Beta Theta Pi pledge dies at Penn State

[clemsongirl]

Originally Posted by GreekOne

A guy could ask to join the chapter. However, there is likely a membership selection process at which they could simply say that they didn't like him. It would take a bunch of guys trying to join this chapter to create a case for exclusion due to gender.

Because ESA has only been on campus since Chi O left in 2014, it is not as entrenched as Trilogy is after 8 years.

From what I know of groups without single-gender social exemptions from Title IX, as long as a man completed all the requirements necessary to join I don't think they could stop him from doing so if he was determined. I know that's the case with the local music-interest sorority on my campus-their membership is all female but they would be required to take male students if they completed all other requirements. What this looks like in practice is obviously different than on paper, though.

[33girl]

I seem to remember a lot of these things being called for at Penn State multiple times over the years. I have to think that if they overstepped and infringed on groups' autonomy for things like member termination (which it sounds like they're talking about) the groups will pull up stakes and leave, which will leave the campus with even more Trilogies and ESAs.

[Kevin]

Originally Posted by 33girl

I seem to remember a lot of these things being called for at Penn State multiple times over the years. I have to think that if they overstepped and infringed on groups' autonomy for things like member termination (which it sounds like they're talking about) the groups will pull up stakes and leave, which will leave the campus with even more Trilogies and ESAs.

Rather than leaving, they'd probably just terminate their relations with the University and act as off-campus organizations which self-police. Groups such as Trilogy could still be formed by those off-campus organizations so they could participate in government and utilize school resources through proxy orgs.

[ASTalumna06]

http://onwardstate.com/2017/06/02/at...k-life-reform/

Jim and Evelyn Piazza, the parents of student Tim Piazza who died after falling multiple times at Beta Theta Pi fraternity’s bid acceptance night, released a letter to the Board of Trustees Thursday night outlining changes they hoped to see in Penn State’s Greek life regulation during the Board’s off-cycle meeting Friday. Now, the family’s lawyer says they’re disappointed in the Board’s decisions.

“The action of the Board today was aspirational, not concrete,” attorney Tom Kline told The Daily Collegian. “There is nothing different than Feb. 4, which is the night Tim Piazza died.”

Kline criticized the Board for not imposing any specific measures about those responsible for Piazza’s death — especially the 18 former Beta Theta Pi members who were charged last month. The university has previously said these individuals will go through the student conduct process. A graduation hold was also placed on anyone who was slated to graduate at the end of the spring semester.

[33girl]

Aren't those 18 getting charged by the police? Isn't that a little bit worse than anything the student conduct board could do?

The only thing I could think of is that they are permanently expelled and can never get a Penn State degree of any kind (including branch campi).

[ASTalumna06]

Originally Posted by 33girl

Aren't those 18 getting charged by the police? Isn't that a little bit worse than anything the student conduct board could do?

The only thing I could think of is that they are permanently expelled and can never get a Penn State degree of any kind (including branch campi).

I think that is what's confusing about the parents' response. Those 18 students have been criminally charged, and the school has been doing everything it can to lessen the risk to students in Greek life.

Their child died, and I'm sure it hurts even more to know that he could have been saved if just one person did the right thing and called for help. I can't even imagine what they're going through. However, there is only so much that can be done now. And nothing that's done by the school is going to bring Tim back.

The criminal justice system is working to punish those responsible. The school is taking as much action as they can. I'm not sure what else the family is looking for. I don't want to tell anyone how to grieve, but I think that their anger, sadness, and energy needs to be directed elsewhere right now.

[ASTalumna06]

Panhellenic Council responds to new Greek reforms:

http://onwardstate.com/2017/06/05/pa...k-life-reform/