Pennsylvania Senator Supports National Anti-Hazing Bill

posted March 18, 2019 in CommRadio, News by Brittany Krugel

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Pennsylvania Sen. Bob Casey is one of several U.S. senators sponsoring a nationwide bill to crack down on fraternity and sorority hazing across college campuses.

This piece of legislation would be similar to the Pennsylvania law that was passed after the death of Beta Theta Pi pledge, Timothy Piazza.

Since his death in February 2017, Penn State University administrators have been working with members of the Interfraternity and Panhellenic councils to improve the Greek culture.

Vice President of Student Affairs, Danny Shaha, has had a large role in making Penn State’s recent changes.

“We’ve created the office of Sorority and Fraternity Compliance and the training that goes along with that," Shaha said. "We’ve amped up the training that goes along with sexual assault, alcohol consumption, and risk management. We’ve hired staff to assist in those efforts."

There have been significant changes to the Greek life system within the past two years that have forced members of Greek life to regulate their practices. Karli Meller, a member of the Alpha Omicron Pi sorority, says a lot has changed between fall 2016 and today.

“I think the hazing was a lot worse freshman year and I think that now after the accident with Tim Piazza, which unfortunately resulted in his death, the parties in Greek life have been more regulated,” Meller said.

Jim and Evelyn Piazza visited Washington D.C. last week to lobby beside Sen. Casey. The bill has yet to be passed in the Senate.

 

 

Brittany Krugel is a freshman majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact her, email bak5451@psu.edu.