They wore uniforms, wrote on clipboards and were supposed to help prevent underage and excessive drinking at frat houses at Penn State University. Two of them showed up at a frat house during the party that led to the alcohol-related death of Penn State student Timothy Piazza. Alcohol wasn't allowed at the house. The first in a succession of falls that caused Piazza's fatal injuries happened minutes after they left.

They're called "social checkers," and the death of Piazza, a 19-year-old pledge, has put them in a spotlight, raising questions about what, if anything, they actually did.

Because of the criminal case resulting from Piazza's death, no one was willing to go into detail about their duties and impacts this week. They apparently were, in most or all cases, Penn State students, although no one wanted to discuss even that. As it stands, they could end up as an all-time example of the pitfalls of allowing fraternity members to police themselves.

This much is known: They were employed by a national firm, St. Moritz Security Services, which on its website shows stern-faced men in black uniforms and dark sunglasses who look like a cross between a city cop and a secret service agent. St. Moritz was hired by the Penn State Interfraternity Council, which oversees fraternities at Penn State.



Many observers were surprised to learn the two social checkers were present at the Beta Theta Pi fraternity house not long before the first in a series of alcohol-induced falls that left Piazza with severe head and spleen injuries which eventually caused his death.

In wake of Timothy Piazza's death, half-measures at Penn State won't do: Editorial

That fact came out in hearings for the 18 fraternity members charged in connection with the death. Fraternity members allegedly waited about 12 hours before summoning medical help for Piazza. Some are charged with involuntary manslaughter.



Based on a 2015 article in the Daily Collegian, it's reasonable to think arrival of the social checkers could have spurred some intervention in the initiation-related drinking that left Piazza with a blood-alcohol level of about four times the legal limit.



The role of the social checkers was to help enforce regulations at frat houses. That included weekend parties were alcohol was served. According to a council officer quoted in the 2015 article, the social checkers "operate as the IFC's eyes and ears, ensuring all risk policies are being followed and things are kept under control."



In the article, Devon Mitchell Sr., who supervises a St. Moritz office in downtown State College, described their role during peak times for parties involving alcohol. "From Thursday to Saturday, we have a checklist we follow, going into the fraternity houses and making sure all the rules and regulations are being followed before we leave to check the next house," he said.



Piazza's death raises questions about whether the social checkers actually carried out their stated purpose. During a hearing for some of the frat members facing charges, District Attorney Stacy Parks Miller called them a "sham" and "a big failure." A detective testified, "They're eyes and ears only. ... They don't have police powers. They don't go hands-on."



In an emailed response to questions from PennLive, IFC executive board members said the checkers were expected to report violations to the IFC, which would then meet with the fraternity and impose punishments. The email said there were about 80 such hearings in 2016. However, the IFC board didn't respond to a follow up request for examples of the checks resulting in any substantial alcohol-related penalties.



In the 2015 Daily Collegian article, an IFC board member noted the social checkers show up unannounced, implying they have the ability walk in on ongoing parties. However, hearing testimony portrayed them as having to wait at the door before entering a frat house, and being restricted to public areas.



They lacked authority to confirm drinkers were of legal age, and weren't allowed in areas including bedrooms. In fact, the two social checkers who showed up at the Beta Theta Pi house during the Feb. 2 pledging party had to wait at the door, according to testimony of a detective who investigated the case. A detective testified they were supposed to look for things such as people holding two drinks or the presence of kegs, where aren't allowed. There was a keg at the Feb. 2 party, but it was in a second floor area not checked by the checkers, according to Miller.

Father of Penn State fraternity death victim calls for cooperation from criminal defendants



Video from the frat house security system showed them in the basement of the frat house, where, according to Miller, "the brothers kept them busy by talking to them." They could be seen writing on clipboards before departing. But it's unknown what they wrote -- the report has disappeared, according to court testimony.



Mitchell, the supervisor of the St. Moritz office in State College, said he couldn't discuss the social checkers, and referred questions to Gary Bradley, the general counsel for St. Moritz. Bradley said he couldn't answer most questions due to the ongoing criminal case and the fact the social checkers are also part of a separate investigation into fraternity life and culture at Penn State.



Asked to comment on whether the social checkers amount to a "sham," he said "I think there are a lot of very capable lawyers making very passionate arguments on behalf of their client."



But whatever the impact of the social checkers, they are now history at Penn State. The death of Piazza has brought about a major shake up in the rules governing fraternities. Fraternities will no longer govern themselves.



A recent news release from the university said, "The self-governance model of Greek life within universities nationwide has failed to bring an end to excessive drinking, hazing, sexual assault and overly large disruptive gatherings within their organizations."



The university stressed, however, it "does not own, operate, supervise, or manage fraternities or their self-governing council, such as the IFC." The frat houses are located on private property off-campus, which means the university lacks legal authority to enter without permission.



Still, university has announced it will, among many other things, use its own staff to perform the duties formerly handled by the social checkers. A statement from university spokeswoman Lisa Powers said in part, "in the face of strong evidence that these groups cannot adequately self-govern without creating unacceptable risks for our students, Penn State imposed new aggressive measures on these groups in exchange for recognition, including a monitoring component.



"Since February, the University has exercised unannounced periodic compliance checks and has been allowed access to the common spaces in the private fraternity houses off campus."



She further said the university plans to create a new Student Affairs unit called the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Compliance, which will be responsible for ongoing monitoring of fraternities and sororities. The goal is to have all of the new measures in place by fall, Powers said.