Hazing

Hazing will not be tolerated at Bob Jones University (BJU). BJU student groups (e.g. registered student organizations, intramural, varsity athletic teams, and other recognized student groups) and individual students are prohibited from hazing.

Hazing is prohibited in any form both on campus and off campus.

Definition of Hazing

1. Hazing is any intentional, knowing, or reckless act that endangers the mental, physical, or emotional health or safety of any person as it relates to a person’s initiation, admission into, or affiliation with any University group or organization.
   For the purposes of this definition:
   
   • It is not necessary that a person’s initiation or continued membership is contingent upon participation in the activity, or that the activity was sanctioned or approved by the student group or student organization, for an allegation of hazing to be upheld.
   • It shall not constitute an excuse or defense to a Hazing allegation that the participants took part voluntarily, gave consent to the conduct, voluntarily assumed the risks or hardship of the activity, or that no injury was suffered or sustained.
   • The actions of alumni, active, new, and/or prospective members of a student group or student organization may be considered hazing.
   • Acts of coercion, intimidation, or peer pressure that compel participation in prohibited conduct shall be considered hazing, regardless of the absence of explicit requirements for membership.
2. A student organization is any organization (e.g., society, intercollegiate sports team, intramural team, academic association, musical groups, student body leadership) in which two or more members are students enrolled at the University, whether or not the organization is established or recognized by the University.
3. For the purposes of this regulation, hazing includes observation of hazing activities by individuals in a position to intervene but who fail to intervene, including organization officers/leaders who are aware of planned hazing activities and who condone and/or fail to prevent hazing from occurring, regardless of their participation.

Reporting Hazing

1. Allegations of Hazing — Any person having knowledge of any activity or conduct which may constitute hazing can report their concerns to the Student Life Office or Campus Public Safety (https://bobjonesuniv.formstack.com/forms/safety_report). Reports of hazing that may constitute criminal behavior will be referred to local law enforcement consistent with South Carolina law. Campus Public Safety will document such reports for Clery compliance.
2. Self-Reporting of Incidents — Student organization/team members and officers/captains should immediately report any hazing incidents that occur within their organization to the Student Life Office, providing a detailed description of the events that have transpired, the names of any individuals involved, and a description of any actions taken by the organization. Upon receiving the report, the Student Life Office will investigate as described in this regulation and the organization president and advisor/coach will be notified. The investigation and adjudication will proceed related to the regulation violations by the individual(s) implicated in the report, unless evidence discovered in the investigation proves the incident to have been sanctioned by the organization. If the incident appears to have been sanctioned by the organization, a follow-up investigation into the organization’s role may be undertaken. If the student organization is affiliated with a national organization, the national headquarters will be notified.

Investigation of Allegations and Charges

Investigation of Allegations and Charges — Upon receiving a report of alleged hazing, the Chief Student Development Officer/Designee will assign the case to an independent investigator. As part of the investigation, the University will:

1. Make contact (if possible) with the individual(s) bringing forward the allegations of hazing;
2. Make contact with the individual(s) alleged to have perpetrated the hazing. If the conduct is organizational in nature, the investigator will contact the advisor and president of the organization under investigation;
3. Conduct interviews with all parties, including victims, the accused student(s) and any witnesses. The investigator may, at his/her discretion, recommend interim action (as described in the Student Code of Conduct) to the Chief Student Development Officer at any point during the investigation;
4. The investigator may, at his or her discretion, require students, or a select group of students (i.e. all new members of an organization) to participate in an investigatory meeting at a pre-determined time and location and may exercise discretion regarding the communication of students during the investigation process, including but not limited to restriction on the use of any electronic devices during the investigation process.
5. The investigator may, at his or her discretion, require students to undergo a physical examination by a campus health services staff member, particularly when allegations of physical abuse are part of a hazing investigation. The results of these physical examinations will be protected by applicable health privacy laws, but a summary of any physical signs of hazing (i.e. bruises, burns, etc.) will be provided to the investigator by the medical professional conducting the examinations.
6. The investigator will provide a written investigative report to the Chief Student Development Officer or Designee. Upon receipt of this report, the Chief Student Development Officer (or designee) will determine if charges are warranted. If charges are warranted, the Student Life Office will charge the individual student(s), the involved student group(s), and/or the President or other responsible officers of the involved student group(s) or any other complicit bystanders in accordance with the Student Code of Conduct.
7. The investigator will initiate contact as required by subsections (a) and (b) above within five (5) business days of receiving a report, and the University will strive to complete investigations within forty-five (45) business days unless extenuating circumstances require additional time.

