President Joe Biden signed the Stop Campus Hazing Act into law Monday, marking the first federal legislation aimed at preventing hazing and increasing transparency around such incidents on college campuses. The law responds to decades of advocacy by families who have lost children to hazing, seeking to close gaps in the patchwork of state regulations.
Hazing, defined in the legislation as any act causing physical injury, mental harm, or degradation during initiation or membership in a group, is prohibited under the law, even if the victim consents. The rules extend beyond Greek life to include athletic teams and clubs at institutions participating in federal student aid programs.
Colleges are now required to offer research-based prevention and awareness training while publicly reporting hazing incidents and investigation outcomes. Advocates believe this transparency will illuminate the scale of the problem, which remains largely underreported.
High-profile tragedies have highlighted the dangers of hazing. Gary DeVercelly Jr. died in 2007 after drinking most of a vodka bottle as part of a fraternity initiation at Rider University. Tim Piazza, a Penn State sophomore, succumbed to injuries in 2017 after a fraternity drinking challenge led to a series of fatal injuries. Both families have been at the forefront of calls for federal action.
With bipartisan support, the bill passed Congress in late 2023. Advocates hope this legislation will reduce hazing-related deaths and shift campus cultures, ensuring safer environments for students nationwide.
Source: Philadelphia Inquirer