Board of Regents accepts Caleb Wilson hazing‑prevention task force report, recommends expanded training and reporting
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Summary
The Board of Regents unanimously accepted the Caleb Wilson Hazing Prevention Task Force report, endorsing expanded annual training, stronger reporting and a recommendation to revert to a preponderance‑of‑evidence standard for campus hazing proceedings.
The Board of Regents voted to accept the Caleb Wilson Hazing Prevention Task Force report, which recommends expanded annual training for students, faculty and advisors, stronger reporting and accountability mechanisms, and a return to a preponderance‑of‑evidence standard in hazing cases.
Task force members Brianna Golden Phillips and Dr. Allison Smith presented eight recommendations organized under two themes: increased, recurring training for the campus community and stronger accountability for reporting and compliance. Dr. Smith told the board the task force produced the report “as a call to action and a commitment to protecting the safety of every student entrusted to Louisiana's higher education.”
Presenters noted that the Stop Campus Hazing Act of 2024 made hazing a clearly reportable crime and requires twice‑annual campus hazing transparency reports; the task force recommended aligning statewide reporting with that requirement so the legislature can monitor trends and evaluate policy effectiveness. The report also urged institutions to train advisors, reinforce legal and institutional consequences and encourage bystander intervention.
On disciplinary policy, the task force recommended reverting from any higher evidentiary standard adopted elsewhere back to the preponderance‑of‑evidence standard so institutions can act while maintaining due process. The presentation also flagged a financial implication: staff said consistent enforcement and mandated training will require dedicated recurring funding and recommended legislative appropriations to sustain the work.
Regent May moved to accept the report; the motion was seconded and, with no objections, the board approved the task force’s recommendations. Board leadership thanked the Wilson family for participating in the task‑force process and noted the family’s contributions informed several recommendations.
The board directed that the report be transmitted as requested to the legislature and that staff return with implementation steps and funding needs at a future meeting.