Jim and Evelyn Piazza, parents of the late Tim Piazza, spoke at the Bellefonte Courthouse Annex Friday morning to close a press conference called by Centre County District Attorney Stacy Parks Miller to announce charges against Beta Theta Pi fraternity and eighteen of its members.

Jim Piazza said in August, he and his wife dropped both of their sons off at Penn State for the academic year — Tim’s sophomore year.

“Today, we’re only going to be bringing one of them home,” Jim Piazza said. “Sadly, we’re never going to see his smile again, except in pictures.”

The Piazzas hope this tragedy brings significant change to the Greek life system not only at Penn State but also at universities around the country.

“This didn’t have to happen,” Jim Piazza said. “This is the result of a feeling of entitlement, blatant disobedience of the law, and disregard for moral values, that has been exacerbated by egregious acts for self-preservation.”

The family also thanked the State College Police Department and Parks Miller for their diligence in investigating their son’s death.

The Piazzas asked that the public respect their privacy as they continue through this difficult time.