Penn State fraternity suspended after student found unconscious on Calder Way
His unconscious state is likely due to drinking at Delta Tau Delta
An 18-year-old male was found unconscious on Calder Way on September 28th, Onward State reports. Specific information on his injuries have not been released, but it is highly suspected that the boy was drinking earlier at Delta Tau Delta.
Lisa Powers, the Director of Strategic Communications at Penn State, told The Tab that the university is "investigating any alleged connection with the fraternity."
The statement in full:
Penn State has suspended on an interim basis all Delta Tau Delta fraternity functions pending an investigation into injuries on Sept. 28 of a student who allegedly had been drinking alcohol at the fraternity. The 18-year-old male student was hospitalized after being found unconscious off-campus on Calder Way in State College Borough by borough police. The student is recovering.
The Office of Student Conduct is investigating any alleged connection the fraternity may have with this incident. The findings of the investigation will provide direction for decisions or sanctions that could follow. All Penn State fraternities have been under a University- and IFC-imposed ban on social functions involving alcohol until undergoing additional alcohol education and training. The Office of Student Conduct also is looking into whether individual students had a role in providing alcohol to minors that may have contributed to the injured student’s condition on Sept. 28.
“The potential involvement of Delta Tau Delta is very disturbing news, given all of the recent efforts and education that have gone into emphasizing student safety,” said Damon Sims, vice president for Student Affairs. “None of us can be tolerant of organizations or individuals who value access to alcohol above student welfare. We'll see where our investigation of this incident leads.”
Penn State on Aug. 21 instituted aggressive new measures to drive change within Greek-letter organizations, and compel the organizations to focus on student safety.
University leaders have acknowledged that excessive underage drinking is a vexing problem on campuses nationwide and true change will not happen without the members, chapters, alumni boards, housing boards, council, and national organizations commitment and partnership in putting student safety first.
Following the death of Timothy Piazza last semester, which resulted from a night of hazing and neglect at the hands of his fraternity brothers, Greek life was put on strict probation.
Penn State cracked down immediately following the incident at DTD and placed the fraternity on interim suspension.
An investigation into this incident is ongoing. The Office of Student Conduct is looking into the very real possibility that alcohol illegally provided to the boy caused the incident.
Unlike Beta Theta Pi, who claimed to be alcohol-free, Delta Tau Delta does state that rather than being alcohol-free, they have enforced "'Delts Talking About Alcohol' to reduce the risk of any type of alcohol-related problems."