Hazing has taken the lives of so many innocent individuals over the years across the United States. Ohio is a state where this is no exception. On November 12, 2018, Collin Wiant of Ohio University was a victim of fraternity hazing. Collin unfortunately lost his life due to the careless acts of others and became one of the many young men and women who tragically lost their lives to hazing. 

July 9, 2019 was a day of change. Ohio House Bill 310 (Collins Law: The Ohio Anti-Bullying and Hazing Act) was introduced. This bill was introduced to make hazing a felony offense in the state of Ohio. As of today, March 10, 2021, this bill has now passed the Ohio State House of Representatives, and has been sitting with the Ohio State Senate since December 2, 2020. 

On March 5, 2021, another tragedy struck at Bowling Green State University. A fraternity new member by the name of Stone Foltz was transported to the hospital and placed on life support due to injuries, and later lost his battle, and passed away. 

Stone and Collin deserved better lives than this. Their parents deserved better. No parent or sibling should have to receive the call telling them that their child, their brother, or their sister has been a victim of hazing and is not going to make it.

I am a University of Akron student, and a proud member of our Greek Life Community, but I did not join my organization to be torn down. I joined to be built up. That is was Greek Life is. It should be a safe space for people to come together to do good and create connections. The men who caused the tragic deaths of Stone and Collin must be held accountable for their actions. They were not upholding the standards of what the Greek system was created on. 

House Bill 310 must be passed soon so that the individuals who haze, bully, and abuse others in their organizations can be held accountable for their actions in the state of Ohio. Please join me in signing this petition to encourage the Ohio State Senate to pass this bill.