A Historic Step Forward: The Stop Campus Hazing Act Becomes Law
A new era of campus safety has begun. The Stop Campus Hazing Act has officially been signed into law by President Biden, representing a pivotal moment for student safety and well-being. This bipartisan legislation, which amends the now-renamed Jeanne Clery Campus Safety Act (formerly the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act), introduces groundbreaking measures to increase transparency, accountability, and prevention of hazing across U.S. higher education.
The Stop Campus Hazing Act (SCHA) requires colleges and universities to publicly report hazing incidents, adopt robust prevention policies, and maintain Campus Hazing Transparency Reports to ensure greater accountability. These measures reflect years of dedicated efforts to prevent hazing and foster safer, more supportive campus communities.
“The Stop Campus Hazing Act will enhance campus safety for all students by mandating hazing prevention education and the reporting of hazing incidents, ensuring that students, their families, and the public stay informed” said Sheilah Vance, Clery Center board chair. “For campus administrators responsible for Clery Act compliance, this new measure provides an additional, essential tool to help safeguard our students.”
A Journey of Advocacy and Progress
This historic law results from years of advocacy by families, organizations, researchers and subject matter experts, and lawmakers, supported by expert guidance and leadership from Clery Center and StopHazing. In 2007, Gary DeVercelly, Jr., a student at Rider University, lost his life to hazing. Since then, his parents, Julie and Gary DeVercelly, have worked tirelessly to bring awareness to the dangers of hazing and to create lasting change.
In partnership with Clery Center and StopHazing, the DeVercellys began their advocacy in 2014, which led to the introduction of the Report and Educate About Campus Hazing (REACH) Act in 2017. In 2019, another federal anti-hazing bill, the END ALL Hazing Act, was introduced thanks to advocacy by the Anti-Hazing Coalition. In 2023, REACH was merged with elements of END ALL Hazing, culminating in the comprehensive Stop Campus Hazing Act.
Over the years, Clery Center and StopHazing played pivotal roles in advancing this legislation. The organizations drafted key portions of the bill in partnership with legislators, particularly those related to the Clery Act, to ensure its effectiveness and clarity. StopHazing Principal and University of Maine Professor of Higher Education Dr. Elizabeth Allan helped lay the groundwork through her research, including the landmark National Study of Student Hazing, presentations for the U.S. Department of Education (2014, 2015), testimony for the U.S. Senate HELP Committee (2016) and subject matter expertise for Congressional Briefings. Since 2014, Clery Center and StopHazing staff have met with dozens of lawmakers and staffers to explain the need for the legislation, garner support and provide technical expertise to inform the bill’s language during its introduction and throughout the markup process in the House Education & Workforce Committee.
Dr. Allan emphasized the law’s broader implications: “The Stop Campus Hazing Act will help reshape campus culture, empowering students to make informed choices and fostering a safer environment for everyone.”
The Impact of Parent Advocacy
The Stop Campus Hazing Act is a powerful continuation of the legacy of Jeanne Clery, for whom the Clery Act is named. Jeanne’s tragic murder in her dorm room in 1986 spurred her parents, Connie and Howard Clery, to dedicate their lives to improving campus safety. As the founders of Clery Center, they showed the profound impact of parent advocacy in driving systemic change.
Much like the Clerys’ efforts, the Stop Campus Hazing Act was made possible by the advocacy of parents who turned personal tragedy into a movement for reform. By addressing hazing under the Clery Act, this legislation honors both Jeanne’s memory and the ongoing efforts of families like the DeVercellys, and many others, to create safer, more transparent campuses for future generations. Clery Center and StopHazing have worked to amplify the voices of families affected by hazing, arranging visits to Washington, DC, to give those families the opportunity to share directly with lawmakers, creating a powerful call for change.
“This law won’t eliminate hazing overnight nor bring our son, Gary Jr. back,” said the DeVercellys. “It will, however, expose this harmful practice, hold institutions responsible, and empower students to speak out against it. It is a critical step towards fostering a culture where students can pursue their aspirations without fear of harm or coercion — things that should have been in place before our son went away to college. With the passage of the Stop Campus Hazing Act, we honor Gary Jr. and his memory by making campuses safer; where hazing will no longer remain hidden.”
Collaboration and Leadership
The Stop Campus Hazing Act reflects the collective efforts of families, survivors, researchers, and organizations, as well as the commitment of lawmakers who championed this issue. Bipartisan support from Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Bill Cassidy (R-LA) and Representatives Lucy McBath (D-GA) and Jeff Duncan (R-SC) ensured the bill’s success.
Clery Center and StopHazing helped garner endorsements from over 50 national organizations, including NASPA – Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education, the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators (IACLEA), the National Association of Clery Compliance Officers and Professionals (NACCOP), the National Pan-Hellenic Council, and the American College Health Association, demonstrating a shared commitment to protecting students and fostering safer campus environments. Institutions of higher education and their leaders also played a vital role, with many voicing strong support for the bill’s measures to increase transparency, improve accountability, and implement prevention strategies.
S. Daniel Carter, President of SAFE Campuses, LLC, shared, “In 34 years of working on federal campus safety legislation, I’ve never seen a broader coalition of stakeholders and Congressional leaders come together than they did for the Stop Campus Hazing Act. This resulted in a very powerful and carefully crafted bill that has the needed backing to become an effective law.”
Clery Center, StopHazing, and SAFE Campuses, LLC also facilitated public advocacy through a Ujoin email campaign, enabling hundreds of individuals to contact their legislators to ask them to support this lifesaving legislation. This grassroots effort demonstrated the power of collective action, mobilizing advocates from across the country and highlighting the widespread public demand to put an end to hazing.
“This legislation is a testament to what is possible when diverse voices come together to prioritize student safety,” said Jessica Mertz, Executive Director of Clery Center. “It has been an honor to be part of the team that helped drive this bill forward, working alongside legislators, families, and stakeholders to ensure their input shaped the final outcome.”
A New Chapter for Campus Safety
The Stop Campus Hazing Act amends the Clery Act, which was last amended in 2013 to include the Violence Against Women Act Amendments. It expands on the Clery Act’s foundation to address hazing—an issue that has too often remained unreported. By requiring institutions to collect and share hazing data, this law ensures that students and families have the information they need to make informed decisions.
"[This bill is] about empowering students and families so that they can make an informed decision for themselves about what school they or their loved one attends or the club they may join and hopefully save their lives.," said Representative McBath. "I know the pain of losing a child. The only thing that we can do now is try to harness our pain and do something positive with it."
The dedication of the families raising awareness and the commitment of their representatives has played an essential role in advancing the Stop Campus Hazing Act and preventing future tragedies. “Students should feel safe no matter what school they choose,” shared Senator Cassidy. “The Stop Campus Hazing Act improves transparency and ensures hazing is never ignored.”
Today, we celebrate a significant step toward a future where every student can thrive in a safe and supportive campus environment. The Stop Campus Hazing Act stands as a beacon of progress, accountability, and hope.
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