Dad of PSU pledge who died: Fraternity reforms 'a good start'

The father of a Penn State teen who died after drinking heavily and falling multiple times at a fraternity party says changes adopted by the school are a "good start" but said enforcement is the key to real change.

"Many of the proposals they have put forth were our suggestions, but there is still more they need to do," James Piazza told CBS This Morning. "At the end of the day they need to implement (more changes) and more importantly enforce.

"We are happy they are taking responsibility for disciplinary actions."

Timothy Piazza, 19, died Feb. 4, about 30 hours after the start of a night of drinking and hazing at the Beta Theta Pi house that prosecutors say saw the former high school football star fall down a flight of stairs. Physicians concluded Piazza suffered multiple traumatic brain injuries, including a fractured skull and a lacerated spleen.

Timothy Piazza's mother, Evelyn, said she and her husband had brought their son Michael back to Penn State last weekend for his senior year.

"It was hard knowing we should have been bringing two kids back," she said.

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The school adopted a series of changes effective this week, including transferring responsibility for monitoring and disciplining fraternities and sororities from student-run, Greek-life councils to the university.

Other rules also limit social events to 10 per semester, ban daylong events and ban alcohol from parties at least until Nov. 1, after which only wine and beer (no kegs) will be allowed. Any alcohol at the parties must be served by certified servers, and the drinking age of 21 will be stringently enforced, according to the new guidelines.

Penn State President Eric Barron said the changes "define a new relationship" between the school and its fraternities and sororities. He said additional measures will be rolled out in the months ahead "necessary to promote and produce responsible behavior.”

Barron said other actions being considered include tougher penalties for hazing and increased promotion of the school's medical amnesty program that encourages medical treatment when a student becomes ill from drinking or drugs.

A grand jury issued a gruesome report in May concluding that members of Piazza's fraternity were indifferent to Piazza's well-being as he struggled for his life, then attempted to conceal evidence of hazing and underage drinking. Text messages were deleted and members discussed erasing video from the fraternity's extensive surveillance system, the grand jury report said.

The Beta Theta Pi fraternity has been kicked off campus. Eighteen students face charges ranging from manslaughter to serving alcohol to minors related to Piazza's death. A preliminary hearing to determine whether there is enough evidence to try the students has taken place over five days since June and is scheduled to reconvene next week.

James Piazza said he and his wife will continue to press for change in the Greek system.

"We have a big stake in this," he said. "This is part of Tim's legacy. We have to make a difference."