[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 152 (Thursday, September 24, 2026)]
[Senate]
[Page S5010]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   SENATE RESOLUTION 908--SUPPORTING THE DESIGNATION OF THE WEEK OF 
SEPTEMBER 21 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 25, 2026, AS ``NATIONAL HAZING AWARENESS 
                                 WEEK''

  Ms. KLOBUCHAR  (for herself and Mr. Cassidy ) submitted the following 
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Health, Education, 
Labor, and Pensions:

                              S. Res. 908

       Whereas hazing is any intentional, knowing, or reckless act 
     committed by a person, whether individually or in concert 
     with other persons, against another person regardless of the 
     willingness of that person to participate, that--
       (1) is committed in the course of an initiation into, an 
     affiliation with, or the maintenance of membership in, a 
     student organization; and
       (2) causes or creates a risk, above the reasonable risk 
     encountered in the course of participation in the institution 
     of higher education or the organization (such as the physical 
     preparation necessary for participation in an athletic team), 
     of physical or psychological injury;
       Whereas 55 percent of college students involved in 
     extracurricular clubs, athletic teams, and organizations 
     reported experiencing hazing;
       Whereas a hazing prevention policy is vital to help shape 
     expectations for safe campus communities where healthy group 
     behaviors, ethical leadership, and feelings of positive well-
     being and belonging are fostered;
       Whereas the Stop Campus Hazing Act (Public Law 118-173; 138 
     Stat. 2597) was signed into law in December 2024, and amends 
     section 485(f) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
     1092(f)) to enhance hazing prevention efforts on college 
     campuses by requiring institutions of higher education to 
     include hazing incidents in their annual security reports, 
     provide hazing prevention education, and report findings of 
     responsibility for campus hazing policy violations in a 
     Campus Hazing Transparency Report, thereby ensuring greater 
     transparency and accountability in addressing hazing 
     nationwide;
       Whereas it is recommended that hazing prevention education 
     is broad and includes students, campus staff, administrators, 
     faculty, alumni, and beyond;
       Whereas hundreds of students have died as a result of 
     collegiate hazing, including Kristin High on September 9, 
     2002, Kenitha Saafir on September 9, 2002, Clay Warren on 
     September 21, 2002, Lynn Gordon ``Gordie'' Bailey, Jr., on 
     September 17, 2004, Matthew Carrington on February 2, 2005, 
     Gary Louis DeVercelly, Jr. on March 30, 2007, Brett Griffin 
     on November 8, 2008, Harrison Kowiak on November 18, 2008, 
     Michael Anthony Smallwood Starks on November 21, 2008, Carson 
     Leonard Starkey on December 2, 2008, George Desdunes on 
     February 25, 2011, Robert Darnell Champion on November 19, 
     2011, Robert Eugene Tipton, Jr., on March 26, 2012, David R. 
     Bogenberger on November 2, 2012, Marvell Edmonson on April 
     20, 2013, Jauwan M. Holmes on April 20, 2013, Marquise Braham 
     on March 14, 2014, Dalton Debrick on August 24, 2014, Tucker 
     W. Hipps on September 22, 2014, Nolan Michael Burch on 
     November 14, 2014, Timothy J. Piazza on February 4, 2017, 
     Maxwell ``Max'' Raymond Gruver on September 14, 2017, Andrew 
     Coffey on November 3, 2017, Alexander Levi Rainey Beletsis on 
     June 20, 2018, Nicholas ``Nicky'' Antonio Cumberland on 
     October 30, 2018, Collin Wiant on November 12, 2018, Noah 
     Caleb Domingo on January 12, 2019, Bea Castro on March 17, 
     2019, Justin King on September 14, 2019, Antonio ``Anthony'' 
     Tsialas on October 24, 2019, Samuel ``Sam'' Martinez on 
     November 12, 2019, Adam Jeffrey Oakes on February 27, 2021, 
     Stone Justin Foltz on March 7, 2021, Lofton Hazelwood on 
     October 18, 2021, Phat Anh Nguyen on November 20, 2021, Luke 
     Tyler on January 22, 2023, Joshua Daniel Mardis on February 
     3, 2023, Sawyer Lee Updike on January 16, 2024, Caleb Wilson 
     on February 27, 2025, Colin Daniel Martinez on January 31, 
     2026, and Savanna Marie Jones on April 30, 2026;
       Whereas students have suffered severe, life-altering 
     injuries as a result of collegiate hazing, including Danny 
     Santulli on October 19, 2021; and
       Whereas hazing has a lasting, harmful, and deadly impact, 
     and preventing hazing must be prioritized: Now, therefore, be 
     it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) supports the designation of ``National Hazing Awareness 
     Week'';
       (2) acknowledges hazing prevention is not limited to a 
     single week of awareness but is an ongoing commitment; and
       (3) encourages the people of the United States to observe 
     National Hazing Awareness Week through promoting hazing 
     awareness and prevention.

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