UIUC football alum championing student athlete bill of rights, anti-hazing proposals

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) — Illinois state lawmakers could pass a collegiate student athlete bill of rights and anti-hazing legislation next year. Both plans are a top priority for former Illini football star Rep. Kam Buckner (D-Chicago).

Buckner told WAND News that Illinois student athletes should be protected from exploitation, abuse and reckless hazing traditions.

"The student athletes deserve not just accountability, but they deserve protection on and off the court, the field, the mat, the pitch, in the classroom, medically and even in their locker rooms," Buckner said.

His Student Athlete Bill of Rights could cement equity requirements for non-male athletes through a requirement for access to a Title IX coordinator and external sources for information on gender equity laws or other equity, anti-discrimination or harassment laws. The proposal also includes protections for whistleblowers to prevent retaliation if a student athlete files a complaint for discrimination or harassment.

"Illinois will not wait around for the NCAA to find religion on this subject," Buckner said. "We refuse to wait around for Congress to take this more seriously."

Buckner explained he is grateful that he never dealt with hazing or other harassment while playing for the University of Illinois. Although, he knows many athletes across the country have struggled.

"Had I experienced that, I'm not sure that an 18 or 19-year-old Kam Buckner would've had the wherewithal to push back against our coaches or whoever was doing this because that scholarship was my livelihood," Buckner stressed.

Every higher education institution in Illinois would be required to hire or appoint an independent ombudsperson to provide student athletes with free advice about the Bill of Rights or report misconduct. The ombudsperson could help people report problems they face as a student athlete, prospective athlete, or former student athlete.

The bill also calls on the state to provide sports-related healthcare for all student athletes after graduation through a medical trust fund. Buckner said he believes athletes should be able to use the trust fund to cover out-of-pocket medical expenses during their time as a student and up to five years after they leave the school.

"This is exciting not just for the people of Illinois, not just for those folks who are student athletes here today, or those who want to be student athletes for tomorrow," Buckner said. "But I think the country is watching and we have a chance to do this right."

House Bill 4252 could also create an Illinois Commission on College Athletics to advise, research, and monitor college sports-related issues. Buckner said the commission should have at least 5 former college athletes and at least one attorney. A Title IX coordinator would also serve on the 9 member commission.

Starting with the 2024-2025 school year, Illinois colleges and universities could be required to keep an online report of any student organization, athletic team or other group that violates the school's code of conduct, anti-hazing policy or state and federal laws related to hazing, alcohol, drugs, sexual assault or physical assault. Buckner noted that people should stop thinking of hazing as something from the "good old days" of college athletics.

"I would posit that the gold old days weren't good and that we should not look nostalgically at some of these old school ways of performing and some of the trauma that came with that," Buckner said. "It's important that we call out what has happened."

House Bill 4253 also calls for higher education institutions to provide education on the signs and dangers of hazing to student and full-time employees at the start of each school year. Any employee or school volunteer who witnesses hazing or has reasonable cause to believe hazing occurred and makes a report in good faith may not be sanctioned or punished, according to the bill's language.

Buckner worked with the national organization StopHazing to craft the language and expand the definition of hazing. Anyone could commit hazing if they knowingly require a student or other person at a higher education institution to do something in order to be inducted or maintain their membership in a group regardless of their willingness to participate. Buckner also ensured that the definition includes any acts that could likely contribute to a substantial risk of physical injury, adverse mental outcomes, or degradation to any person at a college or university.

"Every year students experience harm from hazing, including loss of life," said Elizabeth Allen, CEO of StopHazing. "This legislation prioritizes transparency and commitment to education and student safety at school and in the communities, clubs, teams and organizations they choose to be a part of while at school."

Buckner filed both proposals December 4. They will likely be assigned to a House committee when lawmakers return to Springfield to start the 2024 session in January.