A report card at Penn State
The death of 19-year-old student Tim Piazza in a hazing accident at a Penn State University fraternity in February and the charges that have been brought against 18 members of Beta Theta Pi as a result of the incident have shed new light on the sometimes unsafe practices of Greek organizations on college campuses.
In light of Piazza’s death, Penn State has come under criticism for a look-the-other-way approach to hazing and alcohol abuse in its Greek organizations. In response, the university has now decided to publish a “report card” on its fraternities and sororities, complete with lists of infractions and whether the organizations are active or suspended.
The Philadelphia Inquirer reported Penn State will now be joining such universities as Rutgers and Lehigh in publishing a “report card.” Eric Barron, Penn State’s president, said the report card is designed “to provide a ‘buyer’s guide’ to help students avoid groups that had poor records and be attracted to groups with good records.” He also said it could “reveal any negative trend in behavior over time, allowing us to intervene earlier by putting a house on notice.”
Let’s hope, in this regard, more schools follow Penn State’s example.