The Stop Campus Hazing Act is Law

After nearly a decade of work and dedication to ensure safer campuses for students, the Fraternal Government Relations Coalition (FGRC), that includes the North American Interfraternity Conference (NIC), the National Panhellenic Conference (NPC), and other advocacy organizations, celebrated a historic victory: the Stop Campus Hazing Act (S. 2901, H.R. 5646) was signed into law.

The bill, under the leadership of Rep. Lucy McBath (D-GA) and Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), passed Congress earlier in September 2024 and then was signed into law by President Biden on December 24, 2024. The Stop Campus Hazing Act will go into effect on June 23, 2026.

Details of the Act

The Stop Campus Hazing Act will require:

• Inclusion of hazing statistics in annual security reports,
• Implementation of hazing policies, including those specific to hazing prevention, and
• Compilation of a campus hazing transparency report.

The term “hazing,” for purposes of reporting statistics on hazing incidents, means any intentional, knowing, or reckless act committed by a person (whether individually or in concert with other persons) against another person or persons regardless of the willingness of such other person or persons to participate, that:

• Is committed in the course of an initiation into, an affiliation with, or the maintenance of membership in, a student organization; and
• 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 including:
• Whipping, beating, striking, electronic shocking, placing of a harmful substance on someone’s body, or similar activity;
• Causing, coercing, or otherwise inducing sleep deprivation, exposure to the elements, confinement in a small space, extreme calisthenics, or other similar activity;
  causing, coercing, or otherwise inducing another person to consume food, liquid, alcohol, drugs, or other substances;
• Causing, coercing, or otherwise inducing another person to perform sexual acts;
  any activity that places another person in reasonable fear of bodily harm through the use of threatening words or conduct;
• Any activity against another person that includes a criminal violation of local, State, Tribal, or Federal law; and
• Any activity that induces, causes, or requires another person to perform a duty or task that involves a criminal violation of local, State, Tribal, or Federal law.”

Alpha Xi Delta’s Involvement

For nearly twenty years, Alpha Xi Delta members have participated in advocacy efforts with the Fraternal Government Relations Coalition (FGRC) to advocate for issues that affect fraternities and sororities. Each spring selected collegiate and alumnae members meet in Washington, D.C. to ensure Alpha Xi Delta’s voice is heard on Capitol Hill. Our Sisters have spent countless hours meeting with U.S. senators and representatives to educate policymakers about our organizations and encouraging them to support specific legislation.

Meet Kate, Alpha Xi Delta’s National Government Relations Chair!

Kate Brownlee, Central Oklahoma ‘14, serves as Alpha Xi Delta’s National Government Relations Chair. In this volunteer role, Kate serves as an advocate for Alpha Xi Delta and the sorority experience in government affairs, assists with planning Congressional Hill visits, partners with NPC leadership and other fraternity/sorority leaders in legislative affairs, serves as our representative for the Fraternity and Sorority Political Action Committee, and promotes Alpha Xi Delta government relations initiatives, such as the Alpha Xi Delta Votes program. Outside of her volunteer work, Kate is Senior Manager of Federal Government Affairs at the American Gas Association. She has worked on staff for both house and senate offices with extensive expertise on Capitol Hill. Kate and her husband, Matthew, live in Alexandria, VA, and enjoy hiking and traveling with their rescue dog, Olive.