members are students enrolle at the institution of higher education, whether or not the organization is established or recognized by the institution."