Two Senators have teamed up to introduce legislation that would seek to curb hazing incidents at higher education institutions across the country.
On Friday, Senators Bill Cassidy (R-LA) and Bob Casey (D-PA) introduced the End All Hazing Act that seeks more transparency on behalf of colleges and universities, when it comes to putting hazing-related information in the public domain.
The bill was prompted by the death of a Louisiana State University student Maxwell Gruver, who died due to hazing on September 14, 2017, the day after he was forced to “chug hard liquor” during a fraternity pledging ritual.
The new bill would require the schools to put incidents of hazing that took place on campus or within a student organization on their websites.
Hazing in college is not just "kids being kids." We need transparency and accountability to ensure our students are safe. I'm proud to introduce the End All Hazing Act. https://t.co/H34nKNzZjY
— U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (@SenBillCassidy) October 24, 2019
“Hazing has absolutely no place in our society or in our schools. I am proud to join Senator Cassidy in introducing the Educational Notification and Disclosure of Actions risking Loss of Life by Hazing Act (End All Hazing Act), to provide much-needed transparency to students and parents,” said Senator Casey.
Lately, many campuses are taking hazing incidents very seriously. Earlier this month, Ohio University has announced the suspension of all its 15 fraternities registered with the Interfraternity Council (IFC).
In May, Swarthmore College also took a similar move but harsher by banning all the fraternities and sororities on its campus, denying them any leased space following a report which found serious violations of rules and school policies.