BLACKSBURG, Va. (WFXR)– The Love Like Adam Foundation, an organization created in memory of Adams Oakes, a Virginia Commonwealth University student who died in 2021 due to hazing, was in Blacksburg this week teaching multiple different law enforcement agencies from across the state about hazing prevention.
On February 27th, 2021, the Oakes family’s lives were changed forever. Adam Oakes died after his first night as a pledge of the Delta Chi fraternity at VCU. And since then, Adams family has made it their mission to educate on the dangers of hazing.
“Law enforcement and campus police, they can make a big difference because they’re on the front lines. They see this every day,” said Eric Oakes, Adam’s dad and the director of the Love Like Adam Foundation, “And to try and possibly give them additional resources, what to look for, how to investigate a hazing scene.”
Adam’s cousin, Courtney White, wrote her doctoral thesis on the hazing prevention curriculum after Adam’s death. She believes the earlier police learn how to spot and address the problem, the better.
“It’s basically like what is hazing. So taking a deeper dive into what hazing is in Greek organizations but also athletics,” said Courtney White, Adam’s cousin and President of the Love Like Adam Foundation, “And the afternoon is really analyzing cases, how do you investigate hazing cases.”
The Love Like Adam Foundation started in his honor, was instrumental in passing a Virginia law – also named for Adam in 2022.
It requires all higher education institutions in Virginia to offer anti-hazing training and publicly report any incidents.
Adam’s dad told WFXR News they’re more than just a grieving family, they’re advocates working to stop other families from feeling the same heartbreak.
“Everybody is impacted by your story, and everyone will continue to be impacted by your story,” said White, “And everyone will know who Adams Oakes was and is, that’s the main thing I’d want him to know, and how much he’s loved.”
“To use a word he loved was ‘amazing,’ he would definitely be amazed, he’d be proud,” said Oakes.
