The University will update the report biannually on January 1st and August 1st and will publish the report on the Office of Ethics and Compliance website. For example, new member may be forced to take pictures with fraternity men which could make them uncomfortable. Scavenger hunts can often start out harmless, but turn into hazing. The former frat brothers received sentences of one to nine months in jail and house arrest for charges related to the hazing death of Penn State fraternity pledge Tim Piazza. Penn State has suspended the Alpha Psi chapter of Sigma Tau Gamma fraternity through 2024 because of alleged hazing, according to a Penn State news release Friday. Abby Drey/Centre Daily Times via AP, FILE. Evelyn and Jim Piazza are among the parents who helped initiate a national Anti-Hazing Coalition after their son, Penn State student Timothy Piazza, died following an alcohol-fueled party and hazing ritual known as the "Gauntlet" on Feb. 2, 2017. It directed Penn State to strengthen their hazing policies. Beta Theta Pi member Joseph Sala leaves the Centre County Courthouse in Bellefonte, Pa., after another day of prelims in this July 10, 2017 file photo. He continued to stand up only to repeatedly fall back down. Fraternity brothers carried Piazza back upstairs and placed him on a couch, where they poured water on his face and slapped him in an attempt to wake him up, according to a grand jury report that cited evidence including surveillance video, witness testimony and phone records. Tampering with evidence and endangerment charges have also been dismissed against three other students, Joseph Ems,[7] Ryan McCann, and Lucas Rockwell. Timothy Piazza, center, with his parents Evelyn Piazza and James Piazza in Flemington, N.J., Oct 31, 2014. Three brothers picked him up and placed him back on the couch. The national coalition, which includes organization that represent dozens of fraternities and sororities, is fighting for new legislation to increase criminal penalties. Luke Visser, Joseph Sala, Joshua Kurczewski and Michael Bonattuci, former members of the Penn State chapter of the Beta Theta Pi fraternity, were sentenced on Tuesday by a judge in Centre County Court in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania, courthouse sources told ABC News. Upon arrival, Piazza was rushed into surgery, where he was discovered to have a ruptured spleen and class IV hemorrhagic shock. Nationally, fraternity or sorority members are the largest and most visible value-based student organizations. Piazza tried to stand on his own but fell down each time until he eventually stopped moving. Penn State’s Panhellenic Council has chosen to classify scavenger hunts as hazing unless prior written permission is obtained. Timothy John Piazza (September 25, 1997[1] – February 4, 2017) died as the result of hazing at the Beta Theta Pi fraternity at Pennsylvania State University at University Park, Pennsylvania. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? But this year, sororities at Penn State and on other campuses are being called on by their national conference to do more: Drive critical change in the Greek community, as schools crack down on out-of-control drinking, hazing, and other unruly behavior at fraternities. [2], On August 11, 2017, on the fifth day of the preliminary hearing, it was announced by lead investigators that basement footage from the bid acceptance on February 2, 2017, had in fact been deleted by a defendant already charged in the case. Finally, the report recommended that Penn State establish a confidential hazing hotline. The pledges were threatened if they told anyone of the activities, there would be consequences. In response to the Report's recommendations, released by District Attorney Stacy Parks Miller on December 15, 2017, on March 27, 2018, "The Timothy J. Piazza Anti-Hazing Law" was unanimously approved by the Pennsylvania State Senate Judiciary Committee. The university said its investigation of the fraternity revealed "disturbing facts," including a persistent pattern of serious alcohol abuse, hazing as well as illicit drug use and sales. Ryan Burke, age 21, pleaded guilty to four counts of hazing and five counts relating to unlawful acts involving liquor in the deadly injuries Piazza sustained following a night of heavy drinking and hazing. Kurczewski received to three to nine months in jail and one year of probation. He was carried to a couch, where surveillance cameras captured a conspicuous bruise that bloomed on his left abdomen; however, this was shown to have originated from another one of the alcohol-fueled rush events for fraternities that Piazza had attended a week earlier. Definitions The Grand Jury that recommended charges against the brothers also directed Centre County District Attorney Stacy Parks Miller to investigate Penn State University and their role and response to hazing. After several minutes of debating on what the next step should be, the conclusion was made that Piazza's injuries were indeed serious and that he would require medical attention. Four former Pennsylvania