OCTOBER 2026 NEWSLETTER
Devastating Cornell Seven incident carries echoes of Antonio’s passing and underlines need to embrace accountability
Seven years ago this October, our son Antonio attended a "dirty rush" event at the Phi Kappa Psi fraternity at Cornell University and never came home. We were shattered by the unbearable pain of losing him. Then we were devastated again by what followed: the lack of accountability from those involved, and an organizational culture that treats silence as loyalty.
Today, as we write about accountability, another horrific incident at Cornell is dominating the headlines. Seven members of the Chi Phi fraternity, now the infamous Cornell Seven, allegedly raped a young woman who was visiting a friend at the fraternity house.
Although this was not a hazing incident, the parallels with Antonio’s tragedy are too numerous to ignore. Both occurred in the same context of the Cornell Greek system, revealed a toxic and deadly culture that continues to exist there, and both involve a complete lack of accountability by both fraternity members and Cornell administration.
This is why we teach students about accountability
So many people saw Antonio the night he died. So many took part in the rituals. Not one had the courage to stop the harm. Now, in another fraternity at the same school, the men sent out messages on the group chat inviting others to join in the violent sexual attack. Many of them chose not to participate in the attack, but none of them, not a single person, contacted the police, or took steps to lead the woman to safety.
We often say that if there was one compassionate leader beside Antonio that night, he would be with us today. If there had been one compassionate young man on the Chi Phi group chat, the young woman would have been spared hours of torture.
We must teach our young people that true courage is saying "stop" when no one else will and true loyalty is standing up for those in danger, not protecting perpetrators of violence.
Silence Protects the Harm, Never the Harmed
Secrecy and the absence of accountability are the main reasons both hazing and sexual assault remain so prevalent on our college campuses. We were chilled to hear that Cornell required members of Chi Phi to write essays. Fraternity members were also assigned essays after Antonio’s death. That is not accountability for a violent crime.
Only when student leaders and organizations know they will be held accountable, will they stop engaging in harmful behavior. We are devastated by Cornell’s failure in accountability. Antonio’s passing has inspired hundreds of students to make mindful choices and embrace compassion, even at Cornell, but university policies have not changed. Without organizational accountability, violent incidents will continue.
We continue to be hopeful
We have worked with hundreds of students and are always inspired and uplifted by their compassion. They learn so much and are eager to embrace change. So many young people are eager to reshape the culture on college campuses. We know that change is possible.
After Antonio’s tragic passing, students working at the Cornell Sun were vocal, passionate voices for justice. It was also the Cornell Sun who broke the story of the Cornell Seven. We are grateful for their brave voices. This is how cultures change.
Accountability: A Pillar of Compassionate Leadership
Accountability is one of the eight pillars of our CLEARING Model for compassionate leadership. To be accountable means taking responsibility for our actions, even, and perhaps especially, when the outcome of our choices is painful. Only then can we correct our course and keep harm from repeating itself.
Accountability is not punishment; it is an act of care. It builds the trust, safety, and respect every student needs to grow and thrive. It strengthens our organizations, and it is the foundation of meaningful education.
This October, in Antonio's memory, we ask you to take just ONE of these actions. Be the ONE who speaks up.
● Know how to report. Learn your school's process for reporting harmful behavior, and pledge to hold schools, teams, and clubs accountable for hazing.
● Call on university leaders to choose courage. Administrators often act out of fear. They are concerned about reputation and legal complications. Yet protecting perpetrators from accountability allows toxic traditions to flourish. Honor the administrators who take a bold, active stance, and challenge others to meet that standard.
● Start a conversation with the men in your life. Too often the weight of preventing rape lands on women. Yet, the text chat involved in the Cornell 7 crime raises crucial questions to discuss with young men. Why did the other fraternity members fail to protect the woman? What could you do differently? What obstacles prevented them from calling the police? When is stopping violence more important than covering for a “friend?” Considering these questions before a crisis occurs makes it easier to act with courage and compassion.
● Make accountability personal. Own your mistakes, reflect on them, and let them teach you.
● Become an ATLF Ambassador. Join us as a high school, college, parent, or administrative ambassador to build compassionate leadership skills and become a voice for hazing prevention through compassionate leadership.
