Hazing Prevention
What is Hazing?
While being part of a student organization or other campus group can be one of the most meaningful aspects of your Furman experience, hazing is a serious, and often hidden, problem that undermines that value of these experiences.
Furman University defines hazing as an action taken toward a student or subset of students by an organization or its members that is not universally applied to all members of that organization. The only exceptions to the requirement of universal application are University approved educational plans for new members, sanctions or other disciplinary measures assigned as a result of an organization’s internal disciplinary process, and University, athletic, and military training approved by Furman employees.
Hazing includes but is not limited to:
- Personal service to members of the organization or their designees;
- Physical abuse such as paddling, striking, branding, electric shock or bodily contact with harmful substances;
- Intimidation by threats of physical or other abuse;
- Excessive exercise or other tasks intended to cause physical exhaustion;
- Prolonged or repetitive tasks that result in sleep deprivation;
- Prolonged or harmful exposure to the elements;
- Humiliation through verbal or physical actions;
- Compelled consumption of any amount of alcohol;
- Compelled consumption of food or liquids;
- Grooming or dressing requirements; and
- Any task that requires the participant to violate the law or University policies.
Learn more about Furman’s Hazing Policy.
Reporting Options and Resources
If you are aware of hazing behavior that is currently happening or if this is an emergency and immediate assistance is needed, please contact the Furman University Police Department at 864-294-2111.
Furman University will investigate any known hazing incidents. If you believe you have experienced or witnessed hazing, please utilize one of the reporting methods listed below. If revealing your identity is a concern, there are anonymous avenues for you to choose from. We urge you to report any suspected hazing incident to the best of your ability. You could be the difference in preventing future hazing incidents.
- Submit a hazing incident report.
- Contact the Office of Student Life at 864-294-2202 or [email protected].
- Contact Furman Police at 864-294-2111 or through the LiveSafe app.
- Campus Conduct Hotline: 866-943-5787
- Anti-Hazing Hotline: 1-888-NOT-HAZE
Hazing is a violation of the Furman Student Conduct Code and Student Organization Policies, as well as South Caroline state law. Furman University will not tolerate any hazing by student organizations or their members.
Click here to view Furman’s Student Handbook
Click here to view South Carolina State Law
The Stop Campus Hazing Act calls for transparency from campuses by sharing student organization track records and hazing prevention policies.
Additional Resources and Information
Information for Parents & Family
Talk to your student about hazing. Research suggests that students are more likely to talk with parents or family members about a hazing experience than they are with University faculty or staff.
Warning Signs:
- Sudden change in your student’s communication with you, including frequency, length and general tone, surrounding the time the student is joining the group
- Sudden change in willingness to share the activities he/she/they is involved in with the organization
- Changes in sleeping and eating patterns
- Feeling anger, confusion, embarrassment, helplessness, anxiety and even depression
- Sudden changes in academic performance
- Complaint of new physical ailments – exhaustion, broken bones, sprains, cuts, burns, hangovers, or stomach or head aches, and reasoning of how the injuries happened that don’t quite seem to make sense
- Feel a sense of loyalty to the group and avoid sharing their concerns or fears with anyone for fear the group might get in trouble
- Discussion of wanting to leave the organization/team but being scared or feel there is no way out
If your student discloses a hazing incident they experienced or witnessed, or you suspect hazing has occurred, please discuss the importance of sharing this information with the University using one of the reporting methods provided. Parents are also able to report hazing via our online form.
The Office of Student Life and the Office of Student Involvement are available to support parents who have questions about their student’s involvement in various organizations.
If you or someone you know has been hazed or has witnessed hazing, there are campus support services available to help.
The following resources are confidential:
For on-demand mental health and crisis support, call 864-294-3031, #3.
Student Organization Transparency Report
Involvement in a student organization is a powerful experience in the development of individuals. In order to allow our students to make a discerning choice about their involvement, Furman University began reporting conduct violations by organizations in the fall of 2016. The report is updated at the end of each fall and spring academic semester; violations are made public for four years from the semester the violation occurred.