Administration

President Barron pens op-ed on combating hazing and dangerous drinking

Penn State's University Park campus. Credit: Patrick Mansell / Penn State. Creative Commons

An op-ed written by Penn State President Eric Barron on the topic of hazing and dangerous drinking appeared today (March 20) in PennLive. In the piece, Barron reflects on the critical importance of partnership to the success of any national efforts to promote student safety and combat hazing and dangerous drinking in fraternity and sorority life on college campuses across the country.

In the op-ed, Barron outlines efforts by Penn State, including the University’s recommendation for the creation of a national safety database for tracking violations and suspensions, the organization of an upcoming national conference, and advocacy for state and federal anti-hazing legislation.

As part of these legislative efforts, Penn State is advocating for changes to current laws in partnership with legislators at the state and federal level, including Pennsylvania Senate Majority Leader Jake Corman, R-Centre, to increase penalties for hazing across the Commonwealth. This legislation has the potential to be a model for other states to adopt. In addition, the University has backed federal legislation that, if passed into law, would strengthen requirements of universities nationwide in reporting incidents of hazing under the Clery Act.

“Penn State is committed to taking a lead on these issues nationally among universities, but we and other similarly committed universities cannot do it alone,” Barron writes. “Over the past year, we have made strong progress in implementing far reaching new measures, designed to re-focus our Greek community on safety. But if we as a society are to change the current model, and see an end to the hazardous behavior that we have witnessed at Penn State and nationally, we need to find positive, lasting, broad-based solutions. To do that requires commitment from everyone involved.”

To read the op-ed in its entirety, visit PennLive.com.

Last Updated June 2, 2021