The modern history of UW and anti-hazing extends back to 2020 when ASUW discussions first began on submitting legislation to the state legislature. With Wyoming having virtually no policies regarding on-campus hazing, ASUW sought to fix this through student voices. An event now comes to campus March 12th, from 3:30pm to 7:30pm, in the Union Ballroom, with panels of ASUW members, faculty and legislators, and Greek Life members, all present to discuss the history, and where the university is now.
Spearheaded by ASUW members, including a few with greek life experience, the anti-hazing project was taken on by current Chief of Legislative Affairs Langston Bouma, current ASUW president Kameron Murfitt, and former senators Rhiannon McLean, and Tanner Ewalt, among many other students in ASUW and greek life alike. The goal was to get legislation passed that would enact a variety of anti-hazing policies and support student safety.
The project received high levels of support from students, with direct support from Interfraternity Council and College Panhellenic Council members along the way. It ultimately culminated in legislation that failed in the Senate. This led to ASUW’s 2022 resolution, ASUW Support of the Re-Introduction of Anti-Hazing Legislation in the Wyoming State Legislature.
With continued insistence and testimony from ASUW members and Greek Life members, the state legislature considered Senate File 175 of the 2023 session. This file directly related to hazing on campuses, stating, “AN ACT relating to education; requiring school districts to adopt a policy on hazing in addition to policies on harassment, intimidation or bullying; requiring the University of Wyoming and the community colleges to adopt policies on hazing;”
The passage of this legislation would have implemented policies like, “A statement prohibiting harassment, intimidation or bullying of a student and a statement prohibiting hazing” and “Consequences and appropriate remedial actions for persons committing acts of hazing or harassment, intimidation or bullying or engaging in reprisal or retaliation.” These policies essentially would have banned hazing completely on a state level.
The Senate File ultimately failed once again, not being considered for committee of the whole after submission. The policies that ASUW and Greek Life had tried to implement for almost three years would not be seen on paper in the Wyoming legislature.
This was a large blow to the students who worked on the project. Many of these students, as well as Senator Rothfuss and members of Greek Life, will share their views on why the legislation failed, why anti-hazing policies are important to UW, and what the status of hazing and traditions in Wyoming means to them.
The event, hosted by BridgeUWYO, hopes to bring these individuals together to have a compelling conversation on what is one of the largest projects in modern ASUW history. With the tumultuous legislative sessions in 2024 and 2025, discussions like this are more topical than ever.
The event will take place in the Union Ballroom, March 12th, from 3:30 to 7:30pm.
