When was hazing banned

Pi Delta Psi, an Asian-American cultural fraternity founded in , has 25 chapters in 11 states, including one at Penn State University that will now have to be disbanded. Four defendants who pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter and other charges will be sentenced later on Monday. A grand jury said fraternity members at Baruch, a campus of the City University of New York, physically abused Deng , and then tried to cover it up as the year-old lay dying in their rented house in the Pocono Mountains.

Police charged 37 people with crimes ranging from aggravated assault to hazing to third-degree murder. It would also require them to provide education to students about the dangers and signs of hazing. It's a welcome change. Most students who suffer hazing aren't even aware that it's happening. However, this bill limits hazing reporting to incidents committed due to initiation in or affiliation with an organization connected with the university—essentially, any fraternity or campus club.

For the purpose of the reporting bill, that's important. However, the Chad Meredith Act and likely the federal statute too makes it clear that it is not a valid defense to claim that the "hazing" took place apart from any organization or official organization event. Our law also made it clear that it wouldn't matter if the hazing took place in connection to initiation or affiliation with a club—any kind of coercion would be a criminal offense.

The bipartisan bill is currently in committee before the House Committee on Education and the Workforce. Our firm is wholly committed to stopping the fatal or harmful coercion of individuals. Lives are being cut short due to harmful, meaningless risk-taking in the name of "brotherhood," and it enrages us. It should enrage universities and leaders around the nation as well. We look forward to the day that students will be able to enjoy campus life without harassment, fear, or bullying. Until that day, we'll continue faithfully securing justice for the victims of hazing nationwide.

Call to learn if you have a case or use our online form to schedule a free consultation. We are here to provide a voice to victims and fight for justice. Limited Caseloads Equals Unlimited Focus. Is Hazing Illegal in the United States? The following states have zero laws prohibiting or defining hazing: Alaska Hawaii New Mexico Wyoming South Dakota Montana Only 13 states have laws that make hazing a felony when resulting in death or serious injury: Florida Texas California Utah Wisconsin Michigan Indiana Illinois Missouri West Virginia Pennsylvania Louisiana New Jersey Causing the death, injury, or mental anguish of another human being needs to be taken more seriously by the courts, and that begins with laws that take the hazing seriously.

Pressures or coerces students into violating the law, committing or being subject to violence, exposing themselves to the elements, or consuming any food, drug, liquor, or other substance. Pressures or coerces students into situations of extreme mental stress, social humiliation or exclusion, or any activity that threatens mental health or dignity.

More than a decade after the Chad Meredith case, 10 states have now criminalized hazing. Andrew's Law strengthens the Chad Meredith Act in multiple ways, including: Providing for prosecution of event coordinators where hazing causes injury, even if coordinators don't attend Providing for immunity under the hazing statute to the first person who calls or administers aid to a hazing victim Granting immunity only if the caller cooperates with law enforcement Provides for prosecution of hazing that causes permanent damage The bill was officially signed into law by Governor DeSantis in June Their pamphlet "Hazed" includes information on: The signs of alcohol poisoning The red flags of hazing How hazing escalates over time The legal consequences of hazing nationwide Read the pamphlet here.

Section 2. Section 1 of the same Act is hereby amended to read as follows:. This shall also include any activity, intentionally made or otherwise, by one person alone or acting with others, that tends to humiliate or embarrass, degrade, abuse, or endanger, by requiring a recruit, neophyte, applicant, or member to do menial, silly, or foolish tasks. It includes ceremonies practices , rituals, and other acts in all stages of membership in a fraternity, sorority, or organization.

Section 3. A new section to be denominated as Section 3 is hereby inserted in the same Act to readas follows:. Prohibition on Hazing. Section 4. Section 2 of the same Act is hereby amended to read as follows:. Regulation of Schoo-Based Initiation Rites. Only initiation rites or practices that do not constitute hazing shall be allowed: Provided, That:. The appropriate school authorities shall have the obligation to disapproved the application to conduct initiation rites that do not conform with any of the requirements of this section, and in unequivocal terms in a formal advice to the fraternity sorority, or organization concerned, taking into consideration the safety and security of participants in the activity.

All members of the fraternity, sorority, or organization, who participated in the unauthorized initiation rites, even if no hazing was conducted, shall also be punished accordingly. Section 5. Section 3 of the same Act is hereby amended to read as follows:.

Monitoring of Initiation Rites. It is the duty of the school representatives to see to it that no hazing is conducted during the initiation rites and to document the entire proceedings.

Thereafter, said representatives who were present during the initiation shall make a report of the initiation rites to the appropriate officials of the school regarding the conduct of the said initiation: Provided, That if hazing is still committed despite their presence, no liability shall attach to them unless it is proven that they failed to perform an overt act to prevent or stop the commission thereof.

Section 6. A new section to be denominated as Section 6 is hereby inserted in the same Act to read as follows:. Registration of Fraternities, Sororities and Other Organizations. Section 7. A new section to be denominated as Section 7 is hereby inserted in he same Act to read as follows:.