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

Endorse REACH

Click on the endorsement letter below to read what was recently shared with legislative committees: