Photo caption: While meeting in the Capitol, Evelyn Piazza, mother of Timothy Piazza who died as a result of a hazing ritual, gave Senator Klobuchar a "never stop laughing, live like Tim" bracelet.
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) introduced legislation to address hazing on college campuses. The Report and Educate About Campus Hazing (REACH) Act would help to address the challenge of hazing by requiring incidents to be reported as part of a college’s annual crime report and by requiring institutions to establish a campus-wide, researched-based program to educate and prevent hazing, while also promoting strategies for building group cohesion without hazing. The bill also establishes a definition for hazing to clarify what constitutes a reportable offense. The REACH Act is cosponsored in the Senate by Senators Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Bob Casey (D-PA). Companion legislation is led in the House of Representatives by Representatives Marcia Fudge (D-OH) and David Joyce (R-OH).
“Hazing is a dangerous—and at times deadly—problem on college campuses, but unless someone voluntarily shares a story of hazing, we don’t have the data to know just how prevalent it is,” Klobuchar said. “The REACH Act will require colleges and universities to include hazing as part of their annual crime reports, giving us a comprehensive and accurate picture of the crisis so that we can create effective measures to address it. This legislation also encourages administrators to work with students on preventative programs to ensure that every student has a safe college experience.”
“Ensuring our schools and college campuses are safe is our number one priority. By encouraging our academic communities to address these incidents head-on, we can ensure a better, safer environment for students across Ohio and this country,” Brown said.
“Hazing has absolutely no place in our society or in our schools,” Casey said. “I’m proud to join in this effort to ensure that these horrific incidents are appropriately reported and that students are educated on the dangers of hazing. I hope my colleagues will swiftly support and pass this measure so we can help make our schools safer.”
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