Home Page

By Larry Brandman, Parents Council 

While Penn State has no tolerance for hazing, a recently passed Pennsylvania law significantly increases the civil and criminal penalties for hazing. It also provides protections to “Good Samaritans” who call police or seek assistance for someone who is the victim of hazing or is under the influence of drugs or alcohol even if the Good Samaritan is under the influence or was involved in the hazing event.

The new law is a response to the tragic death of Timothy Piazza.

You should remind your students that they are obligated to be familiar with the University’s policies and procedures on hazing and alcohol use. 

Your students and you should know that the new law, which passed with unanimous support in the General Assembly, provides several measures to prevent hazing, including:

• Strengthening penalties for hazing with a new tiered system that, for the first time, includes a felony for aggravated hazing that results in serious injury or death;
• Holding organizations accountable for promoting hazing, which could include the confiscation of fraternity and sorority houses;
• Requiring schools to have anti-hazing rules, enforcement policies and preventative measures and to make information about hazing violations available to the public to help inform students and parents;
• Creating a safe-harbor provision, giving students immunity from prosecution for calling police or seeking assistance for someone in need of help.

The “safe-harbor” (which is also included in Penn State’s policies and procedures) is particularly critical because it encourages students who may have been drinking, under the influence, or involved in a hazing event to report to police or to seek assistance for someone who needs help. As a Good Samaritan, the person reporting is generally protected from civil, criminal and school disciplinary action. Clearly, we as Parents never want to read or hear about another tragedy!

President Eric J. Barron was in attendance with the Parents of Timothy Piazza at the signing of the anti-hazing law by Governor Wolf. “This law is an important movement in an ongoing conversation to identify meaningful solutions that create transformational change,” said President Barron. “Unfortunately, hazing continues to plague universities across the country, and we hope this law will serve as a model for other state legislatures to effect critically needed national reform. We are thankful to our Legislature and the Governor, as well as to the family of Timothy Piazza, for their commitment to addressing this serious issue.”

____________________________________________

The Penn State Parents Council is comprised of a representative group of University Park parents and family members who:

• Make a commitment to volunteer our time and to share our knowledge and expertise that support the mission and the goals of the Penn State Parents Program
• Act as an advisory group to help undergraduate parents, families, and students foster a positive and lasting connection to Penn State

Applications are typically available in October and November. Please visit our Get Involved page for more information.