RICHMOND, Va. — The family of Adam Oakes continues to fight for better hazing prevention laws after his death three years ago.
The Sterling native was a student at Virginia Commonwealth University when he died of alcohol poisoning during a rush ceremony at an off-campus fraternity event. Officials said no one checked on him despite his conditions.
His father, mother and cousin spent Wednesday in Richmond watching senators pass legislation that would require high schools to offer hazing prevention workshops to sophomores and freshmen. The bill is now heading to Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s desk.
“It's just imperative that reaching out to students before getting into college will help prepare the dangers of hazing and stop the behavior before more students risk their lives or get seriously injured,” said Sen. Jennifer Boysko (D-Fairfax).
About two years ago, the family also helped push for “Adam’s Law,” which required universities and colleges to train organizations on the dangers of hazing.
The family and the Love Like Adam Foundation honored his life on the second “Adam’s Day of Remembrance” at VCU where about 70 student leaders participated in a workshop to learn the root causes of hazing and how to reduce it from happening in their organizations.
“We're doing what's called improvement science with all of the student organizations and it has students that look at hazing infraction data create goals and actions steps to eliminate hazing from their organization and campus,” said Courtney White, Oakes' cousin. “This is a way to give an action plan to prevent hazing or reform or keep it out.”
It comes as the University of Virginia suspended a fraternity organization after an alleged hazing incident. As first reported by Jefferson Independent, a second-year transfer student pledging Kappa Sigma fell down the stairs and hit his head. The student remains in a coma.
Vice President of External Affairs for Kappa Sigma Fraternity Leo Brown told WUSA9 the details of the incident are still being investigated.
“Our hopes and prayers are with our member for a speedy recovery," Brown said in a statement. "While we do not know the full circumstances of this incident, any member found to violate the Fraternity’s Code of Conduct, which strictly forbids hazing for the disgusting act that it is, will be held accountable.”
Oakes cousin responded that the latest incident means her work isn't done.
"It's not just UVA-- It's happening everywhere," she said. "We're traveling to different universities and different colleges and it's happening on all campuses.”
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