Safety and Wellbeing

Organizational Conduct

USC Upstate cares about the safety and wellbeing of its students! Help us keep our campus safe by being a part of the Spartans Care initiative where students support, respect and take responsibility for one another. Make a plan to be an active bystander in an unsafe situation and know what you can do to stop harmful behavior and get help for yourself and your peers. You may also report an incident anonymously via the R U OK form. 

In accordance with South Carolina's Tucker Hipps Transparency Act, USC Upstate reports findings of violations involving alcohol, drugs, sexual assault, physical assault and hazing by fraternity and sorority organizations formally affiliated with the University. Reports (see below under "Organization Violations") include the organizations name, incident date, report, charge, investigation and resolution. Reports also include a general incident description and subsequent charges, findings and sanctions placed on the organization.

In accordance with the South Carolina Freedom of Information act, additional information not protected by the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act is available by contacting the Office of the Dean of Students at 864-503-5107.

USC Upstate policy on hazing

In addition to the legal and physical risks, hazing is harmful to the morale of members and creates additional problems within the organization. The very activities meant to “build pledge class/line unity” can be detrimental to the overall unity within the organization, creating issues with distrust and loyalty. It also hinders the ability of organizations to recruit and retain members and can create a vicious cycle that will ultimately destroy the organization.

The University defines hazing as any act that endangers the mental or physical health or safety of a student, faculty member or other University official. This includes the removal of public or private property for the purpose of initiation, admission into, affiliation with or as a continued membership in a group or organization (Code of Student Behavior). It is important to note that a student’s “willingness” to participate in the hazing activities is not a defense. Essentially, if someone gives an organization “permission” to haze them, it is still hazing and is still a violation of the Code of Student Behavior, South Carolina Law and organizational policies. Additionally, hazing is not an issue limited to fraternities and sororities, but can also occur in non-Greek Letter organizations and athletic teams.

If you feel that you (or someone you care about) have been hazed, you have three couple of options:

1. Contact the Office of Student Involvement by phone at 864-503-5122,
2. Contact the Dean of Students at 864-503-5107.
3. Submit an anonymous or confidential report online.
   These reports can be submitted anonymously or confidentially. The University will investigate all reports submitted to the extent possible. Be advised the submission of anonymous reports severely limits the University's ability to examine and respond to reports of hazing. Reports will be investigated but we encourage reporting persons to include their names and contact information so reports may be thoroughly investigated and possible action taken.
   
   Unsure of how to write an anonymous report? Review this Sample Anonymous Report.

Report a Hazing Incident

National Organization Contact Information

Inter/National Name, Headquarters Website and Phone Numbers.

Sororities

Fraternities

Organization Violations 

(Last updated on 01/4/2023)