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Hazing reports issued for Pa. universities as new law goes into effect

HARRISBURG, Pa. — Excessive drinking, physical abuse and psychological torture are all acts of hazing reported by Pennsylvania schools under a new state law.

Tuesday was the deadline.

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The most serious hazing incidents were at Penn State’s main campus.

Our local universities did have violations, but none that were that extreme.

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Students at the University of Pittsburgh are well back into the swing of things and this winter, many are rushing fraternities and sororities.

"I went to the Greek 101 that we had here and we talked a lot about hazing, ways to report it and what's appropriate and what's not," said Molly Nosker, a freshman.

Hazing is top of mind for students, especially after the high-profile case of Timothy Piazza, 19, who died in February 2017 after falling several times inside his Penn State fraternity during initiation.

His death prompted a new law that just took effect Wednesday.

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Colleges and universities must now publicly report any hazing violations.

Channel 11 went through the reports listed by Duquesne, Carnegie Mellon University and the University of Pittsburgh.

None of the violations were especially egregious, but two fraternities at Pitt were suspended after hazing incidents and are not eligible for reinstatement until 2020 and 2028.

The most severe violations came out of Penn State's main campus where pledges and new members were tied to poles, forced to eat expired food and underwent sleep deprivation.

Universities must report all hazing violations twice a year.

"Hazing is not a big problem here because Greek life isn't as big at Pitt," said Delaney Markle, a freshman.

In the last five years, the total number of incidents at each school were:

  • Pitt: 19
  • Duquesne: 7
  • Carnegie Mellon: 3
 

Cox Media Group

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