COLUMBUS, Ohio — The deaths of college students as a result of various reports of alleged hazing, including incidents involving alcohol, have occurred across the country during the past few years, and the mother of a victim is looking to crack down on hazing in Ohio.

Stone Foltz, 20, was a student at Bowling Green State University when died March 7 after an alleged hazing incident involving alcohol.

It’s a pain Kathleen Wiant knows too well. Her son, Collin, was 18 years old and an Ohio University student when he died in 2018 as a result of a hazing. 

“On Nov. 12, 2018, I was sound asleep in my bed when I heard a knock at the door. I answered to find every parent’s worst nightmare,” said Wiant.

Since the day police officers showed up at her family’s home in Dublin, Wiant has been dedicated to putting in place stricter hazing laws.

“Right when Collin died, and we learned about the laws, or lack of laws around hazing, we decided we had to make this change,” she said.

With the help of state senators Stephanie Kunze and Theresa Gavarone, “Collin’s Law” is being reintroduced to the Ohio Assembly. The bill was first introduced November 2019, grouped with House Bill 310, but it did not pass.

“The timing with the COVID-19 pandemic, it actually affected the bill in more ways than we thought,” said Kunze.

The new version of Collin’s Law focuses specifically on cracking down on hazing through education and transparency.

“Not only will the student organizations have the education, but I want every incoming student,” she said.

It’s being reintroduced just days after the tragedy at Bowling Green.

“We don’t want another family to go through the pain and loss our family has experienced. Sadly, another family has,” Wiant said. “The shocking death of Stone Foltz further underscores the importance of getting this bill passed.”