The U.S. Department of Education has a long list of restrictions on financial aid eligibility. It cannot award grants or loans to illegal immigrants, previous aid recipients who are in default on their repayments, or sexual offenders serving a civil commitment.Congresswoman Frederica Wilson wants to add two more categories to that list. She says the federal government should also deny aid to anyone a university sanctions for hazing or failing to report an act of hazing he or she witnessed.
She told the Los Angeles Times that this would include hazing victims who do not tell authorities about what happened to them.
“They will tell because they don’t want to lose their federal aid,” she said.
Wilson is also calling on U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder to form a national anti-hazing commission.
The Congresswoman says the new law will combat hazing incidents like the tragedy that claimed FAMU drum major Robert Champion’s life on November 19.