Adjudication

Adjudication shall be conducted pursuant to the Student Code of Conduct (or other specific language in University policy related to organizational misconduct, if applicable).

Individual and Organization Responsibility

The University will, on a case-by-case basis, determine whether any violations of this policy are individual or organizational in nature. In determining whether or not a violation is organizational in nature, the University will consider the following:

1. How many members were present when the alleged violation occurred or had specific knowledge of the alleged violation?
2. What knowledge did the appropriate chapter officers and/or advisors have of the alleged violation?
3. What action did the appropriate chapter officers and/or advisors take in addressing/preventing the alleged violation?
4. Were chapter members acting in concert, or did the individual’s membership in the chapter serve as an impetus for the alleged violation?
5. Did the violation arise out of a chapter sponsored, financed or endorsed event?
6. Is there a pattern of individual violations that have occurred without proper action by the chapter?

Amnesty

To encourage reporting and cooperation, Bob Jones University may grant amnesty from certain minor policy violations for a person who reports hazing in good faith, provided the following conditions are met:

1. The person is the first to make the report and does so without malice.
2. The person cooperates fully with the investigation.
3. The violation for which amnesty is sought is nonviolent and not among the more serious conduct (e.g. assault, sexual misconduct, use of weapons).

The decision to grant amnesty is at the discretion of the Chief Student Development Officer, based on the facts and the best interests of health, safety, and accountability.

Any amnesty thus granted is subject to the following limitations:

1. This amnesty does not shield a person from consequences under criminal law or referral to law enforcement.
2. The University reserves the right to deny amnesty in cases of repeat offenses, significant harm, or conduct beyond the scope of low-level policy violations.
3. The University reserves the right to require students granted amnesty to participate in nondisciplinary educational interventions.

Sanctions

1. Sanctions for violations of this regulation shall be administered by the Chief Student Development Officer.
2. Student groups subject to University jurisdiction and individual students found responsible for violations of this regulation shall be sanctioned in accordance with the Student Code of Conduct. For student groups, sanctions may include, but are not limited to, revocation of registration or denial of application for registration, loss of University/College privileges such as the ability to host social events, to formally meet on campus and to use campus facilities, or to represent the University/College, and, in the case of literary societies, the right to be recognized or operate at the University/College.
3. Sanctions imposed by the University for violations of this regulation may be in addition to any penalty imposed for violation of the criminal laws of the State of South Carolina and for violation of any other University regulations or policies.
4. For groups that are formally associated with the University (i.e. varsity athletic teams, performing arts groups such as the University Symphony Orchestra or Concert Band, or any other groups supported or sponsored by the University that are not required to register as student organizations), sanctioning for violations of this policy shall be determined by the Chief Student Development Officer.

Retaliation

It is a violation of this policy to retaliate or take adverse action towards any person for reporting an alleged violation of this policy or for cooperating with a University investigation related to this policy. Retaliation includes, but is not limited to, verbal or implied threats, physical or psychological abuse, intimidation, harassment (verbal or written), isolation, or any other action intended to create a hostile environment for the intended target of the retaliation.

Campus Hazing Transparency Report

Consistent with federal law, Bob Jones University will publish a Campus Hazing Transparency Report on its website and update it semiannually. The report will summarize each hazing incident for which a finding of responsibility has been made, including the organization involved, a brief description of the violation, and sanctions imposed.

Additionally, the University will include statistics and policy statements on hazing in its Annual Security Report, as required under the Clery Act and the Stop Campus Hazing Act.

• Hazing Report

Prevention Programs/Strategies

Bob Jones University will provide annual hazing-prevention education to students, faculty, and staff through student-leader training and a module within its Title IX training. These programs emphasize the University’s zero-tolerance policy, bystander intervention, and procedures for reporting suspected hazing.