ATHENS, Ohio — More than two years after an Ohio University student died as a result of hazing at a fraternity house, the school is taking a stand against hazing.
The university launched its statewide, letter-writing campaign this week. Students at 18 Ohio schools will have the opportunity to write letters to state legislators in support of “Collin’s Law,” named after Collin Wiant, who was 18 when he died at the off-campus Sigma Pi Epsilon house.
Ohio University student Lauren Moritz was a sophomore when the tragedy happened. She remembers that week well.
Ohio University student Lauren Moritz says she plans to participate in the university’s anti-hazing letter-writing campaign.
“It spread pretty quickly around campus,” said Moritz. “I was honestly just shocked and heartbroken.”
Moritz said she is on board with the letter-writing campaign.
“I think that it’s important for us as students to step up because these are our classmates these are people our age and we have to show that this is affecting us as a campus.”
And so is Kathleen Wiant, the mother of Collin, and the driving force behind Collin’s Law.
“I think it’s powerful and impactful,” said Waint. “If someone is bothering to write a letter even if they are given a template they probably have a greater understanding about that’s they probably care more.”
Students at OU will have the chance to write letters at the Baker University Center April 5-9.
The campaign comes after Bowling Green State University student, Stone Foltz, 20, died from alleged hazing incident in early March. The university placed the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity on interim suspension, and authorities are currently investigating.
