Cheerleader Hazing Scandal Rocks Pittsburgh-Area University

PITTSBURGH, PA — Indiana University of Pennsylvania cheerleaders will be on probation until May 2030 after reported hazing incidents.

According to the university's recent campus hazing transparency report, the university received a report that cheerleaders forced new members to clean up after social events, required participation in in events involving alcohol, forced underage members to pay for and assist in purchasing beer kegs and engage in "unsafe practices during routine training dates."

The events that were investigated occurred from the fall of 2023 through this past spring. The allegations occurred on May 5, with the investigation into them beginning the next day.

University documents indicate that the cheerleaders are on stayed removal of recognition through May 2026 with restricted team activities and educational and developmental requirements. The probationary period begins next May.

This is not the only recent incident of hazing at the university.

Last year, the university announced that the sorority Alpha Sigma Alpha, Alpha Gamma chapter members forced potential new members to run errands for current members and pay, provide alcohol to potential new members and require them to consume it.

They also zip-tied potential new members to their dates until they consumed alcohol, and forced potential new members to clean the apartments of current members.

The incidents were investigated by the Indiana Borough Police Department, Indiana University of Pennsylvania, and Alpha Sigma Alpha national sorority.

Members of the organization who engaged in hazing were removed from the chapter. The organization was placed on social probation through May.

Indiana University of Pennsylvania is located about an hour east of Pittsburgh.