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Newberry College Hazing Policies

Hazing Laws

Federal Hazing Public Law No: 118-173

The Stop Hazing Act defines hazing 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 (1) is committed in the course of an initiation into, an affiliation with, or the maintenance of membership in, a student organization (e.g., a club, athletic team, fraternity, or sorority); and (2) causes or creates a risk, above the reasonable risk encountered in the course of participation in the IHE or the organization, of physical or psychological injury.

South Carolina Hazing Law

  • (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, which is not defined as a "superior student" in subitem (2).
    • (4) "Hazing" means the wrongful striking, laying an open hand upon, threatening with violence, or offering to do bodily harm by a superior student to a subordinate student with the intent to punish or injure the subordinate student or other unauthorized treatment by the outstanding 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 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.

Newberry College Hazing Policy and Procedures

Hazing Explained:

Hazing activities are defined as: "Any action is taken, or situation created, intentionally, whether on or off-campus, to produce mental or physical discomfort, embarrassment, harassment, or ridicule. Such activities may include but are not limited to the following: use of alcohol; paddling in any form; creation of excessive fatigue; physical and psychological shocks; quests, treasure hunts, scavenger hunts, road trips, or any other such activities carried on outside or inside the confines of the chapter house; wearing of public apparel which is conspicuous and not normally in good taste; engaging in public stunts and buffoonery; morally degrading or humiliating games and activities; and any other activities which are not consistent with academic achievement, fraternal law, ritual or the regulations and policies of the educational institution or applicable state law".

This applies to behavior on and off-campus. Optional events can be considered hazing due to the emotional status of potential members and the fear of not being initiated for not participating. All members/participating students should read and understand the Newberry College Anti-Hazing Policy. Any questions or clarification should be directed at the Student Affairs’ Conduct Office.

Activities that are considered to be hazing include, but are not limited to:

  • Physical acts such as running or calisthenics
  • Forced or coerced to carrying unusual items such as buckets, paddles, rocks, pledge kits, etc.
  • Paddling (striking an individual with a hand or board)
  • Branding (burning or scarring of the skin)
  • Forced or coerced eating or drinking of any substance, including alcohol
  • Applying any substances to an associate member's body or belongings
  • Forced listening to any loud or repetitious music or noise.
  • Physical harassment such as pushing, tickling, yelling, etc.
  • Deprivation of sleep or standard sleeping patterns
  • Lack of average amounts of food and water
  • Individuals or groups interrogations such as lineups.
  • Forced or coerced trips such as kidnaps, drop-offs, dumps, etc.
  • We are putting potential members in uncomfortable settings such as cold or hot rooms, smoke-filled rooms, etc.
  • Personal servitude (forcing members to provide services to an active member such as cleaning their house, shopping for them, etc.)
  • You assign pranks such as streaking, painting objects, panty raids, harassing other individuals or organizations/group, etc.
  • Calling potential members derogatory names such as plebe, scum, fags, bitch maggots, worms, etc.
  • Deprivation of adequate study time
  • Potential members are expected to do anything for the entertainment of the brothers/sisters.
  • Forced or coerced wearing of conspicuous clothing is not generally in good taste.
  • You are forcing an individual to perform sexual acts.

Individual penalties for hazing may include but are not limited to the imposition of fines, the withholding of diplomas or transcripts pending compliance with the rules and pending payment of fines, and the imposition of probation, suspension, dismissal, and any other sanctions of Student Conduct.

In the case of a college organization/group that authorizes hazing in blatant disregard of such rules, penalties may also include recession of permission for that organization to operate on campus property or otherwise use under the sanction of the College.

Annual Programs and Trainings:

  1. Faculty Retreat’s Reporting on Campus Training. (August)
  2. Staff Council Retreat’s Reporting on Campus Training. (August)
  3. Hazing Prevention Week Programs (Final Week of September)
    1. Reporting and Bystander Awareness Event (Monday)
    2. Protecting the Pack Against Hazing Event (Wednesday)
    3. Reporting and Bystander Awareness Event (Friday)
  4. Anti Hazing Coalition Initiatives (Ongoing)
    1. Band Awareness & Outreach
    2. Student Organization Awareness & Outreach
    3. Athletics Awareness & Outreach

Hazing Reporting & Investigating Procedures

In the case that a hazing incident is discovered or suspected, a report can be made using the campus incident reporting form located on the Newberry College Student Conduct website.

Process and Procedures:

  1. Hazing report is submitted.
  2. Cease and Desist could be placed at the discretion of the college as needed.
  3. Notice of Investigation
  4. Investigation
    1. Student/Representative will provide a written statement
    2. Participants will be interviewed.
    3. The Initial Investigation Report will be created and provided to students/representatives.
    4. Student/Representative will provide a written response.
    5. The Final Investigation Report will be created and provided to students/representatives.
    6. Investigation Ends
  5. Adjudication
    1. Student/Representative will be notified of official charges
    2. Pre-Hearing Conference will take place to choose resolution routes and answer respondents questions about the adjudication process.
    3. Student/Representative will choose resolution route.
    4. Hearing will take place.
    5. A decision is made using the standards of preponderance of the evidence.
    6. An outcome Letter is provided to student representative.
    7. Cease and Desist will be removed, if found responsible, the student organization/group will follow the sanctions of the outcome letter.

Hazing Transparency Report

As of December 2025, Newberry College has not found any teams, student groups, or organizations responsible or sanctioned due to hazing activities.