Fraternities are known to have pledges do some pretty wacky things as part of their hazing. But what two fraternities were doing at Penn State University to make pledges earn their letters was unimaginable.
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Penn State Students Arrested in Massive Drug Bust
According to a Monday (August 17) report from CBS News, two major fraternities are in hot water. After a recent drug bust. Per the outlet, the Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General has accused the University's chapters of Delta Upsilon and Sigma Chi of being the epicenter of a major cocaine ring. The drugs were primarily cut and packaged at the chapters' fraternity houses before being distributed to clientele. This clientele was composed mostly of Penn State students.
Even worse, pledges were allegedly forced to prepare the cocaine for distribution as part of a hazing ritual.
The drug operation was spearheaded by two former students at the university, Agostino Abbatiello and Thomas Robinson. The attorney general's office concluded that Abbatiello and Robinson would make frequent trips to Philadelphia and New York. To obtain "large quantities" of product to distribute.
13 of the people charged in the sweep were current or former students at the university. During the time of the trafficking ring (between 2023 and 2024).
"This was a coordinated and highly profitable drug-trafficking crew. Revolving around two senior members of the fraternities, other fraternity brothers, and pledges," state Attorney General Dave Sunday said in a news release. "In fact, according to the evidence uncovered, cutting and packaging cocaine was, for some pledges, an indoctrination into the fraternities."
Penn State Releases Statement After Drug Bust
In the wake of the news, Penn State also released a statement. The University announced that Delta Upsilon and Sigma Chi were immediately being placed on "interim suspension" due to the ongoing investigation.
Andrea Dowhower, vice president for Student Affairs at Penn State, says that the university is "horrified" by the allegations.
"Criminal activity, including hazing, such as this has no place at our institution. And we will cooperate with law enforcement in any way we can. We will continue to enhance our efforts around health and safety and hazing educational efforts. For all our organizations," Dowhower said in the release.
