A fraternity placed on interim suspension by Penn State at the end of September has been charged with furnishing alcohol to minors.
Delta Tau Delta was suspended after an 18-year-old student was found unconscious on Sept. 29 on East Calder Way. He was suspected of drinking alcohol at the fraternity. Penn State fraternities have been temporarily prohibited from holding social events with alcohol since the February death of Timothy Piazza following a bid acceptance night at the now-banned Beta Theta Pi fraternity house.
According to the criminal complaint filed on Monday, State College Police responded at 1:37 a.m. to the 300 block of East Calder Way for a report of an individual on his back in the roadway. Officers reportedly found the 18-year-old male student was unconscious but breathing. He did not have any visible injuries aside from a superficial laceration on his leg and was transported to Mount Nittany Medical Center for treatment.
Witnesses told police the man was attempting to jump a fence when his leg got caught and he fell. A review of downtown cameras showed him running through the Garner Street lot and attempting to jump over a small chain fence when his foot caught the chain and he fell into the road, according to the complaint.
Police said medical records showed the man had alcohol in his system. Both he and his roommate, who also is 18-years-old, reportedly later told police they were drinking alcohol that night at Delta Tau Delta fraternity, 429 E. Hamilton Ave.
The fraternity was charged with two counts of furnishing alcohol to minors and two counts of unlawful acts relative to liquor. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Nov. 22.
A Penn State spokesperson said that as of Tuesday afternoon, Delta Tau Delta was still on interim suspension.
Given action taken by the university since it took over the Greek life disciplinary process and implemented new regulations, that Delta Tau Delta’s status could change. Eight fraternities currently have their recognition revoked for rules violations, with the latest coming over the weekend.
Delta Upsilon’s recognition was revoked for organizing socials with alcohol and underage drinking, twice in three weeks. The fraternity also held ‘a fifth and a friend’ party, which the university says was “specifically designed to encourage alcohol consumption.”
Pi Lambda Phi’s recognition was revoked for providing guests with alcohol on three occasions during social events, as well as exceeding the capacity of the fraternity house and violating Penn State’s regulations for social functions this semester. The fraternity’s national organization has also begun the process of closing the chapter, according to a press release from Penn State.
