2008 Woodie Awards
Schwarzenegger signs bill reinforcing anti-hazing laws
Jessyka Woods
Issue date: 2/14/07 Section: News
California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed a bill in September 2006, which reinforced the state's anti-hazing laws to prevent harmful situations. This bill had been impelled after the death of a student at California State University of Chico last year during an initiation.
The bill was created due to the death of Matthew Carrington, 21-year-old, who died at Chico State in 2005. The cause of death was heart failure that had occurred when fraternity members forced him to drink gallons of water and do calisthenics in front of a fan that was blowing frigid air. The condition, known as water intoxication, is caused by reduction of electrolytes, particularly sodium, in the body. It usually affects marathoners as well as other athletes who sweat heavily and consume large amounts of water. Four men later pleaded guilty to charges in connection with the case and were sentenced to jail with terms of up to one year.
The fraternity Chi Tau, which used to be Delta Sigma Phi, was banned by Chico State in 2002 for alcohol violations. The members of the chapter that had been charged for Carrington's death were students at the university. Because of the previous hazing law in California, the law did not apply to non-students that were involved in the incident.
"It's inexcusable what happened at Chico last year," said Sarah Bauer a campus life advisor, and link between Greek chapters and the school, at Sonoma State University. "We just hope that it will not happen again."
The law, known as "Matt's Law," that was passed through the Senate in May 2006, has made some upgrades. The California law allows for felony prosecutions when serious injuries or deaths result from hazing rites. The bill increases the severity of charges for some hazing rituals, from misdemeanors to felonies, and for the first time gives prosecutors the ability to seek hazing charges against non-students. The law charges fines for up to $5,000 and causes liability for injury to any persons harmed. The new law also makes it possible for non-students to be charged with hazing and allows victims and their families to sue chapters and other organizations involved, where as before suits were against individuals involved. Prior to the enactment of Matt's Law, hazing was only a misdemeanor, even in the act of death, as part of California's education code, rather than punishable under the state's penal code. Matt's law now prevents unaffiliated fraternities from arguing that they cannot be punished due to the fact they are not a student organization. The law also gives prosecutors clear authority to bring charges against anyone or any organization involved in hazing, not just currently enrolled students.
The bill was created due to the death of Matthew Carrington, 21-year-old, who died at Chico State in 2005. The cause of death was heart failure that had occurred when fraternity members forced him to drink gallons of water and do calisthenics in front of a fan that was blowing frigid air. The condition, known as water intoxication, is caused by reduction of electrolytes, particularly sodium, in the body. It usually affects marathoners as well as other athletes who sweat heavily and consume large amounts of water. Four men later pleaded guilty to charges in connection with the case and were sentenced to jail with terms of up to one year.
The fraternity Chi Tau, which used to be Delta Sigma Phi, was banned by Chico State in 2002 for alcohol violations. The members of the chapter that had been charged for Carrington's death were students at the university. Because of the previous hazing law in California, the law did not apply to non-students that were involved in the incident.
"It's inexcusable what happened at Chico last year," said Sarah Bauer a campus life advisor, and link between Greek chapters and the school, at Sonoma State University. "We just hope that it will not happen again."
The law, known as "Matt's Law," that was passed through the Senate in May 2006, has made some upgrades. The California law allows for felony prosecutions when serious injuries or deaths result from hazing rites. The bill increases the severity of charges for some hazing rituals, from misdemeanors to felonies, and for the first time gives prosecutors the ability to seek hazing charges against non-students. The law charges fines for up to $5,000 and causes liability for injury to any persons harmed. The new law also makes it possible for non-students to be charged with hazing and allows victims and their families to sue chapters and other organizations involved, where as before suits were against individuals involved. Prior to the enactment of Matt's Law, hazing was only a misdemeanor, even in the act of death, as part of California's education code, rather than punishable under the state's penal code. Matt's law now prevents unaffiliated fraternities from arguing that they cannot be punished due to the fact they are not a student organization. The law also gives prosecutors clear authority to bring charges against anyone or any organization involved in hazing, not just currently enrolled students.