During National Hazing Awareness Week, Klobuchar, Cassidy Bipartisan Legislation to Combat Hazing on College Campuses Passes House

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) announced their Stop Campus Hazing Act to improve the reporting and prevention of hazing on college campuses has passed the House of Representatives. This bipartisan legislation would require colleges to include hazing incidents in their annual campus safety report and establish a campus-wide, research-based program to educate students about the dangers of hazing. In addition, the bill would increase transparency and accountability by providing parents and students with better information about a student organization's history of hazing incidents. The bill is championed by Representatives Lucy McBath (D-GA) and Jeff Duncan (R-SC) in the House of Representatives.

House passage of the Stop Campus Hazing Act comes as the Senate passed Klobuchar and Cassidy's bipartisan resolution to recognize National Hazing Awareness Week. The resolution designates this week, September 23 through 27, 2024, as "National Hazing Awareness Week," recognizes the hundreds of students who have died or suffered severe, life-altering injuries as a result of collegiate hazing, and promotes efforts to prevent hazing. McBath and Duncan lead the companion resolution in the House of Representatives.

"When parents send their kids away to college, they expect they will get a good education and make new friends. Unfortunately, too many are also exposed to hazing, a dangerous-and at times deadly-problem," said Klobuchar. "Our bipartisan legislation will improve hazing prevention efforts on college campuses to make sure we have the information we need to stop this abuse and keep students safe."

"Students and families should feel safe no matter what college they choose," said Dr. Cassidy. "By increasing transparency, the Stop Campus Hazing Act will ensure that hazing is never ignored. We must get this bill across the finish line and passed into law."

This Stop Campus Hazing Act is cosponsored by Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Bob Casey (D-PA), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Susan Collins (R-ME), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), James Lankford (R-OK), Steve Daines (R-MT), Jon Ossoff (D-GA), Angus King (I-ME), and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV).

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.

This bipartisan, evidence-informed 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; National Pan-Hellenic Council, Inc.; Association of Big Ten Students; College Safety Coalition; SAFE Campuses, LLC; International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators; National Association of Clery Compliance Officers and Professionals; and the parents of hazing victims.

Klobuchar has been a leader in the fight to end hazing.

Last year, Klobuchar and Cassidy introduced the bipartisan Stop Campus Hazing Act and the first ever congressional resolution designating "National Hazing Awareness Week."

The 2024 National Hazing Awareness Week resolution is cosponsored by Bob Casey (D-PA), James Lankford (R-OK), Senators Angus King (I-ME), Susan Collins (R-ME), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Chris Coons (D-DE), Steve Daines (R-MT), Tina Smith (D-MN), and Joe Manchin (I-WV).

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