U.S. House Passes Stop Campus Hazing Act

The U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 5646, the Stop Campus Hazing Act, which aims to create a federal framework to combat hazing in colleges nationwide. The legislation is largely influenced by the advocacy of Evelyn and Jim Piazza, whose son, Tim, died from a hazing incident at Penn State University in 2017. The bill mandates universities to report hazing incidents, standardizes definitions for hazing statistics, and promotes accountability among student organizations. Representative Glenn Thompson expressed that this legislation reflects Congress's commitment to student safety and aims to prevent future tragedies similar to that of the Piazza family. The Piazzas view the bill as a bittersweet victory, hoping it will save lives despite their personal loss. The bill is backed by various national organizations and represents a significant step towards addressing hazing in educational institutions.