Sam’s Law (H.B. 1751) was in response to the death of Sam Martinez at Washington State University in November 2019. Sam was a freshman at his death and was a fraternity pledge. He died after a big/little reveal from acute alcohol poisoning due to traditions within the organization. His parents, Jolayne Houtz and Hector Martinez, made it their mission to strengthen hazing laws in the state of Washington to prevent another life from being taken so early. Governor Jay Inslee signed it into law on March 30, 2022.
Click here to learn more about Sam’s Law.
The responsibilities of hazing prevention guidelines for the university, employees, students, fraternities, and sororities are outlined below.
Definition
Hazing includes any act committed as part of a person’s recruitment, initiation into, pledging, admission into, or affiliation with a student organization, athletic team, or living group, or any pastime that is likely to cause, bodily danger or physical harm, or serious psychological or emotional harm, to any student. This includes causing, directing, coercing, or forcing a person to consume any food, liquid, alcohol, drug, or other substance that subjects the person to risk of such harm, regardless of the person’s willingness to participate (H.B. 1751).
Education
The University of Washington shall provide students with an educational program on hazing on an annual basis. The program should include information on hazing prevention, awareness, intervention, and the hazing policy at the university.
Access the student course here:
Hazing Prevention 101 – College Edition
The University of Washington shall provide employees with an annual educational program on hazing. The program should include information on hazing prevention, awareness, intervention, and the hazing policy at the university.
Access the employee course here:
Hazing Prevention: It’s Everyone’s Responsibility – Faculty & Staff Edition
Committee
The University of Washington will develop and operate a hazing prevention committee to promote and address hazing prevention. The committee should compromise students, faculty/staff, and at least one parent/guardian of a student enrolled in the university. Half of the committee should comprise of students.
For more information about the committee, please click here.
Employee Reporting
University employees, including student employees, must report a hazing concern if they believe it has occurred or have reasonable cause to believe it will happen. According to the law, “Reasonable cause” means a person who witnesses hazing or receives a credible written or oral report alleging hazing or potential or planned hazing activity.
To report a hazing concern, please select your campus below.
Public Violations
The University of Washington will maintain and publicly report findings of hazing violations by any student organization, athletic team, or living group. The report will include any violations of the code of conduct, anti-hazing policies, or state or federal laws relating to hazing or offenses related to alcohol, drugs, sexual assault, or physical assault.
The report should include the following information:
- The name of the student organization, athletic team, or living group;
- The date the investigation was initiated;
- The date on which the investigation ended with a finding that a violation occurred;
- A description of the incident or incidents, including the date of the initial violation, and the violations, findings, and sanctions placed on the student organization, athletic team, or living group;
- The details of the sanction or sanctions imposed, including the beginning and end dates of the sanction or sanctions; and
- The date the student organization, athletic team, or living group was charged with a violation.
Any hazing violation of a student organization, athletic team, or living group should be made public for at least five years.
Click here for more information about the University of Washington’s current report.
Social Fraternities and Sororities
Social fraternity or sorority organization headquarters will notify the university before chartering or rechartering a local chapter. The headquarters shall tell the university when they open an investigation of the local chapter for potential violation of hazing policies, such as furnishing alcohol to minors. The organization must provide a report to the university after its investigation concludes.
Local chapters that maintain or own their website must post any violation of antihazing policies, state or federal laws relating to hazing, alcohol, drugs, sexual assault, or physical assault, or the code of conduct from the last five years.