● Take the Compassionate Leader Pledge. Make a personal promise to protect others, speak up, and lead with compassion. Sign the pledge at www.antoniotsialasfoundation.org.
● Support compassionate leadership education. Help us teach young leaders the courage to lead with compassion. Donate today at www.antoniotsialasfoundation.org.
● Support life-saving research. Join us in helping fund the new National Study of Student Hazing at the University of Maine's Hazing Prevention Research Lab: umaine.edu/edhd/hazing-prevention-research
Hazing Prevention Saves Lives. Together as ONE, we lead with compassion.
Pop In, Speak Out: Kicking Off Hazing Prevention Week at FIU
ATLF kicked off National Hazing Prevention Week (NHPW) with the Pop In, Speak Out event at Florida International University (FIU). Students were deeply moved by Antonio's story, learned how to recognize and prevent hazing, and explored our CLEARING Model for compassionate leadership.
We are so grateful to our amazing ambassadors, Kaitlyn and Michael, who brought compassionate leadership to life in every conversation. With much appreciation to Kyle Senior, Camyl Robaina, and Gianna Berrouet for the invitation and for their proactive leadership in building a caring campus culture.
Prevention begins with a conversation. Thank you to every student who popped in and chose to speak out.
Three Cheers for Our ATLF Ambassador, Ella Barnett
During National Hazing Prevention Week, Ella stood before 104 women in her Delta Gamma Sorority at Lafayette College and shared ATLF’s mission, Antonio’s story, and her own story. She spoke about hazing prevention and the power of compassionate leadership to change a culture from within.
Ella, together with her sorority sisters, also introduced the CLEARING Model to students and organizations at Lafayette College.
This is what courage looks like. When one voice chooses compassion, it creates space for others to do the same.
Ella, we are so proud of you and excited to see the ATLF message reach a new audience!!!
Leading together with compassion!
What a beautiful way to close National Hazing Prevention Week at the Cushman School!
Friday, we were honored to share our program, A Journey from Hazing to Compassionate Leadership, with the Senior Class at The Cushman High School.
Thank you to the leadership Ms. Geimer, Mr. Romanik, Ms. Duque, Ms. Marando, Ms. Keenan, and Ms. Lange, for your warm welcome and for leading with heart. We celebrate your commitment to creating a space where students can have these difficult but necessary conversations.
A special thank you to our student ambassadors Ella, Andrea, and Charley for sharing their passion for practicing compassion and introducing us to Lead with Heart, the meaningful club they created with the support of Ms. Marando, alumni ambassador Ella Barnett, and the extended Cushman leadership. We are so proud of you! Offering a space within your school to intentionally practice kindness and compassion is truly inspiring.
This is a powerful reminder of why we must continue educating leaders on the power of compassion, because safety and respect are the foundation of meaningful education.
Hazing Prevention Saves Lives. Together as ONE, we lead with compassion.
Where Compassion Begins
This fall, a new cohort of ambassadors gathered for their very first session, and they began exactly where compassionate leadership begins: with empathy in action.
Exploring Empathy in Action, the "E" in our CLEARING Model, they learned to listen not to respond, but to understand. They talked about what it means to truly see and feel for another person. And they discovered a quiet truth that many adults are still learning: empathy begins within, with the kindness and grace we offer ourselves.
Their commitment to compassionate leadership is inspiring, and it fills our hearts with joy. They arrived as strangers. They left as the beginning of a community, carrying a new sense of purpose for the work ahead.
Change does not start with grand gestures. It starts with a single conversation. We invite every family to continue this one at home.
Hazing Prevention Saves Lives. Together as ONE, we lead with compassion.
Join us for The Give Miami Day 5K!
Sunday, November 15 at 8am, ATLF will join the Miami Foundation for the Give Miami 5K Race + Festival at Maurice A Ferre Park 1075 Biscayne Blvd, Miami, FL 33132
Will you join our team? Walkers and Runners are welcome!
When you register and select ATLF, 100% of your registration fee is donated directly to ATLF. Join us at the starting line, and you’ll receive an ATLF goodie bag with a team T-shirt as well as admission to the festival and a Give Miami Day T-shirt! Registration is $45 before October 15, and $60 after.
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