UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State’s Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life again welcomes Jim and Evelyn Piazza and Rea Ann Gruver to present “Love Mom & Dad” to the community.
"Love Mom & Dad" shares personal stories of how hazing impacted the Piazza and Gruver families, as well as educates about hazing and hazing prevention and calls for action around hazing prevention. Both families lost their sons during hazing activities in 2017.
All fraternity and sorority new members, new member educators, council officers, and chapter presidents from the four councils — Interfraternity Council, Multicultural Greek Council, National Pan-Hellenic Council, and Panhellenic Council — have been invited to attend one of two March 1 presentations.
“I am grateful for the work of Evelyn and Jim Piazza, as well as Rae Ann and Stephen Gruver, for their continued advocacy in facilitating change to make the fraternity and sorority experience safer for students,” said Chris Jefferson, Penn State’s director of Fraternity and Sorority Life. “Hazing in any form does not demonstrate the values of brotherhood, sisterhood, or siblinghood students seek when considering joining a fraternity or sorority. It is our collective responsibility to address concerning behaviors and prioritize safety. Simply, if you see something, say something.”
Michelle Guobadia, an outspoken advocate for Greek Life who speaks on topics such as eliminating hazing and making fraternity and sorority life great, will facilitate the program. She also will hold a special presentation for the Multicultural Greek Council and National Pan-Hellenic Council members.
The Piazzas are the parents of Timothy Piazza, who was a sophomore at Penn State when he died after a night of pledging at the former Beta Theta Pi fraternity. Since then, Jim and Evelyn Piazza have been working to stop hazing. They were instrumental in passing legislation in Timothy’s name to strengthen Pennsylvania’s hazing laws and started the Timothy J. Piazza Memorial Foundation to provide help for children and adults who need prosthesis, doing their part to fulfill Tim’s dream.
The Gruvers are the parents of Max Gruver, who died weeks into his first semester at Louisiana State University after a fraternity hazing activity. The Gruvers have been fighting hazing ever since, including founding the Max Gruver Foundation and working to pass new hazing laws in Louisiana.
Prior to the presentation, the Piazzas and Rea Ann Gruver will hold a reception where they will meet with a small group of Penn State administrators, fraternity and sorority council officers, and staff from the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life.
During the program, which was previously presented to Penn State students in 2019, the Piazzas and Gruvers will detail what happened to their sons, as well as talk about ongoing grief and the impact of the loss on their family and others close to their sons.
The presentation will walk through common behaviors that constitute hazing, as well as the very real consequences of hazing activities, including various hazing laws in states across the country.
Pennsylvania's Timothy J. Piazza Antihazing Law, which was passed in 2018, establishes stricter penalties for hazing, including potential felony charges for students found to be involved in hazing activities.
The statute also provides immunity for individuals in need of medical assistance as a result of hazing, as well as those who seek help for others by calling 911.
The event is sponsored by Penn State’s offices of Fraternity and Sorority Life and Fraternity and Sorority Compliance, both units of Penn State Student Affairs, as part of ongoing efforts around member education related to hazing and other dangerous behaviors.
University officials urge students to call 911 in an emergency and to report hazing wherever it occurs. Information about hazing can be found on the Penn State Student Affairs website. In addition, Penn State offers several options for reporting hazing, including online and anonymously at the Penn State Hotline.