Governor Signs Law Increasing Penalties For Hazing

Governor DeWine has signed Collin’s Law, which increases penalties for hazing in Ohio.

Under the new law, penalties will be elevated from 4th degree to 2nd degree misdemeanors, and hazing involving forced consumption of drugs or alcohol that seriously harms someone would be a third-degree felony punishable with prison time.

The law is named after Collin Wiant of Dublin, Ohio who died from a hazing incident at a fraternity house at Ohio University in 2018.

The measure also requires that college campuses provide anti-hazing training and online information about reported hazing violations.

Shari Foltz, the mother of Stone Foltz, who died in a hazing incident at Bowling Green State University in March, said the new law is a step in the right direction.

“We are not done, we will continue to fight. Our fight is zero tolerance to prevent this from happening.”

She said she made a promise to Stone in the hospital that they would keep fighting and not allow this to happen to anyone else.