Federal anti-hazing law brings hope to Eden Prairie family

Danny Santulli’s life changed forever during a hazing incident at the University of Missouri in October 2021.

A 2021 Eden Prairie High School graduate, Danny was left unable to speak or walk after consuming dangerous amounts of alcohol as part of a fraternity initiation.

His parents, Tom and Mary Pat Santulli of Eden Prairie, have been fighting for accountability ever since.

On Monday, they joined U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar at a press conference at the University of Minnesota to celebrate President Joe Biden’s signing of the bipartisan Stop Campus Hazing Act into law on Dec. 24.

The law requires colleges to publicly report hazing incidents, publish hazing prevention policies online, and establish research-based education programs to prevent hazing.

“This bill wouldn’t have happened without the tireless advocacy of families like the Santullis,” Klobuchar said. “I remember calling committee chairs, urging them to take action because I couldn’t face these families without progress. Over time, we gained bipartisan support, growing from two Senate co-sponsors in 2019 to 19 by the time it passed. The support from universities, including the University of Minnesota and Minnesota State, was also crucial.”

A family’s pain becomes action

Danny had dreamed of attending the University of Missouri, following in the footsteps of his two older siblings, according to his mother, Mary Pat. But during a fraternity event, pledges were forced to drink excessive amounts of alcohol. Danny consumed a liter of vodka and collapsed. Instead of calling 911, fraternity members delayed seeking medical help, driving him to the hospital only after it was too late.

Mary Pat said Danny confided in his sister the weekend before the incident that he didn’t think he could continue. However, he felt pressured to finish because he didn’t want to be shamed for quitting.

“I told him he didn’t have to do this,” Mary Pat said. “The last thing he said to me that night was, ‘I love you,’ and I told him I loved him, too.”

Two days later, Mary Pat said she got the worst phone call of her life.

“Danny was in the ICU after he had stopped breathing,” she said. “At that moment, I stopped breathing myself. My husband and I immediately got in the car and drove seven and a half hours. I kept telling myself he was going to wake up, that he’d just sleep it off. But when I got to the hospital, he was hooked up to so many tubes. It was every parent’s nightmare.”

Danny survived, but Mary Pat said he was left severely disabled.

“Many parents in our position have lost their children entirely,” she said. “It’s unbearable to imagine, and it’s why this bill is so important. It gives parents and students the ability to educate themselves about these organizations. We had no idea the fraternity Danny pledged to had been on probation twice. They weren’t supposed to hold any events, but they did anyway – without any supervision. If we had known, we never would have allowed Danny to pledge.”

Holding institutions accountable

The Stop Campus Hazing Act aims to improve transparency and accountability. Colleges must now include hazing incidents in their federally mandated Annual Security Reports and disclose organizations that violate hazing policies.

“This bill is a game-changer,” Klobuchar said. “Student organizations and universities will now be required to publicly share information about hazing incidents and the disciplinary actions taken against organizations. This information can’t just be buried in a dean’s file anymore – it will be accessible on school websites for students and parents to see. This transparency is critical for holding organizations accountable and deterring dangerous behavior.”

Calvin Phillips, vice president for student affairs at the University of Minnesota, praised the law’s focus on transparency.

“It helps those of us who work directly with students to better define hazing and creates a common standard for reporting and responding to such incidents,” Phillips said. “The law also empowers students to make informed decisions about joining organizations, giving them greater confidence in the groups they choose to participate in.”

Klobuchar highlighted the bipartisan effort behind the law, co-sponsored with Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana. She called it a rare standalone victory in a year dominated by broader legislative packages, crediting its success to the strong emotional and factual support from advocates.

“At the end of the year, when many bills were getting eliminated or stalled, we managed to get this one across the finish line,” Klobuchar said. “It was a priority, and we made it happen.”

A push for cultural change

For the Santullis, the law is a step forward, but their fight continues. They hope the legislation will prevent tragedies like Danny’s and hold institutions accountable for failing to act.

“We are so grateful for all the efforts to pass this bill,” Mary Pat said. “Danny continues to fight every day, and so do we. We believe he is here for a reason. We’ll never give up hope, and we’ll keep working toward his progress and strength.”

Klobuchar praised the Santullis’ determination.

“Well, you can see why this legislation got done – because of Mary Pat, Tom, and other incredible advocates,” she said. “These stories simply shouldn’t happen. It’s clear that Danny and his family didn’t have the information they needed, and they shouldn’t have had to figure it out on their own.”