Honoring Lives, Advancing Hazing Prevention

Recent updates to hazing laws in North Carolina and Missouri mark essential progress in the national effort to address and prevent hazing. The changes are connected to the stories of Harrison Kowiak and Danny Santulli, young men whose lives were forever changed due to hazing. Their families have shown extraordinary courage and determination, turning grief into action through advocacy that has helped bring about these critical legislative changes. At StopHazing, we honor their memory and stand alongside their families by continuing our mission to prevent hazing and promote safe, inclusive school, campus, and organizational environments.   

Note: Many of the recent updates to state hazing laws in the last several years have been driven by the tireless efforts of parents who have lost children to hazing. Their efforts have brought national attention to the issue and helped push for stronger legislation and greater accountability. Some examples include: 

Key State Law Updates: Harrison’s Law and Danny’s Law

North Carolina – Harrison’s Law

In 2025, North Carolina enacted Harrison’s Law in memory of Harrison Kowiak, a 19-year-old student who was killed by hazing at Lenoir-Rhyne University while joining Theta Chi Fraternity. Harrison, the beloved oldest child of Lianne and Brian Kowiak, grew up in New Jersey, California, and Florida, and attended Lenoir-Rhyne on an academic and golf scholarship. The legislation strengthens the state’s response to hazing by increasing penalties and expanding accountability.

Under Harrison’s law, students who “engage in hazing, or to aid or abet any other student in the commission of this offense,” now face Class A1 misdemeanor charges. School personnel, including teachers, administrators, coaches, and more, who participate in or enable hazing may be charged with a Class I felony. 

The law also redefines hazing in § 14‑35 as “subjecting a student to physical or serious psychological injury as part of an initiation, or as a prerequisite to membership, into any organized school group, including any society, athletic team, fraternity or sorority, or other similar group.” 

By reclassifying and clarifying hazing offenses, Harrison’s Law serves as a powerful tool to deter harmful behaviors and hold individuals accountable.

Missouri – Danny’s Law

Enacted in 2025, Missouri’s Danny’s Law honors Danny Santulli, a freshman, who suffered permanent brain injuries as a result of hazing at the University of Missouri while joining Phi Gamma Delta Fraternity. A key feature of Danny’s Law is the inclusion of an amnesty provision that protects individuals from prosecution if they take responsible, life-saving action during a hazing emergency. This includes individuals who render aid before medical assistance arrives, were present at the scene and required immediate medical attention, were the first to call 911 or campus security to report the need for medical assistance, and remained at the scene until medical assistance arrived, and cooperated with responders.

This law removes a critical barrier to reporting and encourages individuals to seek immediate help without fear of legal consequences, ultimately aiming to save lives and prevent future tragedies.

The Role of Legislation in Hazing Prevention

Hazing laws play a vital role in legal accountability, clearly defining behaviors that are unacceptable and punishable. State-level legislation, such as Harrison’s Law in North Carolina and Danny’s Law in Missouri, demonstrates a strong commitment to student safety and well-being. However, laws alone are not enough. These laws are most effective when paired with education and prevention strategies aimed at shifting culture. Guidance on hazing education, prevention strategies, and consequences varies widely from state to state. This Concept Paper written by StopHazing in support of federal legislation outlined the urgent need for a standardized approach and consistent federal support to strengthen prevention efforts nationwide, which came to fruition in 2024.

At the federal level, the Stop Campus Hazing Act, passed in December 2024, now requires institutions to publicly report hazing incidents and implement research-informed education and prevention programs campus-wide. This federal policy plays a critical role in establishing a shared, universal definition of hazing for counting/reporting hazing in Clery reports (or Annual Security Reports – ASRs), promoting transparency for students and families, and equipping educators to identify and address harmful patterns. It also ensures that students and campus stakeholders are informed about what hazing is, understand how to report it, and gain the skills needed to actively prevent it. 

Together, state and federal laws form a stronger framework for hazing prevention across campuses nationwide.

 A Unified Approach: Policy + Prevention

Laws alone don’t prevent hazing, but they are a crucial part of the solution. When combined with research-based and research-informed prevention, coalition-building, and active student engagement, they help build safer and more accountable communities. The growing alignment between federal mandates and state law reforms gives institutions and campus communities clearer direction and support to act and prevent hazing. At StopHazing, we continue to support campuses through tools like HazingInfo.org, which provides information about hazing and reported incidents at your school, as well as our online hazing prevention course, Stand Up to Hazing. This course delivers expert insights in an engaging, accessible, and self-guided format.

Learn More & Take Action

Author:
Lauren Griffin, M.Ed. – Program & Prevention Coordinator at StopHazing