In 2017, hazing at Penn State Beta Theta Pi resulted in the death of a student from New Jersey. As a consequence, two former leaders of the fraternity are facing legal charges.
According to Michelle Henry, Pennsylvania’s Attorney General, Brendan Young, who was the fraternity president at the time, and Daniel Casey, who served as the pledge master and vice president, pleaded guilty to one count of reckless endangerment and 14 counts of hazing. The incident in question involved 14 pledges who were present at the event that night.
The date set for the sentencing is October 1st.
The image above depicts Timothy Piazza, his mother Evelyn Piazza, and his father James Piazza.
Timothy Piazza’s death gained national attention due to the way their fraternity handled the situation and the decisions they made.
Authorities were notified 12 hours after Piazza’s first headfirst stumble down a staircase. A forensic pathologist approximated the sophomore’s blood alcohol concentration to be as much as 0.36 percent.
“This week, Henry emphasized that we should not overlook the sorrowful loss of life and the consequential devastation that Mr. Piazza’s family and friends have endured. He added that Mr. Piazza’s intention was to join a social organization to enjoy the advantages of communal and shared experiences.”
The image displayed above depicts Timothy Piazza, a tragic figure in a highly publicized case.
In 2021, Governor Phil Murphy signed the Timothy J. Piazza’s Law after the tragic pledge event.
After signing, Murphy emphasized that the safety of students is of utmost importance and it is imperative to take all necessary measures to shield them from harmful and inhumane hazing practices.
