UNIVERSITY PARK - The Penn State Board of Trustees unanimously approved a new comprehensive plan for Greek Life at Penn State University Friday.
President Eric Barron announced several major changes to Greek Life following the death of Timothy Piazza. Barron announced the following:
-University control of the fraternity and sorority organizational misconduct and adjudication process:
-Hazing that involves alcohol, physical abuse, or any behavior that puts a student’s mental or physical health at risk will result in swift, permanent revocation of University recognition for the chapter involved.
-Transition to deferred recruitment/rush process for fraternities and sororities.
-Strict social restrictions.
-Monitoring of social events by University staff members.
-Relationship statement signed by all fraternity and sorority members that clarifies the respective rights and responsibilities of the University, the chapters and their respective members.
-Further parent education: availability of report card, messages to reinforce with their students.
-Capitation fee for support of extra services, spot-checkers/monitors and educational activities."
"These new safety and reform initiatives represent a significant departure from the Greek system’s broken self-governance model and indicates steps necessary to address the complex problems,” said Barron.
The President will also appoint a Greek Response Team consisting of local law enforcement, community relations and government of affairs to ensure the new procedures are being strictly enforced.
In addition to the new procedures, the university will support for stricter legislation on hazing violations and advocate to expand the current law on medical amnesty for underage drinking.
"Our University community continues to mourn the death of student Tim Piazza and again sends our deepest sympathies to the Piazza family," said Barron.
Prior to the meeting, the Piazza family wrote a letter to the Board asking for stricter restrictions on Greek Life and for the firings of VP of student affairs David Sims and Beta Theta Pi in-house adviser and head athletic trainer Tim Bream.
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