RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — The first ever federal anti-hazing law was spearheaded by Virginia Congressman Bobby Scott, D-VA-3, and the family of Adam Oakes , a college student who died in an alcohol-related hazing incident. It was signed by President Joe Biden on Christmas Eve.
The Stop Campus Hazing Act will require colleges and universities that receive federal student aid to disclose hazing incidents in their annual safety reports.
Adam Oakes was 19 years old when he died of alcohol poisoning during a hazing event in 2021. He was a freshman at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) and had pledged the Delta Chi fraternity.
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Adam’s parents, Eric and Linda Oakes, both worked on the bipartisan bill alongside Congressman Scott. The Oakes have worked on hazing prevention across Virginia since their son’s death.
In 2022, VCU enacted “Adam’s Law,” which provides provide each current member, new member, and potential new member of each student organization with new members hazing prevention training about the dangers of hazing.