Nothing surprising so far. I too wondered why they “bundled” the cases since the charges were all across the board, sometimes that works though.
They may be banking/pressuring on some breaking ranks and pleading out to testify against the more seriously charged.
Well, I for one find it surprising that 2 Penn State University “Social Checkers” were there just minutes before the young man fell down the steps and even more peculiar that another Penn State Employee from the Athletic Department (that was in the house and lived in the house)instructed the Frat brothers to get rid of the texts and remove online chats. I would consider these things surprising.
The defendents will likely push blame some level of responsibility over to these employees.
Nothing was done to help the kid, stop the party and they were encouraged to destroy evidence by PSU employees.
It is all surprising, gross and just tragic.
Teen was finishing homework before fatal Penn State frat hazing…
http://www.nj.com/hunterdon/index.ssf/2017/07/teen_had_been_doing_homework_before_fatal_penn_sta.html
Do you think Barron’s? I hadn’t had that thought. I think there will be much plea bargaining, and I think the defense is using the “group” to show the judge and set up the plea bargaining with the idea that there was some randomness to who got charged and who didn’t. Personally I feel like it’ going to end in misdemeanor hazing charges, but that’ just my gut reaction.
Security firm hired to monitor Penn State frat where hazing occurred, police say…
http://www.cnn.com/2017/07/10/us/penn-state-hearing-timothy-piazza/index.html
“Frank Fina, the defense attorney for the fraternity president, argued that the security company and Penn State have more responsibility than the frat members who are charged.”
Father: No remorse shown as Penn State frat members challenge death…
http://www.nj.com/hunterdon/index.ssf/2017/07/father_no_remorse_shown_as_penn_state_frat_members.html
Just say “No” to frats. They serve no useful purpose.
@bester 1 “Well, I for one find it surprising that 2 Penn State University “Social Checkers” were there just minutes before the young man fell down the steps and even more peculiar that another Penn State Employee from the Athletic Department (that was in the house and lived in the house)instructed the Frat brothers to get rid of the texts and remove online chats. I would consider these things surprising.”
I completely agree. I would be interested to see the contract between the security company and what their liability/responsibility is supposed to be. I would liken these checks to bouncers in a bar who are supposed to remain sober when everyone else present is operating with clouded judgement. They were there minutes before the fall and should have been in a position to offer advice/intervene.
What types of reports did they provide the IFC after these checks? Were there ever any infractions? Or, did they simply go through the motion of appearing to check parties and never offer any true help? One would think that they have liability here.
And Tim Bream should be fired at the bare minimum!
Penn State frat brothers’ invitation to hazing event that left Tim Piazza dead: ‘Get ready to get f—ed up’ …
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/penn-state-frat-brothers-promised-tim-piazza-boozy-initiation-article-1.3320638
“Hello, pledge. Tonight starts your first of many nights in the Beta Theta Pi Fraternity,” the message read. “Get ready to get f—ed up and get ready for a long semester.”
The more I hear about this case, the more I am truly baffled as to why Universities allow it to go on…i’m not talking about morals (they evidently regard the larger-than-average alumni donations to more than make up for any qualms) but the sheer liability of having private pods (i.e. real estate) plopped down into the middle of campus (in many cases) with the ability to make their own rules – outside of any state or federal regulations. How do the legal staffs at Universities justify the financial risk? After these boys are in prison, i hope Penn State is pursued for the maximum financial penalty.
Father of Penn State hazing death victim expresses frustration with hearings…
http://abcnews.go.com/US/father-penn-state-hazing-death-victim-expresses-frustration/story?id=48587640
“We have heard lawyers suggesting that hazing is an acceptable norm, that no one previously died from hazing in this fraternity house (and that therefore made it ok), that Tim somehow was a volunteer in their plan to alcohol poison him, and that their clients should be excused from responsibility for calculated and collective actions which they all knew were wrong and illegal, as evidenced by their own text messages and attempts at cover up,” Jim Piazza wrote.
A few years back, a frat pledge from Baruch College died during a hazing incident which took place in Pennsylvania Th kids were all Asian and Asian-American and most were from Queens, New York. They waited 3 hours after the pledge lost consciousness before going for help… Some of the frat members and the fraternity itself were charged with murder. http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/nyc-crime/5-men-face-murder-charge-baruch-college-frat-hazing-death-article-1.2406782 t’s almost certainly a different DA, but in the other case, a ONE HOUR delay in summoning help lead to a third degree murder charge. Eventually, the charges against the most culpable were plead down to involuntary manslaughter. That’s the charge the Penn State frat members got BEFORE plea bargaining. https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/15/nyregion/baruch-college-hazing-death-pi-delta-psi.html
I know it’s a different DA…still…
Note: it was a 3 hour delay.
11 Texts That Will Come Back To Haunt Penn State Frat Boys Accused In Death…
https://patch.com/pennsylvania/lansdale/11-texts-will-come-back-haunt-frat-boys-accused-death
In wake of Timothy Piazza’s death, half-measures at Penn State won’t do: Editorial…
http://www.pennlive.com/opinion/2017/07/in_wake_of_timothy_piazzas_dea.html
EDITORIAL: Timothy Piazza case should go to trial…
http://www.collegian.psu.edu/opinion/editorials/article_06da55c4-67c3-11e7-b565-4f9d475c122e.html
Makes it interesting doesn’t it, who the Prosecutor’s office decided to “charge”. I don’t think it will go to trial personally…I think it’s more risky for the prosecution than the defense to get this in front of a jury. It’s going to be even tougher when the jury learns that there were people in that house who theoretically were responsible for preventing something like this from happening…and they will wonder by these 18 young men and not those people which is not a good position for the prosecutor. I think the prosecutor’s strategy was to go all out with charges knowing that they would likely get “something” to stick through plea bargaining but time will tell. Like I said earlier, my money is on misdemeanor hazing.
When you look at the elements of what constitutes “involuntary manslaughter” seems to me it is going to be relatively easy to prove. Why do you think the prosecution would see any need to compromise or offer anything?
While there very may well be a civil suit against those third parties including Bream who were derelict in their duties, it is my understanding they were not present to see Timothy Piazza’s condition nor did they purchase or give alcohol to an underage minor. Very different facts relative to those individuals.
Interesting article about the situation at Harvard. However, it is not accurate. Harvard, nor any university, can ban Greek organizations. The right to associate is protected by law. They can simply remove university recognition, which is not the same as banning the organizations. What Harvard is doing beyond that is saying that anyone associated with an unrecognized organization won’t be eligible for leadership roles within organizations that are recognized. They are hoping that “John Doe” won’t pledge for fear that he won’t be able to be named “Editor” for the school paper, etc. This fear may work for some students but I am doubtful that it will put an end to their single sex social clubs or Greek organizations.
Private universities by the virtue of the same “right to free association” do have the right to ban organizations from campus or even ban students from maintaining membership in organizations(including off-campus ones) as a condition of admission and continuing enrollment provided it doesn’t conflict with other laws such as discriminating against EEOC protected classes.
This is the reason why private colleges like Oberlin, Williams, Midd, etc can and do ban fraternities/sororities and other socially exclusive organizations/secret societies from campus or students from maintaining memberships in them as a condition of matriculation and continuing enrollment.