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Penn State suspends another fraternity after student is found passed out in street after suspected party

UNIVERSITY PARK — Penn State University has suspended another fraternity after a student was found unconscious in the street after allegedly drinking at a frate...
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UNIVERSITY PARK — Penn State University has suspended another fraternity after a student was found unconscious in the street after allegedly drinking at a fraternity party last Thursday, according to a report on WNEP.

The 18-year-old student was hospitalized. According to a statement, the university is investigating the Delta Tau Delta Fraternity for its suspected involvement.

All Penn State fraternities are under a social ban since the death of Beta Theta Pi pledge Timothy Piazza in February. Piazza died from injuries suffered in a fall after a night of heavy drinking, allegedly after a hazing ritual.

Penn State issued the following statement to the media:

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.

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