Senator Ken LaValle: Senate Approves Legislation to Combat College Hazing
Long Island, NY - March 28, 2018 - Senator Ken LaValle reported that the NY State Senate has once again approved his legislation that is designed to combat College Hazing. The bill (S2552) seeks to address the issues of underage drinking, hazing and illegal drug use on New York State Campuses.
Currently, New York State has various laws in place to prohibit underage drinking, drug use, and hazing. Despite such laws, those are the three of the most prominent problems plaguing New York State campuses today. Senator LaValle’s measure would provide increased penalties and education for hazing, underage drinking and drug use within athletic teams, fraternities and sororities at college campuses.
Senator LaValle said, “Too many families have had to grieve the loss of a relative due to hazing. We need to continue to fight these types of serious issues.” Senator LaValle continued, “Whether it be from dangerous hazing incidents, alcohol poisoning or drug overdoses, something must be done to combat the problems causing tragic deaths and injuries on campuses. This legislation would bring the changes necessary to help ensure safety and help deter such harmful behavior in the future.”
In spite of good faith efforts on the part of institutions of higher education to implement policies and procedures to combat these issues, the problems continue and show no signs of decreasing. As a result, parents, administrators and trustees have become increasingly concerned about the safety of their children and students on campus.
Under this legislation, those who engage in the dangerous activities of hazing and underage drinking would face more serious consequences and disciplinary charges. It would build upon existing criminal laws against hazing, underage drinking and illegal drug use to deter such activities by requiring colleges and universities to implement more serious consequences and disciplinary charges for offenders. The measure would:
Require colleges to adopt rules prohibiting hazing, underage drinking and illegal drug use and establish penalties for non-compliance
Expand authority of colleges to regulate conduct by college and student government organizations and clubs, athletic teams and clubs, alumni organizations, fraternities, sororities, and any other organization that has access to and use of the college facilities
Require colleges to educate the campus community on bias-related crime, hazing, underage drinking and illegal drug use
Require colleges to inform incoming students of and to train residence hall staff in the prohibitions against hazing, underage drinking and illegal drug use.
Senator LaValle’s legislation has been transmitted to the Assembly Higher Education Committee for consideration.