Categories
Hazing News

Forward from Debbie Smith (opinion) on Calif. hazing law developments.

Hi Everyone
I have fantastic news!  The Senate Judiciary Committee requested a couple of minor changes in some of the wording in the civil portion of the bill in exchange for moving the bill along to Appropriations without having to be heard.  The changes have been run by our legal expert and he has assured me that these minor changes will not affect the purpose of Matt’s Law, so we are off and running.  “WOO HOO!”  Two down and six to go!
Our next stop is the Senate Appropriations Committee in May, time and date TBD.  Anyone that wants to attend any of the hearings is more than welcome and it is greatly appreciated but if you must pick and choose please save the day you can come for the first hearing in front of the Assembly (Public Safety Committee) in June. 
Remember that is when we will be changing houses and starting all over again, it is crucial that we make a huge impact on the Assembly.  We want to go in force with a BANG just like we did with the Senate Public Safety Committee so they will know from the start how much support this bill has and how important we believe it to be.
I thought you would like to know that Matt’s Story is touching lives across the country and even outside our country and making quite an impact.  I have been contacted by several people that have come upon Matt’s site and they feel like they know him and want to help in bringing about awareness and change.  One of the most recent being a young man on the East Coast that has a radio station and is putting together a public announcement against hazing.  When I have more details I will definitely let you know when you will be able to tune in and hear this over the Internet.  I know it is going to be awesome.
Something else I wanted to let you know.  We have started a link for “Hazing Stories” that can currently be found under Important Links but we hope to have it moved to the Home Page in the near future.  Our first (and only) story at this time is from a very brave young man that feels by sharing his story he can make a difference and I believe this too.  His name is Joe and he will be speaking this Saturday, April 22 at 11:00am at CSU Chico in Butte Hall.  I encourage anyone that is in the area Saturday morning to stop by to hear his story.
It amazes me just how many people have been and continue to be touched by Matt’s Story.  If you have a hazing story or you know of someone please have them send it to Matt’s site.  You don’t have to give any person information if you don’t want to.  I just believe when people start hearing or reading true stories they will be forced to realize what is going on and can better educate their children of the dangers.
CONGRATULATIONS to everyone for a job well done the letters are really making a difference.  Now we write to the Senate Appropriations Committee, FYI the vice chair, Senator Aanestad, of this Committee’s District is Butte County (Chico).  Keep the letters coming.
Thank you for your continued support, you ARE making a difference.

“Hug your children and tell them you love them everyday.”

Love,
Debbie, MM

By Hank Nuwer

Journalist Hank Nuwer tracks hazing deaths in fraternities and schools. Nuwer is the Alaska author of Hazing: Destroying Young Lives; Broken Pledges: The Deadly Rite of Hazing, High School Hazing, Wrongs of Passage and The Hazing Reader. In April of 2024 and April 2025 , the Alaska Press Club awarded him first place in the Best Columnist division and Best Humorist, second place.

He has written articles or columns on hazing for the Sunday Times of India, Toronto Globe & Mail, Harper's Magazine, Orlando Sentinel, The Chronicle of Higher Education and the New York Times Sunday Magazine. His current book is Hazing: Destroying Young Lives from Indiana University Press. He is married to Malgorzata Wroblewska Nuwer of Warsaw, Poland and Fairbanks, Alaska. Nuwer is a former columnist for the Greenville (Ohio)Early Bird and former managing editor of the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner in Alaska.
Nuwer was named the Ohio Society of Professional Journalists columnist of the year in 2021 for his “After Darke” column in the Early Bird. He also won third place for the column in 2022 from the Indiana chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists. He and his wife Gosia, recently of Union City, Ind., have owned 20 acres in Alaska for many years. “The move is a sort-of coming home for us,” said Nuwer. As a journalist, he’s written about the Alaskan Iditarod sled-dog race and other Alaska topics. Read his musings in his blog at Real Alaska Daily--http://realalaskadaily.com and in his weekly column "Far from Randolph" in the Winchester Star-Gazette of Randolph County, Indiana.

Leave a Reply