How many hazing violations has Penn State found this year? See the report
An anti-hazing transparency report shows Penn State has investigated and found 31 instances of hazing violations over the past five years, with about half of them occurring in 2024 and 2025.
Higher education institutions in Pennsylvania are required to publish an anti-hazing transparency report biannually on Jan. 1 and Aug. 1 under the Timothy J. Piazza Antihazing Law. The report shows all violations of its anti-hazing policy, or federal or state law related to anti-hazing. It includes the name of the organization, the date when it was charged with a violation, a general description of the violations, investigation and findings, penalties and the date it was resolved.
The report, posted online in August, shows all violations for the past five years across all campuses. In 2020, there were three investigations that found hazing violations, three in 2021, four in 2022, five in 2023, 10 in 2024 and six so far in 2025.
Below are the investigated incidents across all campuses that were resolved or given a notice of outcome this year.
Tau Epsilon Phi, University Park
Date the investigation was initiated: Oct. 28, 2024
Date the organization was charged or was given notice of the allegations: Dec. 10, 2024
Date of resolution or notice of outcome: Feb. 4, 2025
A report to the university alleged Tau Epsilon Phi hazed new members during its fall 2024 new member process. The allegations included forcing new members to stay at the chapter facility for more than five hours a day, and sometimes overnight. During family weekend, new members weren’t allowed to leave the facility to see their parents, a report stated. After the university started an investigation, more reports came out that new members were bullied and had food thrown on them.
The chapter took responsibility for the alleged violations, the report states. It is required to adhere to a comprehensive action plan with a membership review and educational initiatives. The chapter was placed on conditionally held suspension through Spring 2027, followed by a probation status through Spring 2029.
Acacia, University Park
Date the investigation was initiated: Feb. 19, 2025
Date the organization was charged or was given notice of the allegations: Feb. 27, 2025
Date of resolution or notice of outcome: May 7, 2025
An investigation found the Acacia fraternity hazed new members between Feb. 11-18. The university received reports of allegations of new members seeking medical care after forced tobacco and alcohol consumption, acts of servitude and extended periods of required participation without enough rest. The fraternity was suspended for a minimum of four years and in order to be considered for re-recognition, it will need to present a comprehensive reconstitution, risk management and new member training program proposal to the university, which will need to be approved. If accepted, it will be on probation for one year.
Kappa Alpha Psi, Harrisburg
Date the investigation was initiated: Sept. 19, 2024
Date the organization was charged or given notice of allegations: Jan. 27, 2025
Date of resolution or notice of outcome: May 8, 2025
The university suspended Kappa Alpha Psi at Penn State Harrisburg after an investigation and a “preponderance of evidence” showed it hazed new members during the Fall 2024 semester. Allegations included physical and verbal abuse, acts of servitude and new members being forced to fight other new members. The report states at least one new member had to seek medical attention. The fraternity was suspended for a minimum of four years. In order to be considered for re-recognition, it will need to present a comprehensive reconstitution, risk management and new member training program proposal to the university, which will need to be approved.
Sigma Chi (unrecognized organization), University Park
Date the investigation was initiated: Oct. 21, 2024
Date the organization was charged or given notice of allegations: March 27, 2025
Date of resolution or notice of outcome: May 21, 2025
Penn State said it received a report with “multiple photographs and videos” of alleged hazing at Sigma Chi during the 2023-24 school year. The images and videos showed people with tape and plastic covering their faces and being painted on with a roller, people with their faces down and hands behind their back with their face in food or vomit, and one person in a wire dog kennel with unknown substances poured over them. Because the fraternity is not recognized by the university, Penn State started an investigation into individual students and notified the international fraternity of the reports.
After the investigation started, the report states a parent of a fraternity member reached out and reported similar things happening to their son during that time. Penn State identified one member in the images and that student accepted responsibility through the student conduct process, it states. There were no organizational sanction opposed, as it was operating without university recognition.
Women’s Water Polo, Behrend
Date the investigation was initiated: Oct. 23, 2024
Date the organization was charged or given notice of allegations: Individuals were notified on April 29, 2025
Date of resolution or notice of outcome: Individuals were notified on June 12, 2025
Five students at Penn State Behrend were assigned “appropriate action plans” after a university investigation found members of the Women’s Water Polo team hazed freshman teammates in the Fall 2024 semester. The university’s review of a potential organizational policy violation is still underway but nearing completion. Allegations included forced consumption of alcohol, mandatory attendance at social events that included alcohol and threats of punishment for not complying with their requirements.
Kappa Kappa Gamma, University Park
Date the investigation was initiated: March 1, 2025
Date the organization was charged or given notice of allegations: May 20, 2025
Date of resolution or notice of outcome: June 27, 2025
Penn State received a report of the Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority hazing new members on Feb. 12, which stated the chapter co-hosted an event with Delta Chi and new members were expected to engage in sexualized behavior. The report states the chapter accepted responsibility for the alleged violation and it developed and agreed to follow a comprehensive action plan. It was also placed on conditionally held suspension through the summer of 2026.
Phi Beta Sigma, University Park
Date the investigation was initiated: March 4, 2025
Date the organization was charged or given notice of allegations: May 1, 2025 (organization) and May 8, 2025 (individuals)
Date of resolution or notice of outcome: July 9, 2025 (individuals)
Penn State received reports that Phi Beta Sigma hazed new members on multiple dates during the fall 2024 semester. The allegations included physical and mental abuse, forced physical activity and punishment for incorrect answers during line-ups. One student was held accountable through the student conduct process. Another is no longer enrolled and ineligible to continue enrollment pending the outcome of the student conduct process. The organizational conduct process was still underway at the time the report was published. Shortly after, the university placed the fraternity on indefinite suspension for at least four years.
Delta Chi, University Park
Date the investigation was initiated: March 1, 2025
Date the organization was charged or given notice of allegations: May 14, 2025
Date of resolution or notice of outcome: July 9, 2025
The university received reports that Delta Chi hazed new members on Feb. 12, 2025 when it co-hosted an event with Kappa Kappa Gamma and new members were expected to engage in sexualized behavior. The report states an investigation found hazing occurred and the fraternity was planed on conditionally held suspension through summer 2026. The chapter will need to comply with a comprehensive action plan developed with the international organization.
Shades of Blue, University Park
Date the investigation was initiated: May 1, 2025
Date the organization was charged or given notice of allegations: June 25, 2025
Date of resolution or notice of outcome: July 11, 2025
Penn State received a report that the Shades of Blue acapella group hazed new members in the Fall 2023 semester, with allegations of coerced alcohol consumption and sexualized behavior. An investigation found the unidentified members responsible for hazing had already graduated and the organization accepted responsibility for the violation. A formal warning was issued to Shades of Blue and it agreed to complete an action plan with a hazing prevention training during the fall 2025 semester.
Sigma Pi, University Park
Date the investigation was initiated: March 24, 2024
Date the organization was charged or given notice of allegations: May 9, 2025
Date of resolution or notice of outcome: July 17, 2025
The university found the Sigma Pi fraternity hazed new members during the Spring 2025 semester after it investigated reports of physical and mental abuse, forced alcohol consumption and “undesirable substances,” forced physical activity and forced servitude. Penn State placed the fraternity on suspension for at least four years and will need to present a comprehensive reconstitution, risk management and new member training program proposal to the university, which requires approval, to be considered for re-recognition. If successfully re-recognized, it will be on probation for one year.
This story was originally published September 8, 2025 at 5:41 AM.
CORRECTION: This story and headline have been updated to reflect that the report does not include all hazing investigations, only those where there was sufficient information to make a finding of violation.
