REQUESTING THE APPROPRIATE LEGISLATIVE INTERIM COMMITTEE TO REVIEW LEGISLATION PROHIBITING HAZING RITUALS ON NEW MEXICO COLLEGE CAMPUSES.

WHEREAS, many college campuses in New Mexico face problems associated with hazing rituals; and

WHEREAS, last year, the university of New Mexico lost a student, Kevin Johns, to binge drinking that is attributed to a hazing ritual; and

WHEREAS, numerous students have since admitted that they, too, have been victims of hazing rituals involving alcohol while attending college; and

WHEREAS, while the university of New Mexico and other New Mexico colleges have implemented anti-hazing policies, hazing rituals are still a common practice; and

WHEREAS, currently forty-two states have passed legislation to prohibit hazing rituals on college campuses, with the most recent state being Arizona in 2001; and

WHEREAS, while legislation prohibiting hazing rituals will not bring back victims such as Kevin Johns, perhaps the review and subsequent enactment of such legislation will ease some of the pain and suffering for victims' families and others who have in some way been affected by college hazing rituals;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the appropriate legislative interim committee be requested to review legislation prohibiting hazing rituals on New Mexico college campuses; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the chair of the appropriate legislative interim committee.