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Safety and Wellbeing

Student Experience Get Involved Fraternity and Sorority Life 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

Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.(773) 684-1282
Chi Upsilon Sigma National Latin Sorority, Inc.No National Number Listed
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.(202) 986-2400
Delta Zeta Sorority(513) 523-7597
Phi Mu Women’s Fraternity(770) 632-2090
Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc.(919) 678-9720
Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc.(202) 387-3103
Zeta Tau Alpha Women’s Fraternity(317) 872-0540

Fraternities

Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.(410) 554-0040
Alpha Sigma Phi Fraternity(317) 843-1911
Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.(215) 228-7184
Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc(202) 726-543

Organization Violations

(Last updated on 11/30/2023) 

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  • Fall 2023 – Spring 2024 Academic Year: No fraternity/sorority organizations were found responsible for any sexual assault, physical assault, alcohol/drug or hazing violations (based on noted date of incident).

  • Fall 2022 – Spring 2023 Academic Year: No fraternity/sorority organizations were found responsible for any sexual assault, physical assault, alcohol/drug or hazing violations (based on noted date of incident).

  • Fall 2021 – Spring 2022 Academic Year: No fraternity/sorority organizations were found responsible for any sexual assault, physical assault, alcohol/drug or hazing violations (based on noted date of incident).

  • Fall 2020 – Spring 2021 Academic Year: No fraternity/sorority organizations were found responsible for any sexual assault, physical assault, alcohol/drug or hazing violations (based on noted date of incident).

  • Sigma Alpha Epsilon

    Violation:

    Incident: 04/12/21 
    Resolved: 06/11/2021
    Charges:

    • Repeated Hazing – Responsible 

    Sanctions: 

    • Suspended by University for five (5) years, beginning immediately
    • The Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity, South Carolina Beta Chapter will issue a letter of apology to the survivors of the hazing violations
    • If/when the national organization would like to return, the following will be required:
      • The fraternity will need to participate in the formal University expansion process when it becomes available after the chapter’s University suspension is over. 
      • The fraternity must participate in a University approved hazing workshop, seminar, or interactive hazing presentation
      • Sigma Alpha Epsilon headquarters is asked to confirm a full membership review with consequences
      • A chapter advisory council of at least 5 people are named
      • A minimum of one chapter advisor must attend all chapter events for one calendar year following reinstatement
      • No past Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity, SC-Beta Chapter alumni can participate in future collegian events without explicit advance University approval

    Note: Chapter charter suspended by organization headquarters, indefinitely

    Omega Psi Phi

    Violation:

    Incident: 12/07/20 
    Resolved: 02/09/2021
    Charges:

    • Hazing – Responsible
    • Other Student Organization Charges (2) – Responsible

    Sanctions: 

    • Suspended through February 3, 2022
    • Conduct fundraiser for the Student Emergency Fund in the amount of $50/member on the roster at the time of the infraction
    • Membership review of all active members conducted by the local and national officers
    • Anti-hazing educational program hosted for the entire USC Upstate fraternity/sorority community 
    • Advisors and local alumni must direct all new Membership Intake Processes for 2022 and 2023 academic years without undergraduate participation

  • Pi Kappa Phi

    Violation:

    Incident: 10/10/2019 
    Resolved: 12/13/2019
    Charges: Hazing – Responsible 

    Sanctions: Suspended by University through November 2020. 

    NOTE: National organization extended suspension.

  • Fall 2018 – Spring 2019 Academic Year: No fraternity/sorority organizations were found responsible for any sexual assault, physical assault, alcohol/drug or hazing violations (based on noted date of incident).

  • Fall 2017 – Spring 2018 Academic Year: No fraternity/sorority organizations were found responsible for any sexual assault, physical assault, alcohol/drug or hazing violations (based on noted date of incident).

  • Fall 2016 – Spring 2017 Academic Year: No fraternity/sorority organizations were found responsible for any sexual assault, physical assault, alcohol/drug or hazing violations (based on noted date of incident).

  • Fall 2016 – Spring 2017 Academic Year: No fraternity/sorority organizations were found responsible for any sexual assault, physical assault, alcohol/drug or hazing violations (based on noted date of incident).

  • Kappa Alpha Psi

    Violation:

    Incident: 4/17/2015 
    Resolved: 5/4/2016 
    Charges: Harm to Persons – Responsible 

    Sanctions: Social Probation (Fall 2015), Co-Facilitation of Retreat with other involved organization

    Alpha Phi Alpha

    Violation:

    Incident: 4/17/2015 
    Resolved: 5/4/2016 
    Charges: Harm to Persons – Responsible 

    Sanctions: Social Probation (Fall 2015), Co-Facilitation of Retreat with other involved organization

  • Fall 2013 – Spring 2014 Academic Year: No fraternity/sorority organizations were found responsible for any sexual assault, physical assault, alcohol/drug or hazing violations (based on noted date of incident).

  • Fall 2012 – Spring 2013 Academic Year: No fraternity/sorority organizations were found responsible for any sexual assault, physical assault, alcohol/drug or hazing violations (based on noted date of incident).

  • Kappa Sigma

    Violation:

    Incident:    11/28/2011 
    Resolved:   12/9/2011 
    Charges: Hazing – Responsible  

    Note: Chapter Closed by organization headquarters 12/9/2011

  • Alpha Kappa Alpha


    Violation:    Incident:     4/2/2011 
    Resolved:   5/5/2011 
    Charges: Hazing – Responsible 

    Sanctions: Suspension extended by organization headquarters to November 2016