K-State Added Staff to Boost Student Support
The university hired two new employees to manage hazing prevention and provide legal aid to students.
Updated on Oct. 9, 2026 in Sex Crimes
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Kansas State University has hired two new staff members to join its Student Support and Accountability team. These additions aim to expand student resources and address a national increase in hazing incidents.
Why it matters
The university sought to meet growing student demand for legal guidance on matters like landlord-tenant disputes and misdemeanors. Simultaneously, the school is prioritizing safety by creating a specialized role dedicated to hazing prevention initiatives.
Alea Billingsley serves as the only hazing prevention and conduct coordinator in Kansas, dedicating 70% of her time to hazing prevention and 30% to student conduct. The team currently oversees all 400 student organizations at the university.
The players
Corinne Petrik
She serves as a legal services attorney for Student Legal Services at the university.
Alea Billingsley
She acts as the hazing prevention and conduct coordinator for the Student Support and Accountability team.
Kansas State University
This is the higher education institution in Manhattan, Kansas, that expanded its student support services.
Student Governing Association
This body provided the necessary funding for the new full-time legal services position.
The details
The university created a full-time legal services attorney position, funded by the Student Governing Association, to offer free advice and education to the student body. The hazing prevention coordinator will lead educational initiatives and provide advisory services to all 400 student organizations within the first year.
Timeline
September 30, 2026: K-State Today issued a press release announcing the new positions.
October 9, 2026: The university published an article detailing the staff hires.
Legal Context
The university's hiring initiative follows a pattern set by institutions nationwide that are expanding prevention resources in response to the national increase in hazing incidents. This move reflects a broader shift toward institutional accountability in student safety and legal welfare.
Students at the Manhattan campus can now access free legal counsel for personal disputes and misdemeanor guidance. Additionally, all 400 recognized student organizations will undergo mandatory hazing prevention training to improve safety protocols for participants.
The takeaway
The addition of specialized staff reflects a commitment to proactive student support rather than reactive crisis management. Students are encouraged to utilize these new legal and educational resources to navigate campus life safely.
What happens next
The university plans to integrate comprehensive hazing prevention education into all 400 student organizations within the first year of the program.
Further reading
For more information on legal and safety initiatives, visit the Sex Crimes section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Kansas State Collegian.
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