Ohio - The

anti-hazing bill known as Collin's Law will go into effect in Ohio Thursday.

"Collin's Law just kind of opens that door to where it's just a larger conversation," Carrie Anderson, Youngstown State's associate director of student activities, said.

The legislation is named after Collin Wiant a former Ohio University student who died whilst getting hazed. 

The 18-year-old freshman died of asphyxiation, when he inhaled a canister of nitrous oxide, which reports say was forced on him, and collapsed in a fraternity house.

Two years after Wiant's death, 20-year-old Stone Foltz died of hazing, while pledging Bowling Green State University's Pi Kappa Alpha.

Collin's mother, Kathleen Wiant, and father, Wade Wiant were instrumental in getting the law passed, working to spare other parents from experiencing what they had. 

"It's a really stark reminder that hazing has no place on our campuses," Dr. Lamar Hylton, senior vice president of Student Affairs at Kent State, said. "Hazing has no place, really anywhere." 

The legislation upgrades the criminal charges of hazing from a fourth degree misdemeanor to a second degree misdemeanor. 

And, in charges where hazing incidents lead to serious harm, those involved now face third degree felony charges. 

Anyone who witnesses an incident of hazing and does not report it to the authorities could face criminal charges as well. 

"Having the offense raised to another level, kind of puts more teeth to it," Anderson said. 

The law brings more changes on the fronts of prevention and education. College and university staff must undergo training on hazing awareness. And, just Thursday, the Ohio Department of Education launched its statewide anti-hazing plan. 

"I think it's a helpful way to make sure we're hitting this really, really critical issue from all sides," Hylton said.