Schools
In Wake Of Student's Death, Penn State To Discuss Sweeping Changes At Friday Meeting
Penn State's trustees and administrators will hold a special meeting today to discuss comprehensive changes following a frat house death.
STATE COLLEGE, PA — The Penn State Board of Trustees and administrators will hold a special meeting today, June 2, to consider "comprehensive" changes to rules surrounding the university's greek community. The meeting comes exactly four months to the day after a fatal pledge event at the Beta Theta Pi house.
Eighteen students have been charged in connection with the death of Timothy Piazza, a student from New Jersey. Eight fraternity brothers are facing manslaughter charges; 10 others face related charges of reckless endangerment, tampering with evidence and providing alcohol to minors, among others.
Police say on the night of Feb. 2, Piazza was forced to drink copious amounts of alcohol then fell down a flight of stairs at 11 p.m. No one called for medical attention until late the following morning, despite obvious signs that Piazza was in distress, according to authorities. Piazza died early Feb. 4 after doctors determined he could not overcome his injuries, which included a collapsed lung, ruptured spleen and traumatic brain injury.
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Surveillance footage retrieved from the fraternity house backs up this account, a grand jury confirmed last month. The harrowing timeline, created by the grand jury using surveillance footage and witness testimony, can be read here.
Find out what's happening in New Hope-Lambertvillefor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Penn State officials say Friday's meeting is aimed to craft a set of recommendations to "ensure significant change" following the death of Piazza.
“The safety of our students and campus community is of paramount importance, and we are resolved to take decisive action,” Penn State President Eric J. Barron said in a statement. “There are no easy solutions, but we will leave no stone unturned as we search for the most effective ways to achieve change.”
Barron said the university is considering "a number of options that will depart drastically from measures commonly employed at institutions nationwide."
No further specifics were offered. The meeting will be live streamed here.
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