Beta Theta Pi pledge dies at Penn State

[PGD-GRAD]

While I scanned it only quickly, there's apparently a battle over the return of the camera footage taken from the PSU Beta house. If I can find the complete article I'll post it. It sounds as if Beta is angry that the county law enforcement either won't return it or did return it but not in its entirety. That tape is--as they say--"the smoking gun".

[LXA SE285]

Does ESA allow its collegiate chapters to be coed or single-sex on a local basis, or could a guy demand to join this chapter?

[GreekOne]

Originally Posted by LXA SE285

Does ESA allow its collegiate chapters to be coed or single-sex on a local basis, or could a guy demand to join this chapter?

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.

[33girl]

I feel horrible for the Piazzas, but assume of the things they ask (like the university becoming owners of all the Greek houses - this would require an enormous amount of money) are unrealistic.

Plus - I've read that his biological brother was also a Beta member a fee years ago. Is that true? If so, I question why it is never mentioned.

[Kevin]

Originally Posted by 33girl

Plus - I've read that his biological brother was also a Beta member a fee years ago. Is that true? If so, I question why it is never mentioned.

Because no one wants to hear the storyline that his brother must have known about this hazing, said nothing, and was therefore complicit.

[GreekOne]

Originally Posted by 33girl

the things they ask (like the university becoming owners of all the Greek houses - this would require an enormous amount of money) are unrealistic.

I have not seen a complete summary of the Board of Trustees meeting this afternoon. However, in one article that I saw is a proposal that there be a fee assessed to all Greeks (think pledge fee paid to PSU) to cover additional expenses associated with managing Greek affairs. So, it seems, they aren't concerned about these added expenses. They simply intend to pass it along to the 17% of the student body that pledges.

[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]

Getting into the legalese, but the university taking control of the fraternity and sorority misconduct and adjudication process seems like it would be a special law. Especially when groups like Trilogy are not sororities (my understanding). Pennsylvania and most other states' constitutions prohibit laws which apply only to some members of a particular class (student organizations), but not others and for which the classification is arbitrary.

If somehow NIC/NPC groups had their autonomy taken away while groups like Trilogy did not, I don't think that'll work.

[GreekOne]

Originally Posted by Kevin

If somehow NIC/NPC groups had their autonomy taken away while groups like Trilogy did not, I don't think that'll work.

Not to mention that their proposal is directed at only IFC and Panhel. The Multicultural and NPHC chapters are not included in these restrictions. Since no NPC group was involved in the Beta tragedy, they can't say this is a result of that incident. How does a university decide that two of its Greek councils are sanctioned but two are not?? Seems that legally there are no grounds.

[shadokat]

Her response is fantastic. I just don't know how anyone gets around what will likely be some very major changes. Penn State has to save face and make amends to this family somehow, and the easiest way to do so is to sacrifice the freedoms of their Greek system. And frankly, I can't imagine any national organization standing in the way of whatever they choose to do because that will just make them appear insensitive to the Piazzas' situation.

Nothing is going to bring Tim back, that's a given, but this system is broken. The fact that so many people saw so much of this happen and did nothing just makes me sick. And if it makes me sick, I can't imagine what their family is going through. I hope that all of these factors can come together to make Penn State's Greek system better, and I hope that it can help the commonwealth pass a good samaritan law that allows for the reporting of incidents like these without repercussion. That being said, I don't give a shit if these kids were scared of what might happen...you have to be pretty cold to let someone die over your fraternity's existence. Nobody's life is worth that.

[JonInKC]

Originally Posted by shadokat

Penn State has to save face and make amends to this family somehow, and the easiest way to do so is to sacrifice the freedoms of their Greek system. And frankly, I can't imagine any national organization standing in the way of whatever they choose to do because that will just make them appear insensitive to the Piazzas' situation.

I don't think it's right to sanction all the other orgs that had zero to do with this. It looks like Beta Theta Pi has a history of being a problem at Penn State. They are now gone permanently. Brothers are facing legal consequences for this and Beta Theta Pi is getting sued for this as well. I think what needed to be done is being done.

As tragic as the case is, punishing every person involved in the Greek system of an entire school won't bring their son back.

[navane]

Originally Posted by JonInKC

I don't think it's right to sanction all the other orgs that had zero to do with this. It looks like Beta Theta Pi has a history of being a problem at Penn State. They are now gone permanently. Brothers are facing legal consequences for this and Beta Theta Pi is getting sued for this as well. I think what needed to be done is being done.

As tragic as the case is, punishing every person involved in the Greek system of an entire school won't bring their son back.

Yes. I also think shadokat is right in that the university might be now thinking that they need to ensure that this doesn't happen with any *other* GLO again.

[33girl]

It doesn't help that there is buzz regarding a Jerry Sandusky movie coming out.

[Xidelt]

Originally Posted by 33girl

It doesn't help that there is buzz regarding a Jerry Sandusky movie coming out.

Gross.