Hazing Policy

PURPOSE

Southern Union State Community College (SUSCC) is committed to providing an environment for students, employees, and campus visitors that is free from all forms of hazing. Hazing violates both SUSCC policy, federal and state law, and may lead to removal from school or termination of employment as well as personal liability—civil and criminal.

POLICY

SUSCC is committed to maintaining a supportive, educational environment that seeks to enhance the well-being of all members of its community. This commitment reflects the institution’s adherence to its mission, to its various policies supporting its mission, and to relevant state and federal laws. Consistent with that commitment, the College has implemented the following policy on hazing.

PROHIBITION ON HAZING

Simply defined, hazing includes any act that threatens or inflicts physical, emotional, or psychological pressure or injury on an individual or that purposely demeans, degrades, or disgraces an individual. The College does not condone hazing, regardless of its form. Indeed, hazing is prohibited by the College’s Code of Student Conduct and considered a crime in the State of Alabama under Alabama Code § 16-1-23. No individual shall directly engage in hazing or indirectly encourage, aid, or assist any other person in hazing. All students and other College representatives, including employees, should immediately report known or suspected hazing violations as directed herein. 

An individual commits hazing by intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly causing, coercing, or forcing another individual to engage in or endure any of the following for the purpose of pre-initiation or pre-pledging activities, pledging, initiating, holding office, admitting or affiliating into or with an organization, or for the purpose of continuing, reinstating, or enhancing an individual’s membership or status in an organization:

1. Conduct or conditions that violate College policy or local, state, or federal law.
2. Physical brutality or any other conduct or conditions that pose a substantial risk of physical injury or death, including, but not limited to, whipping, striking, punching, beating, paddling, electric shock, placing harmful substances on the body, excessive exercise or calisthenics, branding, or exposure to the elements.
3. The consumption of any food, alcohol, drug, non-alcoholic liquid, or other substance that could adversely affect the physical health or safety of the individual.
4. Sexual misconduct, harassment, assault, humiliation, or brutality, such as forced nudity or an act of sexual penetration, or both.
5. An unreasonable act of forced servitude, restraint, including confinement, or sleep deprivation.
6. Any activity that would subject the individual to extreme mental stress, such as forced conduct that could result in extreme embarrassment, or other forced activity that could adversely affect the mental health or dignity of the individual.

For the purposes of this Policy, “organization” means any formal or informal fraternity, sorority, association, corporation, order, society, corps, student organization (registered or not), cooperative, club, service group, social group, band, spirit group, athletic, welding, or machinist team, or similar group whose members are primarily students at, or former students of, the College.

This Policy does not apply to reasonable and customary athletic, law enforcement, or military training, testing, competitions, or events, or to other similar events sanctioned by the College.

REPORTING HAZING

All members of the campus community have a duty to promptly report good faith concerns about potential hazing impacting another member of the campus community.  Specifically, if any such individual holds firsthand knowledge about hazing, whether that hazing has already occurred or is set to occur in the future, they have a duty to make a reasonable effort to immediately report the hazing-related information as noted herein. 

To report hazing that does not involve an emergency situation, please provide specific information about the hazing incident to any of the following:

Name & Title	Location	Contact Info
Derika Hodge Dean of Student Affairs	Location: Opelika Campus  Building: Administration Building	(334) 745-6437 Ext. 5555 dhodge@suscc.edu
Nick Jones Associate Dean of Student Affairs	Location: Opelika Campus  Building: Higginbotham Academic Center	(334) 745-6437 Ext, 5351 nrjones@suscc.edu

• The College’s Office of Student Conduct—please complete this online Student Conduct Reporting Form to report a hazing incident. Reports using this Office of Student Conduct online form may be done anonymously; write “anonymous” in the required name fields, and students can create a generic email address here. 

An individual with a duty to report a specific hazing incident or concern may be immune from College sanctions that might otherwise be imposed as a result of the reported hazing incident if the individual:

1. Immediately provides a full report of all known information upon learning that hazing will occur or has occurred;
2. Makes a reasonable effort to stop the hazing if it is planned or in progress, which, among other things, may include immediately reporting the situation;
3. Participates in good faith with:
   a.   Any College or law enforcement agency investigation regarding the incident, and
   b.   Any judicial proceeding resulting from a report of hazing; and
4. If the reporting individual is present at the scene of the hazing and the individual who is a victim requires medical attention:
   a.   The reporting individual immediately takes steps to get the victim assistance from appropriate medical personnel; and
   b.   The reporting individual remained with and assisted in good faith the individual requiring assistance until such medical personnel arrived.

