Penn State has placed Delta Tau Delta on interim suspension after a student, who was suspected of drinking alcohol at the fraternity on East Hamilton Avenue, was found unconscious on Calder Way and taken to the hospital.
The university’s Office of Student Conduct is currently investigating the fraternity’s potential involvement with the student’s injuries, Penn State spokeswoman Lisa Powers said via email.
State College police found the student, an 18-year old male, unconscious on Calder Way on Thursday, Sept. 28. No other information on the student’s identity or specific injuries have been released, but Powers said that he is currently in recovery.
“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 of 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.”
In addition to the fraternity, the Office of Student Conduct is currently investigating whether individual students furnished alcohol to minors that contributed to the student’s injuries and condition.
All Penn State fraternities are currently under a social ban in light of Timothy Piazza’s death after falling down the stairs at Beta Theta Pi in February. A number of strict Greek life restrictions and changes have been put in place since, including that students must have 14 full-time credits complete and have a minimum 2.5 GPA before they are allowed to rush, meaning freshmen in their first semester are ineligible.
