Anti-hazing bill sails through Ohio Senate following Foltz death
Jun. 16—COLUMBUS — Named for one victim of fraternity hazing and inspired by another, a bill toughening penalties for engaging in or tolerating such rituals — especially with drugs or alcohol involved — breezed through the Ohio Senate on Wednesday.
Kathleen Wiant, mother of Collin Wiant for whom the Collin's Law bill is named, watched as the unanimous vote was taken. She said she believes her son, who died at Ohio University in 2018, and Stone Foltz, who died earlier this year following an incident near Bowling Green State University, would be alive today if this had been law at the time.
"We let [Mr. Foltz] down," she said after the vote. "We didn't get this in place last General Assembly. We tried, but we ran out of time. [His death] is what created urgency, that we can't wait for another death. This has to be done now."
Senate Bill 126 now goes to the House of Representatives, where a separate measure awaits that combines anti-hazing provisions with anti-bullying language applicable to primary and secondary schools.
Collin Wiant, an 18-year-old freshman from Dublin, Ohio, died of asphyxiation in 2018 after inhaling a canister of nitrous oxide. Mr. Foltz, 20, of Delaware, Ohio died in March from alcohol poisoning following a Pi Kappa Alpha ritual.
Suddenly a bill that had stalled in the chamber last session was on the fast track.
"The parents of Stone Foltz testified that when Stone wanted to join a fraternity they did their homework," said state Sen. Theresa Gavarone (R., Bowling Green), who sponsored the bill with state Sen. Stephanie Kunze (R., Hilliard).
"They couldn't find anything specific about the fraternity that raised any red flags," Senator Gavarone said. "This legislation adds transparency to give more information about the organization....
"This legislation, I really believe, could have saved the lives of Stone Foltz and Collin Wiant," she said. "...The eyes of the state and the country are watching us," she said.
The bill would create a new third-degree felony, carrying up to three years in prison, if someone recklessly engages in or permits hazing involving forced consumption of drugs and alcohol resulting in serious physical harm.
It would elevate other existing anti-hazing crimes to second-degree misdemeanors, carrying up to 90 days in jail.
It requires certain officials to immediately report suspected hazing and makes it a fourth-degree misdemeanor, carrying up to 30 days, for failure to do so. If that hazing results in serious physical harm, then the failure to report would be elevated to a first-degree misdemeanor, carrying up to six months.
Added to the list of mandatory reporters would be teachers, consultants, alumni, and volunteers of any K-12 school, college, or university. That list already includes administrators, employees, and faculty members.
The bill also requires the state chancellor of higher education to develop a statewide anti-hazing policy that could serve as a model for adoption by private and public colleges and universities.
"Our goal is that it's at the governor's desk by the end of June," Ms. Wiant said. "We're being relentless about working toward that goal because we need this in place before those students go off to school in the fall."
The only opposition to the bill in committee came from those concerned that felony convictions could hobble college-age students whose brains are not yet fully developed and who are particularly vulnerable to peer pressure.
First Published June 16, 2021, 4:57pm