If the situation is an emergency and you or someone else needs immediate assistance, please contact SUSCC Campus Police:

Name & Title	Location	Contact Info
James Burroughs Campus Police Officer	Location: Wadley Campus  Building: Dormitory	(256) 395-2211  Ext. 5147 cburroughs@suscc.edu
Randy Burroughs Assistant Chief of Campus Police	Location: Opelika Campus  Building: Administration Room: 126	(334) 745-6437  Ext. 5523 jburroughs@suscc.edu
Jimmy Holmes Director of Public Safety/Chief of Campus Police	Location: Wadley Campus  Building: Administration	(256) 395-2211  Ext. 5823 jholmes@suscc.edu
Kent Kirby Campus Police Officer	Location: Wadley Campus  Building: Science & Technology Center	(256) 395-2211  Ext. 5147 kkirby@suscc.edu
Timothy Milam Campus Police Officer	Location: Wadley Campus  Building: Dormitory	(334) 745-6437 tmilam@suscc.edu

PENALTIES/SANCTIONS

Individuals who are victims of hazing and who truthfully report violations of this Policy will not be subject to penalties or sanctions for violations of this Policy.

The penalties and sanctions for individuals who are found to violate this Policy may include the following:

1. In addition to any significant criminal charges or civil liability that may occur, an individual will be subject to immediate termination from employment or suspension/expulsion if:
   a.    They are found to have engaged in or contributed to hazing which results in serious physical injury, defined as physical injury that creates a substantial risk of death, or that causes serious or protracted disfigurement, protracted impairment of health, or protracted loss or impairment of the function of any bodily organ or extremity.
   b.    They are found to have engaged in or contributed to hazing which results in someone’s death; or
   c.    They are found to have engaged in or contributed to hazing that involves forced alcohol and/or drug consumption.
2. An individual who engages in any other form of hazing will be subject to penalties and sanctions up to and including termination from employment or suspension/expulsion.
3. An individual who has a duty to report potential hazing incidents as outlined herein but fails to make reasonable efforts to immediately report that knowledge may be subject to penalties and sanctions up to and including termination from employment or suspension/expulsion.
4. An individual who attempts to or does dissuade or prevent an individual from reporting potential or actual hazing or takes an adverse action against an individual in retaliation for a good faith report of hazing will be subject to penalties and sanctions up to and including termination from employment or suspension/expulsion. 

This is not an exhaustive list of potential sanctions/penalties for violating this policy. Each situation will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

An organization that is found to have violated this Policy may also be subject to sanctions/penalties, including, but not limited to, removal from campus, suspension of operations, social event restrictions, or block seating revocation. 

A third-party who is found responsible for hazing may be removed from campus and barred from returning. 

An individual may not avoid hazing charges or sanctions by arguing that the hazing victim consented, whether express or implied, to the conduct.   In short, a person cannot consent to being hazed. 

If an individual or organization is found responsible for violating this Policy and a criminal or civil proceeding relating to the conduct arrives at an alternative conclusion, the College finding will not be subject to change. 

Making an intentionally false accusation of hazing is prohibited.   Any member of the campus community who is found to have engaged in this conduct will be subject to penalties and sanctions up to and including termination from employment or suspension/expulsion.

PROHIBITION ON RETALIATION

It is a violation of this Policy for a member of the campus community to retaliate against another individual who has made a good faith report of hazing. 

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

PRIMARY PREVENTION STRATEGIES.

• Skill building for bystander intervention
• Information on Ethical leadership
• Promotion of building group cohesion without hazing.
• Offer in-person or virtual annual training to faculty, staff, students, parents, and college community on hazing.

For more information on hazing prevention and reporting, including a partial listing of specific examples of hazing, please visit StopHazing.org website (https://stophazing.org/resources/toolkits-guides/)

HAZING INVESTIGATION PROCESS

SUSCC implements a clear, structured process for investigating hazing reports. When an allegation is received, SUSCC Police will promptly initiate an investigation conducted by trained personnel who document all evidence and interview relevant parties, including alleged victims, witnesses, and accused individuals. The investigation must be thorough, impartial, and conducted in a manner that protects the confidentiality of those involved while ensuring due process. SUSCC Police are required to maintain detailed records of all investigations, complete them within reasonable timeframes, and communicate findings to appropriate stakeholders. SUSCC Police will take immediate interim measures to ensure student safety during investigations and implement appropriate disciplinary actions through Dean of Students when violations are confirmed, while also reporting aggregate data on hazing incidents to improve transparency and accountability.

SCOPE

This policy applies to all members of the campus community, which includes faculty and staff, contractors, residents, students, advisors, visitors, alumni, and guests.