Overview of Penn State's Greek Life Scandals
Penn State's Greek life has been marred by numerous scandals, including recent allegations of drug trafficking. The scrutiny surrounding the university's fraternities has been ongoing, with past incidents involving hazing, drug operations, and sexual assault.
One significant case occurred on September 21, 2009, when freshman Joseph Dado was found dead after a fall near the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity house. Dado had been drinking and was last seen leaving the fraternity at 3 a.m. His death led to charges against two students and the fraternities involved, resulting in suspensions and fines.
Another incident took place in March 2015, when Kappa Delta Rho was suspended for operating a secret Facebook page that shared inappropriate images of women. The fraternity was suspended for three years following the discovery of the page.
On February 4, 2017, sophomore Timothy Piazza died after a series of hazing rituals at Beta Theta Pi. His death, which resulted from severe injuries after multiple falls, prompted legal action against fraternity members and led to the implementation of the Timothy J. Piazza Anti-Hazing Law in 2018.
