WASHINGTON, D.C. — Stone Foltz was 20-years-old when he died last month after an alleged hazing incident at Bowling Green State University.
What You Need To Know
- Stone Foltz’s death at Bowling Green State University in March has sparked a new discussion about anti-hazing legislation
- Ohio lawmakers at the state and federal level are working to get bills passed
- The Foltz family attorney says the legislation could make a big difference
- Ohio lawmakers are hoping to make progress while momentum is there
His family’s attorney, Rex Elliott, said it’s the latest reminder of an epidemic.
“There’s been a death on a college campus every year since 1959 from hazing and here we are in 2021,” Elliott said.
Elliott, the Foltz family, and the family of Collin Wiant, who died from hazing in 2018 at Ohio University, are on a mission to end hazing through education and legislation.
“Collin’s Law” is making its way through the Ohio Statehouse. It would establish an anti-hazing curriculum, require fraternities to disclose past violations, and make hazing a felony.
In Washington, Ohio lawmakers are pursuing federal solutions.
Columbus-area Rep. Steve Stivers (R, OH-15) has reintroduced the “End All Hazing Act,” which would require colleges and universities to post instances of hazing on their websites. It has bipartisan support in the House and Senate.
“I think families, especially parents, deserve that information before they send their sons and daughters off to colleges,” Stivers said.
Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) has reintroduced the bipartisan “REACH Act” which would do three things:
- Require colleges include hazing incidents in annual crime reports
- Establish a definition of hazing to make clear what’s an offense
- Require schools establish a hazing education program.
Elliott, the Foltz family attorney, said these bills haven’t become law yet because the legislative process takes time and momentum usually slows in the weeks and months following the latest hazing death.
He said there’s also certain types of pushback.
“You have lots of money being donated from former fraternity members, and I do think that college presidents and administrators are worried about a downturn in donations,” Elliott said.
A spokesperson for Bowling Green State University said in a statement, “Bowling Green State University is in support of both the REACH and End All Hazing acts as well as Collin’s Law. We believe legislation will aid in the University’s goal to make Ohio hazing-free.”
Elliott, who was in a fraternity himself, also wants universities to establish a zero-tolerance policy for hazing.
“I think with the combination of the legislation and university presidents really drastically reforming the fraternity system, we can get close to solving the problem,” he said.
Bowling Green State University has suspended the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity while Stone Foltz’s death is investigated.
Former U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio David DeVillers has been appointed to lead the probe.
