Ranking Member Cassidy, Klobuchar Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Combat Hazing on College Campuses

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) introduced the bipartisan Stop Campus Hazing Act to improve the reporting and prevention of hazing on college campuses. Specifically, this legislation requires hazing incidents be included in a college’s annual crime report and require higher education institutions to establish a campus-wide, research-based program to educate students about the dangers of hazing. The bill also increases transparency and accountability by providing parents and students with better information about which on-campus student organizations have a history of hazing incidents.  

“Students should feel safe no matter what school they choose,” said Dr. Cassidy. “The Stop Campus Hazing Act improves transparency and ensures hazing is never ignored.” 

“When parents send their kids away to college, they expect they will get a good education and make new friends. Unfortunately, hazing is a dangerous—and at times deadly—reality, and we must work to end it,” said Senator Klobuchar. “Our bipartisan legislation will improve hazing prevention efforts on college campuses as well as reporting of hazing incidents to make sure we have the information we need to stop this abuse and keep students safe.” 

U.S. Representatives Lucy McBath (D-GA) and Jeff Duncan (R-SC) introduced the companion legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives. 

“The impacts of hazing across our country are heartbreaking and unacceptable. I know the pain of losing a child, and we must do everything we can so that families know their kids are being kept safe when they go off to college,” said Representative McBath. “This bipartisan, bicameral legislation strengthens important national standards for data collection and reporting so that students, their families, and our nation are informed about these horrific instances. This bill is an important step as we protect the health, safety, and success of students.” 

“Hazing on college campuses has taken the lives of too many shining stars,” said Representative Duncan. “Our district knows the pain of losing a son, and friend, to hazing. I’m proud to stand up for countless students like Tucker W. Hipps whose life was taken too soon. If we stand united, we can put an end to hazing and ensure no one is subjected to the horrific pain it brings.” 

Cassidy and Klobuchar are joined by U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Lindsay Graham (R-SC), Bob Casey (D-PA), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Tim Kaine (D-VA), and Susan Collins (R-ME). 

This legislation is supported by the Clery Center; StopHazing; Anti-Hazing Coalition including the Hazing Prevention Network, Association of Fraternal Leadership & Values, Association of Fraternity/Sorority Advisors, National Panhellenic Conference and its member sororities, the North American Interfraternity Conference and its member fraternities; College Safety Coalition; SAFE Campuses, LLC; International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators; and the parents of hazing victims. 

“Federal legislation to address hazing is long overdue, and while we wait, lives continue to be lost. The Stop Campus Hazing Act will standardize how hazing is defined, tracked, and responded to across colleges and universities. This common-sense bill has unprecedented support from organizations and families across the country- the time is now,” said Jessica Mertz, Executive Director of the Clery Center. 

“The National Association of Clery Compliance Officers and Professionals (NACCOP) strongly supports the primary tenants of the Clery Act as we believe the law has not only enhanced campus and student safety across the country, but it has also strengthened and professionalized campus police and security agencies, student affairs offices, and other compliance initiatives. It has been our privilege to provide feedback toward the “Stop Campus Hazing Act” in terms of helping refine some of the legislative language to reduce potential confusion and conflict for practitioners as they ensure proper implementation of the Act should it become law. We continue to support initiatives that strengthen institutional safety efforts at colleges and universities,” said Dolores Stafford, Executive Director, NACCOP. 

Background

The National Study of Student Hazing found that more than half of college students involved in extracurricular clubs, athletic teams, and organizations experience hazing. Since 2000, there have been more than 50 hazing-related deaths.  

The Stop Campus Hazing Act would: 

• Improve hazing reporting by requiring colleges to include hazing incidents in their Annual Security Report; 
• Prevent hazing by establishing campus-wide, research-based hazing education and prevention programs; and 
• Help students and their parents make informed decisions about joining organizations on campus by requiring colleges to publish on their websites the institution’s hazing prevention policies and the organizations that have violated them. 

Recently, Cassidy and Klobuchar’s resolution to designate the week of September 25 through September 29, 2023 as “National Hazing Awareness Week” passed the U.S. Senate. U.S. Representatives Lucy McBath (D-GA) and Jeff Duncan (R-SC) led the companion resolution in the U.S. House of Representatives.  

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