The Caleb Wilson Act, introduced in the Louisiana House of Representatives, aims to require members of collegiate student organizations to undergo a semester-long course on anti-hazing. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Delisha Boyd, was inspired by the tragic death of 20-year-old Caleb Wilson, who died following a fraternity hazing ritual at Southern University. The legislation also draws from the case of Max Gruver, an LSU freshman who died in 2017 due to alcohol poisoning during a fraternity hazing incident.
Under the proposed bill, new and current members of student organizations would need to complete a one-credit-hour anti-hazing course within their first two semesters of joining. Failure to take the course would result in being prohibited from pledging or continuing in the organization. The bill aims to expand anti-hazing education beyond just fraternities and sororities to include all student organizations.
Boyd has received support from university leaders in drafting the bill, with a focus on transitioning students to their new responsibilities. The legislation is expected to have bipartisan support and aims to prevent future hazing incidents on college campuses. Similar legislation, the Max Gruver Act, has already created felony hazing as a criminal charge in Louisiana.
If passed, the Caleb Wilson Act would go into effect in the fall 2025 semester. The bill is currently awaiting a hearing in the Capitol’s Education committee. This comes as two fraternities at Tulane University are suspended pending an investigation into hazing allegations, highlighting the continued need for measures to address and prevent hazing on college campuses.
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