The new federal rule, according to anti-hazing groups, will make hazing occurrences more transparent

Cedar Rapids, Iowa – A new federal statute that President Biden signed last week is being praised by anti-hazing organizations.

Schools are required by the “Stop Campus Hazing Act” to report hazing incidents that occur on campus and to provide instruction on hazing awareness and prevention. The Alpha Delta Phi Fraternity was suspended by the University of Iowa for a hazing event in November, which prompted the enactment of this rule.

When Iowa City Police arrived, they discovered 56 fraternity pledges blindfolded and covered in food. They claimed to be responding to a fire alarm that had been triggered. According to organizations, this regulation should help parents predict when a hazing incident may happen.

Todd Shelton, Executive Director of the Hazing Prevention Network, stated that hazing has no place in any team, organization, or university.

The nonprofit group, which is founded in Indiana, aims to inform individuals about the negative effects of hazing and how to stop it in high schools, businesses, sports organizations, and college campuses. Shelton has personal experience with the impact of these tales.

“I am honored to have the opportunity to work with parents out there telling their stories, but we don’t want any more parents,” he stated.

The “Stop Campus Hazing Act,” according to Shelton, will contribute to some transparency in the matter. Under the federal Clery Act, the law will require colleges to disclose hazing incidents on campus in their yearly security report. Although all three of Iowa’s public universities already have procedures in place for reporting instances of hazing on campus, all post-secondary institutions must now maintain them for a period of five years.

Shelton stated, “If they had known that they don’t think their child would have participated, and the parent certainly wouldn’t have been supportive of their child participating, then organizations had been found guilty of hazing in recent years.”

According to Shelton, the law provides additional information and education about hazing and how to avoid it, but they now want individuals who engage in hazing offenses to face the consequences, particularly where there has been physical or significant harm. That is regarded as a simple misdemeanor in Iowa.

“We have been concentrating on making those state laws stronger, especially in cases where drugs or alcohol were used or physical harm occurred, to make hazing a felony,” he stated.