“4000 Days” Premieres at Tribeca on June 10, Tracing Families’ 4,000-Day Anti-Hazing Fight
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Jun 6
“4000 Days” Premieres at Tribeca on June 10, Tracing Families’ 4,000-Day Anti-Hazing Fight
3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Jun 6
Summary
June 10 marks the Tribeca world premiere of “4000 Days,” a documentary following three families whose sons died in college hazing incidents and who spent 4,000 days pressing for federal reform.
The film centers on the bipartisan Stop Campus Hazing Act, which the families helped push into law after years of Capitol Hill lobbying and public advocacy.
Gary and Julie DeVercelly, whose son died during fraternity pledging at Rider University in 2007, say repeatedly retelling his story remains painful but necessary to protect other students and families.
Director Daniel E. Catullo III said he began documenting hazing after a 2014 death at his alma mater, West Virginia University, and came to see how much resistance grieving parents faced in seeking transparency.
Eric and Linda Oakes and TJ and Kim Burch also appear in the film, extending a broader campaign that has included state-level efforts and foundations warning students and parents about hazing risks.
This film exposes a 'broken system' in Greek life. Can these powerful student organizations ever truly be made safe?
New laws mandate hazing transparency, so why are most colleges still failing to report these dangerous incidents?
From 4,000 Days of Grief to Federal Action: Hazing, Documentary Spotlight, and the Early Effects of the Stop Campus Hazing Act
Overview
The documentary "4000 Days" premiered at the 2026 Tribeca Film Festival, offering a powerful look at the dangers of hazing in colleges. It tells the stories of families like the Oakes and Burch, who lost their sons to hazing and turned their grief into action by creating foundations that educate others about these risks. Through their experiences, the film highlights how personal tragedy can inspire advocacy and drive change, making "4000 Days" both a memorial and a call to prevent future hazing incidents on campuses.