Louisiana bill that would mandate anti-hazing course for college organizations advances

BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) — Changes were made to a Louisiana bill aimed at preventing hazing on college campuses through education.

House Bill 279 passed out of the Education Committee with amendments Wednesday, May 14. Changes would shift responsibility to educate on hazing from the college to the organizations and increase the required course from one hour for a semester to two hours. If the organization does not comply, it would be terminated.

The proposed course builds on existing state law, which already requires hazing prevention education through student handbooks and organization-led training. However, this bill would create a more formal and standardized course requirement at Louisiana colleges and universities.

The bill was filed in the wake of the hazing death of Southern University student Caleb Wilson, 20, earlier this year. The name of the bill was changed in committee from the Caleb Wilson Act to the Enough is Enough Act.

“I think we need to step it up right now and implement something that will empower the children. A task force was done in 2018 at LSU. Since then, there have been 47 incidents, it’s rampant. This is for incoming students who are not aware of what hazing looks like,” bill author Rep. Delisha Boyd (D-New Orleans) said when asked about waiting on a task force.

Victims of alleged hazing incidents spoke to the committee in favor of the legislation, claiming that hazing on college campuses happens often, and even when it’s reported, is often ignored by school officials.

The bill now goes to the House Committee on Appropriations. If it passes out of that committee, it would head to the Louisiana House.

Education Committee members also advanced HCR 37, which creates a task force to prevent hazing.

Connection to Caleb Wilson’s death

Wilson, a Southern student and member of the Human Jukebox marching band, died after allegedly being punched in the chest during an off-campus hazing ritual while pledging Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. Three men—Caleb McCray, Kyle Thurman, and Isaiah Smith—were arrested in connection with the incident. McCray faces an additional manslaughter charge.

In response, Southern University launched an internal investigation, suspended all fraternity, sorority, and club recruitment, and issued a cease-and-desist order for the local Omega Psi Phi chapter.

Comparison to Max Gruver Law

The Caleb Wilson Act draws comparisons to the Max Gruver Law, passed in 2018 after LSU freshman Max Gruver died in a hazing incident. That law increased criminal penalties for hazing, including felony charges for hazing that results in serious bodily harm or death.

However, the Enough is Enough Act focuses on prevention through education, rather than punishment. While the Gruver Law addresses consequences for hazing violations, Boyd’s bill aims to intervene before hazing occurs.

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