UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — In partnership with the Hazing Prevention Network, Penn State Student Affairs will be hosting an inaugural Hazing Prevention Workshop. Taking place over two days, this event will begin on Aug. 1, from noon to 6 p.m., at the Marriott Foundation Building on the University Park campus.
The workshop will be led by Emily Perlow, assistant vice president and dean of students at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, on behalf of the Hazing Prevention Network in collaboration with Penn State’s Timothy J. Piazza Center for Fraternity and Sorority Research. The Piazza Center is a multidisciplinary research hub dedicated to developing practical solutions to enhance student safety, well-being and success.
The Piazza Center was named in memory of Timothy Piazza, who was a sophomore at Penn State in 2017 when he died after a night of pledging at Beta Theta Pi fraternity; the chapter is now banned at University Park. The multidisciplinary research center was formed at Penn State in January 2019 and named in Piazza's memory.
To re-establish safety as a priority within Greek-letter organizations, Penn State in 2017 implemented a series of aggressive measures with the primary focus on student well-being. In 2019, the University launched the Piazza Center aimed at creating the nation’s principal home for identifying, testing and implementing best practices among Greek-life organizations on campus.
Participants from across Penn State will come together for this inaugural workshop intended to educate and engage the University community in discussions about preventing high-risk behaviors such as hazing. This workshop will collaborate with various units across the University, including the Alumni Association, Intercollegiate Athletics, Educational Equity, University Police and Public Safety, advisers for various student organizations, and numerous offices within Student Affairs, such as the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life, Campus Recreation, Counseling and Psychological Services, the Office of Commonwealth Campuses, and Student Leadership and Involvement. Around 50 participants are expected to attend.
“This is a valuable opportunity to share the knowledge the center’s researchers and others have discovered related to the causes of and potential prevention of hazing. Participants will learn effective strategies to address hazing, improve educational outcomes, enhance student safety, and eliminate high-risk behaviors,” said Steve Veldkamp, director of the Piazza Center. “We are thankful for the partnership with Hazing Prevention Network and their dedication to amplifying hazing prevention research"
Through its extensive research, the center has partnered with the Hazing Prevention Network, formerly known as HazingPrevention.org. This organization is a national nonprofit group dedicated to educating people about the dangers of hazing, advocating for change, and engaging the community in prevention strategies. The network’s advocacy is informed by research from the Piazza Center to help accomplish its goals.
“I am pleased to host this workshop at Penn State and excited about the partnerships being formed by the Piazza Center,” said Andrea Dowhower, Penn State vice president of Student Affairs. “These initiatives embody our unwavering commitment to fostering a safe and supportive community for all students. By addressing critical issues and promoting a culture of respect, we strive to make sure every student can thrive in an environment free from hazing and harm.”
The workshop seeks to increase the community’s knowledge of current hazing policies and practices by describing individual, organizational and community level hazing motivators. Participants will be guided on how to identify and use research-based practices that effectively interrupt and mitigate hazing. By the end of the workshop, community members will have the tools they need to improve campus- and system-level partnerships to increase the current collaborative efforts at Penn State around hazing prevention and response, according to Veldkamp.
Penn State President Neeli Bendapudi, who will speak at the second day of the conference, said “partnerships are critical, and this workshop is a huge step in the right direction. Addressing hazing will involve a collaborative effort across the commonwealth, and we must work together to provide a safer environment for our students. These efforts will not only help support Greek-life communities, but also student organizations and athletic teams, as well as foster a sense of belonging and well-being across Penn State.”
This conference marks a significant milestone in Penn State’s ongoing efforts to create a safer, more supportive environment for all students. Through research, collaboration and proactive measures, the University aims to lead the charge in hazing prevention and student well-being.
The Piazza Center has already developed a national hazing prevention study, and manages a national scorecard of fraternities and sororities that allows critical data, such as academic performance, conduct, and leadership efforts of chapters, to be shared with parents and students; hosts national discussions on topics related to Greek-life organizations such as safety and accountability; gathers and shares best practices; and sponsors original research to inform and improve practices in Greek-letter organizations and other student organizations.