A New Jersey state senator has crafted an anti-hazing bill in honor of a college student who died after he was allegedly hazed while pledging a fraternity.
Sen. Kip Bateman says that
bill S-3150, also known as the Timothy J. Piazza Law, would increase criminal penalties for hazing.
“Every college student has the right to live and learn in a safe environment without fear, and parents who send their child off to school should expect no less,” Bateman said in a statement. “Unless we explicitly prohibit the deep-rooted custom of hazing, more families will suffer like the Piazzas.”
Officials say that Piazza was forced to drink dangerous amounts of alcohol while at a party. He was then seriously injured after he fell down a flight of stairs. Officials say that fraternity members did not seek medical attention for Piazza until the next day.
The fraternity was shut down in the aftermath of Piazza’s death and several members faced charges.
Under Bateman’s bill, hazing would be considered a fourth-degree crime. Aggravated hazing would be considered a third-degree crime.