Somerset County Government: Somerset County Commissioners & Sheriff Welcome Governor Murphy To RVCC For Signing Of New Anti-Hazing Law

Press release from the Somerset County Government:

08/24/2021 2:33 PM

BRANCHBURG, NJ – The Somerset County Board of County Commissioners welcomed Governor Phil Murphy to Raritan Valley Community College (RVCC) today for the signing ceremony of S84-2039, legislation focused on preventing student hazing in middle schools to colleges.

The new law is intended to protect students by expanding the scope of activities that legally constitute hazing; increasing penalties for hazing resulting in injury; and requiring academic institutions including middle and high schools to colleges and universities to adopt and publicize anti-hazing policies.

Statement from Somerset County Commissioner Director Shanel Y. Robinson

I want to thank Senator Kip Bateman and Governor Murphy for coming to Somerset County and Raritan Valley Community College for the signing of S84-2039 to protect students from middle school to college from hazing in any form. As a member of the Somerset County Board of County Commissioners, I take my responsibility for the students at RVCC and the Somerset County Vo-Tech very seriously. With this new law they will have protections from hazing and can proceed with their education knowing they have complete safety and security.

Statement from Somerset County Deputy Director Sara Sooy

As a former school board member, I have always considered hazing to be criminal, and now that Governor Murphy has signed S84-2039 into law it is a crime punishable by up to five years in jail. Thanks to Senator Bateman and the Governor’s work on this issue, every student from middle school to college will know what their school’s policy is on hazing, how to report it when they see or experience it, and that they are protected if they do. I applaud the consideration and thoughtfulness that combined both school policy and legal protections for students so they can learn and grow into their full potential.

Statement from Somerset County Sheriff Darrin J. Russo

Initiation rituals can be an important aspect of creating camaraderie and cohesiveness, but when it devolves into hazing it is not only unacceptable but highly dangerous. I want to thank Senator Kip Bateman for working so hard on this issue, and Governor Phil Murphy for visiting us at Raritan Valley Community College to sign S84-2039 into law to ensure our students have the protections they need to enjoy successful academic careers and long and fruitful lives.

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This press release was produced by the Somerset County Government. The views expressed here are the author’s own.