From Tragedy to Transparency: The Fight To Stop Deadly Campus Hazing
In the fall of 2019, Jolayne Houtz and her husband, Hector Martinez, moved their son, Sam, into his dormitory for his freshman year at Washington State University. Just months later, on November 12, Sam died of alcohol poisoning following a fraternity hazing ritual.
Before sending Sam to college, Jolayne—a journalist—and her husband had researched campus safety as thoroughly as they could. Yet what they found was a patchwork of weak state laws and virtually no transparency around hazing incidents. In fact, Alpha Tau Omega, the fraternity Sam was pledging, had a history of alcohol and hazing violations. WSU and national fraternity leaders knew this but did not share the information publicly.
Honoring Sam by Improving Campus Safety
Determined to change that, Jolayne and her family partnered with Washington state legislators to pass Sam’s Law, which mandates public reporting of hazing violations and felony penalties for hazing incidents.
Jolayne and Hector also launched HazingInfo.org in 2023 with partners from the University of Washington and the University of Maine. The website provides hazing data for 1,500 colleges and universities in all 50 states. The goal is to help families and students access and easily interpret a school’s hazing record, including violations across fraternities, sororities, athletic teams, and other student organizations. Because schools sometimes misclassify cases as general alcohol or misconduct violations, Jolayne also includes media reports on her platform.
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The Stop Campus Hazing Act Is Now Law—but Are Schools Actually Following It?
In December 2024, Congress passed the Stop Campus Hazing Act, requiring all colleges and universities—public and private—to publicly disclose hazing incidents or face financial penalties. Efforts to pass this law were driven by many advocates including Elizabeth J. Allan, Ph.D., a Professor of Higher Education at the University of Maine who leads the Hazing Prevention Research Lab.
However, many schools remain noncompliant. After the December 23, 2025, deadline, a HazingInfo investigation found that Ohio is the only state where more than 70% of campuses have published the required hazing reports and policies.
Jolayne continues to advocate for transparency and add new features and information to the HazingInfo.org platform.
“We made Sam a promise the night we had to say goodbye to him: that we would do everything in our power to prevent any more hazing injuries or deaths,” Jolayne said.
“HazingInfo brings college hazing out of the shadows where it thrives and empowers students and families with information they can use to make their own choices about joining campus organizations,” she added.
Jolayne’s Perspective
What kind of person was Sam, and what was he most excited about as he headed off to college?
Sam was a remarkable athlete, with a special love for soccer. He played trombone in the marching band and taught little kids how to ski and play soccer. He was studying business entrepreneurship at college and imagined opening his own business one day. Sam was standing on the launching pad of his life, getting ready to blast off into a new chapter of self-discovery and exploration. It feels especially cruel that he never got to take that next step.
Can you describe a few of Sam’s unique qualities or the things he did that made you laugh?
Sam had this warmth and quiet confidence that drew people to him, a kind of effortless cool. He was also just a goofball sometimes! He would make silly faces or share a wry observation about life to make people laugh. I really miss his laugh and how his eyes crinkled in the corners when he smiled. One of Sam’s defining qualities was loyalty. He would drop everything to be there for a friend going through a hard time or to support the family.
Thinking back on your life together, what is a specific, small moment with Sam that you hold closest to your heart?
We took a family trip to Hawaii when Sam was 12. We were snorkeling, and Sam was so excited to see all the tropical fish. Later, he was running all over the beach throwing a coconut he had picked up from the ground and laughing. We all sat together on the beach and watched the sunset. I remember him leaning against me and just sighing, with such a look of peace and happiness on his face. It was just this perfect, golden day. I would do anything to live that day over with him.
How has your work on Sam’s Law and HazingInfo.org helped you feel connected to Sam’s spirit, and what other ways do you honor his memory in your daily life?
Sam cared so deeply for his family and friends, and I think he would be proud of what we are doing in his name, trying to protect other young people from harm. Sam’s story has helped save lives and influence public policy. That’s a powerful legacy to leave.
Sam remains very present for me in my daily life. Each fall, we set up an ofrenda, a home altar that honors the dead and welcomes their spirits for the Mexican Day of the Dead festivities. We include photos of him doing what he loved best and special mementos that reflect different parts of his life. We light candles to welcome him home.
What advice would you offer other grieving parents as they navigate immense grief?
Just because your person is physically gone doesn’t mean you no longer have a relationship with them. This is something I learned several years ago at a grief retreat I attended, and it really transformed how I think about Sam’s death. I still talk to Sam, catch him up on the family news, share moments of wonder and beauty with him. He still feels like a living presence in my life. That ongoing relationship makes me feel connected and grounded and has helped ease some of the pain I carry.
It breaks my heart that hazing deaths are still so often swept under the carpet.
Thank you for sharing this meaningful and important story. As a fellow bereaved mother, I appreciate Jolayne's comments about how her relationship with Sam continues. I recognize that at times I go down the rabbit hole of lamenting all I have lost and the future my son has lost. It is good to be reminded that even when the worst happens, we can decide to shift our focus to developing a new relationship with our children.