UNIVERSITY STATEMENT:

Effective immediately, the Penn State Interfraternity Council (IFC) and Vice President
for Student Affairs Damon Sims are suspending all social functions for IFC chapters
associated with the University Park campus. This suspension will continue while the
University, the IFC and its chapters, relevant alumni and national fraternity
organizations, the Panhellenic Council, and the Borough of State College determine
significant changes in social policies and practices for these groups. Recent events,
including a tragic student death associated with activities in a fraternity house, as well
as growing allegations of misconduct in these organizations, including hazing and
sexual assault, compel this joint action.

Social functions are defined by the IFC as any activity sponsored by a chapter or its
members, on or off chapter property, where alcohol is present, regardless the source,
including third-party vendors. The moratorium on these functions will be enforced by the
Interfraternity Council and Student Affairs, which will be given access to public areas in
chapter houses for spot visits conducted by IFC leaders and Student Affairs staff.
Violation of these expectations will result in further disciplinary action and may subject a
chapter to loss of University recognition.

Damon Sims, vice president for Student Affairs, met yesterday (Feb. 7) with the
presidents of Penn States fraternity chapters to discuss the need for meaningful
change in their organizations. These fraternities are private organizations that function
on private property. They are neither owned, nor operated by Penn State, and their
success and sustainability require collective and positive action by undergraduate
actives, alumni, national chapters, the University and the borough.

The self-governing nature of these groups requires their participation to effect any
change in their policies and practices. Vice President Sims told the chapter presidents
that they must work together with the University and others to achieve better outcomes
that are required to ensure a healthy, productive and sustainable fraternity and sorority
system at Penn State.

Sims told the IFC leadership and the chapter presidents that agreement to changes
must be achieved soon, and that the moratorium on social functions will remain in place
until such agreement is reached.

An aggressive timeline is being established to finalize plans and adopt

recommendations for change. The Penn State fraternity and sorority community is a rich
source of leadership opportunity, charitable activity, community service, networking and
social experience. The University and its fraternity leaders are taking actions to improve
the experience for all Penn State students and to ensure the sustainability of these
important organizations.