New college hazing bill introduced after Bowling Green student death

Lawmakers are getting involved again after yet another student has died due to fraternity hazing.

This plan started more than a year ago when a student at Ohio University in Athens died at his fraternity.

It didn’t pass last year, and now after yet another death supporters are trying again.

This began when 18-year-old Collin Wiant of Dublin died after multiple rounds of hazing at his fraternity at Ohio University. His mother, Kathleen Wiant talked about what happened.

“Collin was beaten, belted, water-boarded, and forced drugs,” she told News Center 7.

Wiant worked with lawmakers here to make hazing a felony. Meaning anyone convicted of it would go to prison.

Also, all universities in the Miami Valley and across the state would also have to educate students on hazing and the dangers of it.

The sponsor of a new plan is introducing it today.

Senator Stephanie Kunze said, “It is my hope and my intention... that no other mother or family or community will have to grieve the loss of a loved one.”

Students at Bowling Green State University took to the streets to protest the death of 20-year-old Stone Foltz, a student who died over this past weekend after fraternity hazing.

Supporters of the new Ohio crackdown say most of it goes unreported, and only makes the headlines when someone is hurt or dies. They believe this new case makes this drive even more important.

Wiant said, “The shocking death of Stone Foltz underscores the importance of getting this bill passed and not having it stall as it did last November. No family should have to go through what the family of Stone Foltz has gone through.”

Gov. DeWine has already voiced support for this, generally saying the state has to change the culture on college campuses.

Cox Media Group