Recognition and  Accountability

Official recognition is a privilege granted by USC and the university reserves the right to revoke, limit, and/or suspend the privileges of an RSO if the organization fails to adhere to university expectations or adequately demonstrate on an annual basis that its members serve as upstanding citizens, positive role models for other students, and good neighbors. As members of an RSO, you are expected to set a high bar of ethical conduct for your members and take proactive steps to ensure all members meet that bar. 

USC has established the following policy for all RSOs to ensure that leaders and members of student organizations understand and accept responsibility for the actions of their group and its members.  

Every student organization member has the duty to take all reasonable steps necessary to prevent infractions of university rules growing out of or related to the student organization’s activities. For RSOs, policies that may be particularly relevant include but are not limited to, those related to hazing, discrimination, sexual misconduct, vandalism, theft, alcohol or substance abuse, and misappropriation of organization or university funds.  

Liability on the part of the student organization may be mitigated if members of the organization take reasonable steps to prevent infractions of university regulations by their fellow members. Such steps will usually include clear establishment of standards (preferably in writing), documented education of members as to the standards established, and documented enforcement of standards when violations occur. The specific steps necessary to avoid this liability (or to mitigate consequences) will vary according to the circumstances of the situation, the seriousness of the behavior, and the possible harms which could have arisen from the behavior.  

Where more serious behavior and harm is in question, the student organization has the duty to take clear and firm action that is reasonably calculated to prevent and/or cease the behavior in question. 

RSOs, their leaders/officers, and members may be held responsible for the acts of individuals. Such acts include but are not limited to: 

• When a member of an organization is violating state law or university standards and other members present fail to indicate their disapproval, or by their continued presence without objection implicitly condone the behavior (e.g., hazing).   
• When the acts grow out of or are directly related to the student organization’s activities or an environment created by the organization.   
• When the acts are those of guests of an organization, or by persons authorized or permitted to represent themselves as connected with the organization.  
• When an organization places prospective members in a subordinate status prior to achieving full membership or imposes any kind of probationary period prior to full membership, and hazing occurs.   

It is the responsibility and expectation of every member of every student organization to respond to the conduct of the other members when they are engaged in behavior which violates the law or university regulations. It is not the number of members involved in an activity that is crucial to a determination that the organization is responsible. The test is whether the activity is related to a student organization through one of the four sets of circumstances previously articulated, rather than a private activity by persons who happen to be members of the same student organization. The factors to be considered include whether the activity is one normally considered part of student organization life and whether the atmosphere in the particular organization encourages or condones the particular group activity of the members.  

It is the responsibility of every organization to create the proper atmosphere to ensure that misconduct related to the student organization is inconsistent with membership in the organization.  

This responsibility is not only to members who are engaged directly in the activity, but also to members not engaged in the activity who are present or who have knowledge of the activity. For instance, knowledge of involvement by other members in illicit activities is sufficient to being held accountable through the university’s disciplinary process. All members must recognize that their conduct may result in both individual and group accountability through the university. Organizations and their members/affiliates are encouraged to participate fully and truthfully in university investigations of student and organizational misconduct. 

Submit a USC Report here: https://report.usc.edu/  

RSO and Membership Accountability for Hazing 

Following a proven allegation of hazing, individual members and officers of the organization may be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including suspension and expulsion from the university. Additionally, the student organization may lose its recognition with the university. Loss of recognition may begin immediately after a determination of hazing is made by the Office of Community Expectations (OCE) and/or Campus Activities. In order to regain recognition a student organization may be required to suspend activities such as:   

• Recruitment of new members.   
• Changes in membership status.   
• Events, including social functions.   
• Officer elections.   
• Participation in voting groups of associated organizations (e.g., student assemblies, councils, etc.) or participation in their sponsored events.   
• Participation in intramurals and accumulation of award points.   
• Use of university facilities, including office space, meeting space or residence.   
• All operations of the student organization.   
• Internet access (email and website).   

The restoration of recognition with the university will be followed by a period of probation for the organization. Probationary status for the organization may include some of the limitations imposed during suspension and may also involve projects, programs, and/or other criteria to be met by the organization. These stipulations will be designed to promote positive development of the organization.   

(For additional information see Hazing in Integrity and Accountability: Student Community Expectations and the USC Disciplinary Process in this student handbook.)  Link to Campus Activities Hazing Website and resources: https://campusactivities.usc.edu/programs/hazing-prevention/