Don’t miss the video embedded in BBC feature by Kelly-Leigh Cooper on deadly hazing

Here is the link and an excerpt.

Penn State University student Tim Piazza was pronounced dead in the early hours of 4 February. Like 13 other pledges to the Beta Theta Pi fraternity, the 19-year-old had been taking part in a “run the gauntlet” event at the chapter’s house, which involved drinking a mix of alcoholic drinks at a fast pace.

Authorities announced on Monday that the FBI had recovered a surveillance video they believe was intentionally deleted. They say it showed that Tim was given at least 18 drinks in the 82 minutes before he fell 15ft (4.6m) down the steps of the fraternity house’s basement.

But it would take about 12 hours before any of his fraternity brothers called emergency services.

Medical reports say he had a fractured skull and irreversible traumatic brain injuries. His spleen had ruptured in multiple places, causing extensive internal bleeding and haemorrhagic shock.

Now 26 members of Beta Theta Pi are facing charges related to his death that range from hazing to involuntary manslaughter.

While horrific, this incident is not isolated. Three other students at different US universities have died since Tim’s death – two in the last couple of weeks.

There have been 70 student deaths attributed to hazing since 2000. This does not include cases dismissed as accidents.

Read more and see the video!