State Lawmakers Want Input on Hazing
07.31.2009 by Jeff Robinson
(KCPW News) State lawmakers on the Education Interim Committee want to investigate the problem of hazing at Utah’s schools and colleges. Senator Howard Stephenson and Representative Greg Hughes say they’ve recently been made aware of a handful of extreme hazing incidents. Hughes says they want to hear from the public to find out whether the state’s hazing laws need to be changed.
“What we’re asking for is input from parents, students, administrators, faculty, anyone who feels that they have a perspective about hazing, the treatment of other students, and not just negative stories or stories where abuse may have occurred, but even success stories where coaches and administrators have dealt with hazing incidences in a positive way,” he told KCPW.
In 2008, Representative Hughes co-sponsored a bill explicitly banning bullying and hazing, including physical violence, retaliation, and forcing someone to consume alcohol. The bill passed and was signed by the governor.
Hughes believes some of the anecdotes of hazing he’s heard since then are in violation of that law, and wants to find out if it needs to be revised so that the statute can be more widely enforced when hazing occurs.
“Some prosecutors, when obvious hazing has occurred, have looked at other criminal violations and not gone after the specific hazing statute. Why is that? Is it too broad? Is there something that we’re missing? Before we even tackle the policy side and the statute, we want to hear what’s happening out there,” he said.
The Education Interim Committee will next meet at the Capitol on August 19th.
State lawmakers on the Education Interim Committee want to investigate the problem of hazing at Utah’s schools and colleges. Senator Howard Stephenson and Representative Greg Hughes say they’ve recently been made aware of a handful of extreme hazing incidents. Hughes says they want to hear from the public to find out whether the state’s hazing laws need to be changed.
31-HAZING 1 :00 “…in a positive way.”
“What we’re asking for is input from parents, students, administrators, faculty, anyone who feels that they have a perspective about hazing, the treatment of other students, and not just negative stories or stories where abuse may have occurred, but even success stories where coaches and administrators have dealt with hazing incidences in a positive way.”
In 2008, Representative Hughes co-sponsored a bill explicitly banning bullying and hazing, including physical violence, retaliation, and forcing someone to consume alcohol. The bill passed and was signed by the governor.
Hughes believes some of the anecdotes of hazing he’s heard since then are in violation of that law, and wants to find out if it needs to be revised so that the statute can be more widely enforced when hazing occurs.
31-HAZING 2 :18 “…happening out there.”
“Some prosecutors, when obvious hazing has occurred, have looked at other criminal violations and not gone after the specific hazing statute. Why is that? Is it too broad? Is there something that we’re missing? Before we even tackle the policy side and the statute, we want to hear what’s happening out there.”
The Education Interim Committee will next meet at the Capitol on August 19th.
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Senator Stephenson, Representative Hughs, while state laws are critical to Hazing prosecution and legislation seeking tighter control over a national issues that is effecting young people across this nation, the willingness of local prosectuors to may not be lacking impetus in providing ample grounds for full prosecution of those charged with Hazing. What may need to be addressed is the willingness of district prosecutors and judges to move ahead in sentencing, prosecution, and overall certitude in full prosecution. Public relations, special interests, political issues, in the case of my son Michael, need to be examined and re-examined to determined if, in fact, justice was done for the victim and the victim’s family. In the case of my son’s death, pleas of abeyance, dismissels, suspensions, and other issues have characterized Cache County prosecutorial efforts in bringing justice to this matter. I appreciate any work you can do in this area and express our prompt willingness to meet with you at your convenience to further explore this matter. Best regards. George Starks, father of Michael (michaelstarks.org)