A Look Into the Future of Greek Life at Penn State
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Vol. 117, No. 150 Friday, April 28, 2017 ‘ENOUGH IS ENOUGH’ A look into the future of greek life at Penn State By Frank Esposito ent at future social events. As li- “Let’s be honest, THE DAILY COLLEGIAN censed bartenders are required to check identification, this this didn’t have to would functionally end underage happen,” Where we are drinking at fraternity house It’s the first weekend of Febru- parties. James Piazza ary at Penn State. What seemed like a punish- Father of Timothy Piazza On Feb. 4, Penn State learned ment for dangerous behavior of an accident that injured a stu- changed into a mandate for a Recently DU had an assault dent, Timothy Piazza. shift in the way greek life oper- reported at their house after a Piazza, a sophomore study- ates on campus. woman was hit in the head with ing engineering, died on Feb. Shortly after Piazza’s death, a can of unopened beer at a party 4 in a bed at the Hershey Medi- members of the IFC’s leader- there in January. cal Center. The Dauphin County ship stepped down due to hazing The Kappa Delta Rho haz- Coroner declared Piazza’s death allegations at their own frater- ing and sexual assault case in accidental — the result of mul- nity and police charged the house 2015 brought even more atten- tiple injuries sustained from fall- manager of Beta Theta Pi with tion to the situation and started ing down stairs. Piazza joined 26 selling large amounts of marijua- a task force to examine the is- other Penn State students this na from the house, as previously sues in greek life at Penn State. year who will never get a diplo- reported by The Daily Collegian. That case was also followed ma, dying before completing their Damon Sims, vice president by the suspension of Phi Kap- studies. for student affairs, announced a Alex Yuan/Collegian pa Tau for alleged hazing, as Piazza’s parents and friends new set of sanctions on March Timothy’s father, James Piazza, speaks during the vigil on Sunday, previously reported by The Daily gathered to remember their 30. These sanctions prompted Feb. 12. Collegian. friend and son. protests from Sims dismissed the notion that They held the vig- part of greek life During the weekend Danny Sha- Beta Theta Pi. In 2009, they were fraternities have control of their il at night, where “If new rules can and questions as ha, director of fraternity and so- disbanded for hazing and drink- own parties. a cool drizzle of to the future of just be ignored, or rority life, called the State College ing violations and were forced to “It is a dangerous situation that rain made can- greek life on at Police Department to report the leave their house that March af- they are creating for themselves, dles sparkle along behavior just goes Penn State. party at Sigma Alpha Mu. ter disbanding that February, as it’s an unlawful situation,” Sims the steps of the “Enough is underground, and if These violations prompted previously reported by the Daily said. Old Main patio. enough,” Sims Penn State President Eric Bar- Collegian. This mirrors the cur- The problem arises from the He loved working there is no willing- said. ron to write an open letter to rent situation, as the brothers of size of the parties and the abuse with his THON In addition to ness to recognize greek life at Penn State. In his BTP were evicted and placed into of alcohol according to Sims. the new rules, committee and letter, Barron expressed his dis- student housing this year. “It is problematic both in terms the adverse impact Penn State also helping others, appointment with how rules were BTP was allowed back onto of the alcohol and the size of the permanently said a few of those of excessive drink- ignored or how student leaders campus after it pledged to enact gatherings,” Sims said. “They who spoke about ing, hazing and banned Beta advised their peers on how to ex- alcohol-free and anti-hazing poli- can’t exceed 200 or 225 people Piazza’s life. Theta Pi from the plicitly hide violations. cies. The former Schreyer’s Hon- I think in the largest one, so if And then Piaz- sexual assault, then university. Penn “If new rules can just be ig- ors College Dean Christian Brady you’ve got 1,000 or 1,200 people za’s father spoke is there any hope?” State administra- nored, or behavior just goes un- took on the role as advisor for the participating in these events to the crowd. tors previously derground, and if there is no will- reinstatement for BTP in 2010, as that’s a problem on many fronts.” “Let’s be hon- Eric Barron viewed BTP as an ingness to recognize the adverse previously reported by The Daily Fraternities sometimes