Federal Anti-hazing Legislation: The REACH Act
While laws are not the panacea for interpersonal violence, they are a key component of primary prevention and integral to a comprehensive approach to prevention.
Why is federal level legislation necessary?
- State laws are uneven or absent
- Standardization at Federal Level
- Support for prevention
Anti-hazing legislation will help to:
- Shift societal norms and structures that contribute to campus environments where hazing is more likely to occur.
- Provide the public with more reliable information about hazing incidents and trends at an institution and nationwide.
- Support colleges and universities in taking an evidence-based approach to campus hazing prevention.
- Keep students safe.
The REACH Act
The purpose of the Report and Educate About Campus Hazing Act (REACH) is to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to require institutions of higher education to disclose hazing incidents. [S. 744, H.R. 2525]
What does REACH do?
- Calls for the inclusion of hazing incidents as Clery Act crime statistics in Annual Security Reports (ASRs).
- Requires comprehensive research-based educational programming on hazing for all stakeholders.
- Uses an inclusive definition of hazing: 1) Affiliated organization context, 2) Physical harm, mental harm, or personal degradation, and 3) Regardless of a student’s willingness to participate.
Why is REACH a strong bill?
The language of the REACH Act is simple and straightforward. It calls for the three clear items outlined above and does not require institutions to reinvent the wheel or call for substantial funding. Institutions already have the infrastructure in place for the ASRs and will simply add hazing incidents to it. The simple inclusion of hazing incidents as a Clery Act crime will be a giant leap forward in providing more accountability and transparency both at individual institutions, and nationally.
REACH includes a comprehensive hazing prevention programming component because while policy is important, it is not sufficient. Effective prevention of harmful behavior also includes education and skill-building strategies to help keep students safe. Educating students and institution stakeholders about harmful behaviors, warning signs, and how to intervene as a bystander, have proven effective in other arenas such as the prevention of sexual violence and alcohol and other drug misuse.
REACH is a clear, concise, and evidence-informed bipartisan bill. This federal policy is important for creating a shared and universal definition for hazing, providing transparency to consumers, helping educators track and intervene in harmful patterns, and educating students and campus stakeholders to be informed about hazing, know how to report it, and possess skills to help prevent it. REACH will help strengthen campus safety and promote educational environments where students can participate in clubs, organizations, and teams without the mental, emotional, and physical abuse of hazing. The more time passes before legislation is enacted, the more likely it is that students will be emotionally and physically harmed and even killed by these senseless acts.
Learn more about the REACH Act:
Organization Endorsements
The following organizations, along with StopHaizng, Clery Center, and SAFE Campuses, LLC, have signed-on as endorsers of the REACH Act:
Organizations Endorsing REACH | |
---|---|
AHA! Movement | American Association of Suicidology |
America’s Promise Alliance | Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA) |
Association for University and College Counseling Center Directors | Association of Fraternity/Sorority Advisors |
Bolster Collaborative, Inc. | Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance |
End Rape On Campus | It’s On Us |
National Association of People Against Bullying | National College Athlete Honor Society, Inc. |
National Council for Mental Wellbeing | National Education Association |
National Federation of State and High School Associations | National Organization for Victim Assistance (NOVA) |
National Women’s Law Center | NIRSA: Leaders in Collegiate Recreation |
Positive Coaching Alliance | Public Justice |
Robert D Champion Drum Major for Change Foundation | Soteria Solutions |
Stop Bullying Now Foundation Inc. | The JED Foundation |
The Youth Mental Health Project | Timothy J. Piazza Center for Fraternity and Sorority Research and Reform |
Tyler Clementi Foundation | Ujima Inc: The National Center on Violence Against Women in the Black Community |
VTV Family Outreach Foundation, Inc. | ZeroNow |
Love Like Adam Foundation | Protect Students Abroad |
Does your organization want to endorse REACH? Complete this form to be added to the list of supportive organizations or contact Meredith@stophazing.org
Support REACH
Click here to send your representatives an email!
Contact your Senators and Representatives today and urge them to support REACH and help keep students safe!
Please reach out to us if you have any questions at meredith@stophazing.org

*Suggested citation:
StopHazing. (2021). Federal Anti-hazing Legislation: The REACH Act, StopHazing Consulting. https://stophazing.org/policy/reach