STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — Penn State is making changes to its Greek system, including taking control of the previously self-governing fraternities and sororities, following the February death of a pledge.
The university’s board of trustees approved a set of changes during a meeting Friday. Earlier this week, the parents of 19-year-old Timothy Piazza released a scathing letter to the school. The parents of the college sophomore from Lebanon, New Jersey, accused officials of turning a blind eye to hazing and excessive drinking in the Greek system, saying it led to the Feb. 4 death of their son.
“Our son died on your watch because of ignorance and denial by Penn State,” said the letter dated May 31 and signed by Jim and Evelyn Piazza.
Eighteen members of the now-shuttered Beta Theta Pi fraternity face charges in connection with Piazza’s death.
Police say he drank a life-threatening amount of alcohol during a hazing ritual.
A grand jury report said security camera footage captured events inside the house that night, including pledges being ordered to guzzle alcohol. Piazza appeared to become inebriated and fell face-first down a flight of basement steps.
Fraternity brothers made half-hearted and even counterproductive efforts to help him, and when one member strongly advocated for summoning help he was shoved into a wall and told to leave, the report said.
