STATE COLLEGE, Pa. – A student’s death and growing allegations of hazing and sexual assault have prompted Penn State to stop fraternity and sorority parties where alcohol is served.
Penn State announced Thursday the university and its Interfraternity Council have agreed to the suspension, the move coming a week after a New Jersey student died at a fraternity at the University Park campus. The suspension impacts just fraternities and sororities there.
“Recent events, including a tragic student death associated with activities in a fraternity house, as well as growing allegations of misconduct in these organizations, including hazing and sexual assault, compel this joint action,” the university stated in a release.
Timothy Piazza, 19, of Readington Township in Hunterdon County, fell down a set of basement stairs at the Alpha Upsilon chapter house of the Beta Theta Pi fraternity at 11 p.m. on Feb. 2. While he was moved upstairs almost immediately, no one called an ambulance until after 10 a.m. on Friday. Police were notified at 10:49 a.m., it was previously reported.
Death of Penn State student was preventable, police say
Piazza died at Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center in Hershey on Saturday morning.
“This suspension will continue while the university, the (Penn State Interfraternity Council) and its chapters, relevant alumni and national fraternity organizations, the Panhellenic Council and the borough of State College determine significant changes in social policies and practices for these groups,” it was stated in the release.
The decision to suspend the functions was made by the council and Vice President for Student Affairs Damon Sims. It will remain in effect until an agreement on what changes need to be made is reached.
Social functions include any sponsored by a fraternity or sorority or its members, regardless of if it takes place at its house or elsewhere.
“An aggressive timeline is being established to finalize plans and adopt recommendations for change,” the university stated. Both fraternities and sororities will be subject to spot inspections. In its statement, the university said Sims met with the presidents of Penn State’s fraternity chapters to “discuss the need for meaningful change in their organizations.
“(He) told the chapter presidents that they must work together with the University and others to achieve better outcomes that are required to ensure a healthy, productive and sustainable fraternity and sorority system at Penn State.”
Police and the Centre County District Attorney are continuing to investigate the incident and may press criminal charges against members of the fraternity, police said Wednesday.
While Piazza’s death was ruled accidental on Tuesday, criminal charges could be filed if there is evidence of reckless endangerment, according to attorney Stewart Eisenberg of Eisenberg Rothweiler in Philadelphia, a personal injury law firm. The fact that nearly 12 hours elapsed before an ambulance was called means there are grounds for a civil suit, Eisenberg said.
Piazza will be laid to rest on Saturday following a funeral liturgy being held at 9:30 a.m. Saturday at Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Whitehouse Station, according to his obituary. A viewing will be held 4-8 p.m. on Friday at the church.
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