UNIVERSITY PARK — A Penn State fraternity has been suspended for the next several years after an investigation conducted by the university found that the chapter was hazing its new members.
The Pi Delta Psi’s Tau chapter’s suspension was effective as of Thursday, Nov. 21, through at least the spring semester of 2028. Penn State noted that after a successful re-recognition, the fraternity may also be subjected to another year of organizational conduct probation.
“Following a thorough investigation, the office found that the Tau chapter engaged in hazing new members, including coerced high-risk alcohol consumption, during the spring 2024 semester,” the university said in a statement.
The local chapter at University Park and the national organization were both notified of the outcome of Penn State’s Office of Student Accountability and Conflict Response investigation.
“While on suspension, the local chapter loses all privileges of a recognized student organization,” the university continued in its statement on the matter. “The organization is prohibited from participating in, attending or organizing any functions, activities or events, including University-wide events, and may not function as a sanctioned organization at Penn State.”
The Centre County Gazette’s news partners at StateCollege.com reported in October that Penn State’s reports of hazing have more than doubled since the same time in the previous year, according to a statement from Student Affairs sent to families and parents of students.
Penn State defines hazing as “Any action or situation that recklessly or intentionally endangers the mental or physical health or safety of a student or that willfully destroys or removes public or private property for the purpose of initiation or admission into or affiliation with, or as a condition for continued membership in, any registered student organization.”
According to Student Affairs at Penn State, Pi Delta Psi is one of 10 fraternities currently suspended at Penn State. Other actively suspended fraternities include: Beta Theta Pi, Delta Sigma Lota, Kappa Alpha Psi, Kappa Sigma, Phi Kappa Sigma, Sigma Alpha Mu, Sigma Tau Gamma, Theta Delta Chi and Pi Kappa Alpha. Beta Theta Pi was permanently banned due to hazing following the death of Timothy Piazza in 2017.