even est, this didn’t Penn State President example of one of impact of excessive drinking, Collegian. call the police on themselves have to happen,” the best fraterni- hazing and sexual assault, then is Other fraternities, like Delta when they lose control of the par- James Piazza ties at campus. there any hope?” Barron asked in Upsilon, provide a model of the ties. These calls usually result in said. BTP previously his letter. repeat offences and the problems no charges, according to State Tim fell down some steps, but won awards for its conduct and Barron said he predicts Penn that fraternities cause. In 2007 College Police. not in just any house or apart- integrity. Sue Paterno was the State “will see many empty hous- they were placed on reorganiza- Broader issues with all frater- ment — he fell down the steps house mother at BTP and the es and then the end of greek life tion status when member Justin nities also point to problems with at the Beta Theta Pi fraternity academic advisor was president at Penn State,” if the restrictions Parent died from a heroin over- the sustainability of the system house during a pledging event of the faculty senate, Sims said. aren’t followed. dose in the house, and members as a whole. there. The State College Police The national charter for BTP also This letter prompted the public of Delta Upsilon were evicted Recent research shows that Department said heavy drinking listed that the house was alcohol questioning of the future of greek from their house in 2007 after Penn State fraternity and soror- played a part in the night’s activi- free. life at Penn State. hosting a party featuring rap art- ity members are four times more ties. “[BTP] being among the best ist Wiz Khalifa, as previously re- likely than the general student Tim’s death caused the final circumstances imaginable, the Pressure builds ported by the Daily Collegian. population to be heavy drinkers, slip in the fault lines between worst possible outcome hap- Hazing and sexual assault sto- DU came back and subse- according to a report from the greek life and the administration. pened there,” Sims said. “That ries, large and small, blanket the quently faced sanctions again university. The result of the slip — a tectonic was reminder enough that if it history of greek life at Penn State after a woman reported a sexual To read full story, visit shift in the future of greek life at could happen there it could hap- — even the once well-received assault at the fraternity in 2014. collegian.psu.edu. Penn State. pen anywhere.” Recent history Sanction aftermath Immediately following Piazza’s The sanctions imposed on death the Interfraternity Council March 30 limited the amount — a group governing the differ- of social events to only 10 per ent fraternities at Penn State — chapter, per semester, and lim- banned all socials for the foresee- ited rushing to students who had able future. This ban coincided completed more than 12 credits, with both THON weekend and effectively banning incoming State Patty’s weekend, both of freshman from the pool of pos- which are events that fraternities sible recruits. Student leaders abstain from hosting parties dur- complained that the new rules ing. were decided on without consul- Penn State released sanc- tation. tions on greek life in the weeks Penn State’s administration re- following Piazza’s death. All laxed the rules for two weekends. socials were canceled, as was Parents of fraternity and sorority spring rush — the time when members came in to spend time fraternities recruit and select at the fraternity houses with their new members. The restrictions kids. Some of the fraternities vio- Collegian file photo also limited the types of alcohol lated the rules and one fraternity served at socials and mandated in particular — Sigma Alpha Mu Visitors at a fraternity house located on East Foster Avenue enjoy the warm weather outside on Monday, April that licensed bartenders be pres- — violated many of the rules. 8, 2013. PAGE 2 | FRIDAY, APRIL 28, 2017 LOCAL THE DAILY COLLEGIAN WEATHER BAR SPECIALS Extended forecast Today Tonight Tomorrow Sunday campusweatherservice.com Weekend High 74 Low 61 High 77, Low 58 High 73, Low 61 Courtesy of Campus Weather Café Friday: $6 Bud Light pitchers half off drafts, mixed drinks and shots from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday: $3.50 Blue Moon 24oz drafts $8 32oz Bacardi Oakheart Pitchers Gaff Friday: $6 Liquor Pitchers until midnight $3 Tallboys (All Day, Everyday) Happy Hour: 9 p.m. to 12 a.m. $3 Turbo & Vodka Doubles Saturday: $6 Liquor Pitchers until midnight $3 Tallboys (All Day, Everyday) Happy Hour: 9pm- 12am $3 IDK Doubles Collegian Inc.