Tucker High School Football DeKalb County School District’s Hazing Policy August 1, 2015

HAZING

Georgia Hazing Law § Hazing

a) As used in this Code section, the term: (1) "Haze" means to subject a student to an activity which endangers or is likely to endanger the physical health of a student, regardless of a student's willingness to participate in such activity.

( 2) "School" means any school, college, or university in this state. (3) "School organization" means any club, society, fraternity, sorority, or a group living together which has students as its principal members. (4) "Student" means any person enrolled in a school in this state.

(b) It shall be unlawful for any person to haze any student in connection with or as a condition or precondition of gaining acceptance, membership, office, or other status in a school organization.

(c) Any person who violates this Code section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor of a high and aggravated nature.

The DeKalb County School District operates under the State of Georgia Hazing Law with strict consequences for those found in violation. This includes any situation which recklessly or intentionally endangers the mental or physical health or safety of a student for the purpose of initiation or admission into a school organization.

DCSD Policy (from DCSD Student Code of Conduct ) G. Bullying/Hazing Students will not threaten, intimidate, harass, make physical contact with or subject another student to any other form of physical or emotional hurt, including hazing associated with membership in extracurricular organizations (sports teams, band, etc.). However, school officials will address even one act of bullying/hazing if necessary. Violations of this offense code include:

Verbal assaults such as unwanted teasing or name- calling; Threats, taunts and intimidation through words and/or gestures; Direct physical contact such as hitting or shoving; Physical violence and/or attacks; Destruction of school or personal property; Any form of electronic bullying or cyberbullying using school equipment, school networks, or systems, or using personal equipment during school; Theft of money and/or personal possessions for the purpose of bullying, harassing, or intimidating;

Harassment or intimidation motivated by any actual or perceived characteristic including race, color, ethnicity, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, ancestry, national origin, physical attributes, socioeconomic status, physical or mental ability or disability, or by any other distinguishing characteristic; Public humiliation; Social isolation; Extortion or manipulation, including incitement and/or coercion; Rumors or spreading of falsehoods;

Stalking; Cyberstalking or engaging in conduct to communicate, or to cause to be communicated, words, images, or language by or through the use of or electronic communication, directed at or about a specific person, causing substantial emotional distress to the victim; Cyberbullying or the willful, hostile and repeated harassment and intimidation of a person through the use of digital technologies, including, but not limited to, , blogs, social networking websites (e.g., MySpace, Facebook, etc.), chat rooms, texts, and instant messaging;

Using cameras or camera phones to take embarrassing photographs of students or school employees and distributing them to others or posting them online; Sending abusive or threatening text messages or instant messages; and Using websites to circulate gossip and rumors to other students.

The consequences for violation of these rules are defined in the Dekalb County School District Student Code of Conduct which will be given to your student on the first day of school.

Reporting Problems 1. If you feel you are being hazed or if you witness someone being hazed talk to one of your coaches, your parent(s), and the administration immediately

Additional Resources: Dekalb County School District Student Code of Conduct

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