State University fraternity brothers have been sentenced in connection with the death of a pledge during a booze-soaked hazing ritual two years ago. (MORE: Anti-hazing law named after Penn State fraternity pledge goes into effect in Pennsylvania), (MORE: Parents of Penn State hazing victim lobby for stricter laws against dangerous hazing rituals), fell down a flight of stairs into the basement, (MORE: Parents of Penn State hazing victim reach settlement with Beta Theta Pi fraternity). They also were ordered to pay fines and perform community service, sources told ABC News. Timothy John Piazza (September 25, 1997 – February 4, 2017) died as the result of hazing at the Beta Theta Pi fraternity at Pennsylvania State University at University Park, Pennsylvania. Burke was accused of giving Piazza a bottle of vodka at the Beta Theta Pi party. The University will maintain a report of all violations of this Policy, or of Federal or State laws related to hazing that are reported to the University for the five (5) previous consecutive years. Social fraternities and sororities at Penn State consists of a diverse group of men and women who help create smaller communities within the large university environment. Penn’s campus is home to chapters of 2 NALFO organizations, as well as Lambda Theta Alpha Latin Sorority, Inc. which is a nationally-recognized sorority, but is not a member of NALFO. The Report called for the legislature to establish "Tim's Law," creating more severe punishments for hazing. Hazing is against National Fraternity or Sorority Headquarters policies. The incident led to closure of the fraternity's chapter at the university and, as of November 14, 2017[update], at least 26 members of the fraternity face charges, including involuntary manslaughter. In October, the Piazzas joined Pennsylvania Gov. Penn State University reported 31 hazing violations between 2013 and 2018 at the university’s 24 campuses throughout the state — most of which occurred at University Park. After unsuccessful attempts by attorneys to have Bream subpoenaed, the judge in the case ordered that Bream have his own hearing on possible contempt of court and avoiding his subpoena. Penn State's fraternities and sororities are committed to the basic principles of membership: Academic Achievement; Service and Philanthropy; Leadership; Brotherhood and Sisterhood; Social He was shoved up against a wall and his attempts were ignored.[3]. It later was revealed that Piazza took prescription anti-depressants, which contributed to his inebriation. "My intent with this legislation is clear – to prevent death or serious injury due to hazing so that families, such as Tim's, never experience tragedies like this ever again. ABC News' Henderson Hewes, Jessica Mendoza and Emily Shapiro contributed to this report. [10], One of the fraternity brothers charged in the death of Piazza pleaded guilty on June 13, 2018, to nine charges, making him the first in the case to enter a guilty plea. Luke Visser, Joseph Sala, Joshua Kurczewski and Michael Bonattuci, former members of the Penn State chapter of the Beta Theta Pi fraternity, were sentenced on Tuesday by a judge in Centre County Court in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania, courthouse sources told ABC News. It defines hazing as coercing an individual to participate in any illegal activity in order to join a social group, including the use of drugs and alcohol to inflict physical or emotional harm or the use of other forces such as "whipping, beating ... or extreme embarrassment". Lead prosecutor Centre County District Attorney Stacy Parks Miller noted that additional charges would be filed as a result of this finding. Witnesses aware of the ongoing hazing and extreme drinking over the years say they notified Penn State authorities but little was done, despite extensive records documenting the hazing, abuse, and other dangerous behavior. [11], On July 31, 2018, Burke was sentenced to three months of house arrest for his role in the hazing death of Piazza. Its Penn State fraternity branch was closed after its president ordered it banned from campus indefinitely. If you suspect that hazing is happening in a fraternity or sorority at Penn State Altoona, please call the Center for Student and Civic Engagement at 814-949-5064. During Spring Rush in February, 2017 sophomore Tim Piazza died after an initiation ritual that forced him to drink 18 drinks in 82 minutes. On November 14, 2017, ten more members were charged in connection with Piazza's death. Some time later, Piazza regained consciousness and rolled off the couch. [citation needed], Lawmakers named the anti-hazing legislation after Timothy Piazza. No sororities logged any hazing violations this spring. In addition to the fraternity brothers, the Beta Theta Pi fraternity itself was also charged. A fraternity member finally called 911, about 12 hours after the initial fall, by which time Piazza was breathing heavily, had blood on his face and his skin had turned grey, according to the grand jury report. 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