David Bianchi, a national leader in hazing litigation, was interviewed by the Daily Business Review to comment on Biden’s “Stop Campus Hazing Act” and recent hazing charges for students who set a pledge on fire.
“I’ve been heavily involved in fraternity hazing cases all over the country for over 25 years, and I’ve seen terrible things. I’ve seen death. I’ve seen brain damage. I’ve seen life-changing injuries," David said to DBR. “Never, ever have I seen a case where a pledge was set on fire. This is a new low, a new level of outrage, and it makes me sick.”
David repeated his support for the passage of the “Stop Campus Hazing Act,” which compels colleges and universities to report hazing incidents involving campus organizations or taking place on school grounds. However, David also affirmed that the law needs to go further to punish bad actors; David has called for colleges to institute a zero-tolerance policy that immediately expels all students who commit or facilitate hazing. Without firm and immediate consequences, campus organizations—fraternities in particular—are not incentivized to police themselves out of hazing traditions.
Still, David predicts that the new law will lead to more hazing suits, which could push universities and fraternities to finally take up harsher punishments. It’s far past time, he argues. There’s been a hazing death involving schools, clubs, or organizations every year from 1959–2021 in the US.
“We’ll see what the impact is. Time will tell. But it’s a good step in the right direction,” he says. “More needs to be done.”