New California Law

[UGAalum94]

Originally Posted by jon1856

This is where train wrecks start.
We all start looking at matters from our POV's, rather than the laws, the lawyers, the politicians et al:
Taken from another tread, part the LAW in question:
SB 1454- Section 4- (b),

"'Hazing' means any method of initiation or preinitiation into a student organization or student body, whether or not the organization or body is officially recognized by an educational institution, which is likely to cause, serious bodily injury to any pupil or other person attending former, current, or prospective student of any school, community college, college, university, or other educational institution in this state." [emphasis added]

This is not restricting any reasonable activities required of associate members or pledges in their pre-initiation days. This addresses the serious stuff we should all be eradicating in Greek houses.

And it does not create any added legal liability for nationals or housing corporations as can be seen below from another portion of the bill,

SB 1454- Section 4- (d),(e),

" (d) Any person who personally engages in hazing that results in
death or serious bodily injury as defined in paragraph (4) of
subdivision (f) of Section 243 of the Penal Code, is guilty of either
a misdemeanor or a felony, and shall be punished by imprisonment in
county jail not exceeding one year, or by imprisonment in the state
prison.
(e) The person against whom the hazing is directed may commence a
civil action for injury or damages. The action may be brought against
any participants in the hazing, or any organization to which the
student is seeking membership whose agents, directors, trustees,
managers, or officers authorized, requested, commanded, participated
in, or ratified the hazing." [emphasis added]

NOTE: Covers only schools. Does not seem to say anything about what we see in video.

Here in longer, fuller form:
http://www.stophazing.org/laws/ca_law.htm
http://info.sen.ca.gov/pub/05-06/bil...chaptered.html
http://www.jour.unr.edu/interactive/...california.htm

Take the time to read it. It does not in truth matter what we think the law(s) should be, only what they are. And as I posted above, IMHO, the whole matter a mess. And in too many circumstances, we help the mess along.

And if we think they need to be changed, have a conversation with your local rep.

Why'd you quote me on this one?
I understood from the very start what the California law did. But let me know if your organization defines "hazing" the same way. I bet it's much broader.