Ranking Member Cassidy’s Legislation to Address Hazing on College Campuses Heads to President’s Desk

WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, released a statement following the U.S. Senate unanimously passing his Stop Campus Hazing Act to improve the reporting and prevention of hazing on college campuses. Cassidy introduced this legislation with U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN). Previously, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the bill unanimously. The legislation will now head to the President's desk.

Cassidy's years-long efforts to combat hazing on college campuses were prompted by the death of Max Gruver, a Louisiana State University student who died as a result of hazing at a fraternity event in September 2017. The Gruver family launched the Max Gruver Foundation, a non-profit working to end hazing.

"Every student should feel safe on their college campus," said Dr. Cassidy. "By increasing transparency, the Stop Campus Hazing Act ensures that hazing is never ignored. Proud to see this legislation pass Congress and look forward to it becoming law."

"When parents send their kids away to college, they expect they will get a good education and make new friends. They don't expect them to be harassed and hazed. Unfortunately, hazing is a dangerous-and at times deadly-reality, and we must work to end it," said Senator Klobuchar. "Our bipartisan legislation to improve hazing prevention efforts on college campuses has now passed the Senate, and heads to the president's desk for signature, and I'll keep working to stop this abuse and keep students safe."

"With the Stop Campus Hazing Act passing in the Senate, we're one step closer to saving lives like Tucker Hipps and other students tragically killed in a suspected incidents of campus hazing. I applaud my colleagues as we honor Tucker's memory. This bipartisan, bicameral legislation mandates greater transparency in fraternity hazing reporting," said U.S. Representative Jeff Duncan (R-SC).

"I know what it's like to lose a loved one to violence-no parent should ever have to bury their child. This bill empowers students and their families to make informed decisions about the schools they attend and the organizations they join. That information could be life-saving," said U.S. Representative Lucy McBath (D-GA). "Our bipartisan legislation helps make sure that schools have the tools they need to foster safe learning environments. I am proud to see the Senate send this critical legislation to the President's desk, and I thank my colleagues for their continued commitment to safeguarding the well-being of our students."

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.

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