Last week, Congressman Patrick Meehan (R-PA) and Congresswoman Marcia Fudge (D-OH) hosted a press conference to build support for the Report and Educate About Campus Hazing (REACH) Act. Video from the event-which featured lawmakers, victims of hazing, and other stakeholders-can be viewed below:

Catalyzed, in part, by the tragic death of Timothy Piazza, who died in a hazing incident at Penn State University in February, the REACH Act seeks to ensure accountability, transparency, and education to transform how hazing incidents are tracked and prevented at postsecondary institutions in the United States. The act would require colleges and universities participating in federal financial aid programs to 1) include incidents of hazing in their annual security report, as mandated by the Clery Act; and 2) implement hazing education programs.

Such measures are needed because hazing occurs across a range of student organizations and 55% of college students participating in groups, organizations, and teams experience hazing with documented outcomes such as physical harm, emotional trauma, and, at times, death. Julie and Gary DeVercelly, who lost their son Gary DeVercelly, Jr. to hazing in 2007, spoke at the REACH Act press conference citing 40 hazing deaths since 2007. As Gary stated at the event, “the circumstances of their deaths are disturbingly similar. Gary’s death, like Timothy’s, was the focus of national attention and it prompted calls to stop hazing. But eventually the national attention moved on and nothing was changed.”

The REACH Act is endorsed by the Clery Center, Lugar Center, Penn State University, StopHazing, HazingPrevention.Org, Association of Fraternity/Sorority Advisors, and all national fraternity and sorority umbrella organizations, which together represent over 140 fraternities and sororities across the United States. Further support for the bill, however, is needed to ensure it is passed and meaningful progress to track and prevent hazing on college campuses is made. If you are involved with a national organization connected to higher education or a college or university, we encourage you to send this information along to your organizational leadership and ask if they would consider supporting and endorsing the REACH Act.

If you have any questions or would like to be added as a cosponsor please contact quin.roberts@mail.house.gov with Rep. Patrick Meehan at 202.225.2511 or clifton.williams@mail.house.gov with Rep. Marcia Fudge at 202.225.7032.