For the first time in American history, a national anti-hazing bill, introduced by U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) in the U.S. Senate, has become federal law.
“Students should feel safe no matter what school they choose,” Sen. Cassidy said on Dec. 26. “With this new law, we ensure hazing is never ignored.”
President Joe Biden on Dec. 23 enacted the bipartisan, bicameral Stop Campus Hazing Act, H.R. 5646, introduced on Sept. 21, 2023 by U.S. Reps. Lucy McBath (D-GA) and Jeff Duncan (R-SC) to improve the reporting and prevention of hazing on America’s college campuses. Sen. Cassidy and U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) introduced the same-named S. 2901 on the same day.
The new law will improve hazing reporting by requiring colleges to include hazing incidents in their annual security report, and prevent hazing by establishing campus-wide, research-based hazing education and prevention programs.
Additionally, it will help students and their parents make informed decisions about joining organizations on campus by requiring colleges to publish the institution’s hazing prevention policies and the organizations that have violated them on their websites, according to a bill summary provided by Sen. Cassidy’s staff.
The senator’s years-long efforts to combat college hazing were spurred by the death of Max Gruver, a Louisiana State University student who died in September 2017 as a result of hazing at a fraternity event. The Gruver family launched the Max Gruver Foundation, a nonprofit working to end hazing.
“I appreciate the tireless work of the Gruver family, and all advocates, who were instrumental in getting this bill across the finish line,” said Sen. Cassidy.
