Loyola Academy: 2005 –allegedly put a sock in it.
May 15th, 2008
Berkeley 4-26-05
May 15th, 2008
The UC Berkeley fraternity accused in a BB-gun hazing incident has been temporarily suspended by the university pending further investigation.
Members of the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity have been implicated in the alleged April 8 BB-gun assault on a 19-ye ar-old fraternity pledge at the intersection of Channing Way and Prospect Street. The pledge was reportedly shot at least 30 times, and required attention at a local emergency room. UC officials are investigating whether the alleged assault took place dur ing a hazing of the fraternity pledge. Hazing is prohibited at UC Berkeley.
UC officials say that the interim suspension bars members from the fraternity from engaging in any fraternity activities. The chapter house remains open, but can only be used for residential purposes.
A hearing on any permanent sanctions against the fraternity will be held by the campus Student Judicial Affairs office, but no date for that hearing has yet been set.
Janet Gilmore in the UC Berkeley Media Relations office said sh e had no estimate on how long the interim suspension would be in effect. “It could be weeks or months, depending on what happens with the investigation,” she said.
In addition to sanctions against the fraternity itself, individual fraternity members accused in the alleged hazing assault also face possible individual disciplinary charges by the Student Judicial Affairs office, as well as possible criminal charges currently being investigated by Berkeley police.
Middle Tennessee State University and Sigma Nu
May 15th, 2008
Rutherford County has issued a court order to Sigma Nu national headquarters for documents pertaining to the investigation on claims of hazing at the MTSU chapter.
“Depending on the information the headquarters can provide to us, this will affect whether criminal charges will be filled,” said Buddy Peaster, MTSU police chief.
According to Peaster, the investigation conducted by the national office was able to obtain the specifics of the hazing incidents and both the names of the perpetrators and victims.
“Typically, many times private companies or non-profit organizations need a judicial order to release information because some records might not necessarily fall under the open records act,” Peaster said.
The incident of hazing has become a focus to both university administration and state law to be viewed as criminal acts, Peaster said.
“We feel like this is a responsibility,” Peaster said. “Have there been any criminal acts, we will review them. We will have conversations with the victims, and depending on their interests and takes on following up, we will work with the victims to have a final resolution in criminal court.
Concerning the revocation of the Theta Iota charter, both the chapter and the university are working to reverse the national decision.
Purdue Phi Kappa Theta
May 15th, 2008
Lambda Theta Phi 4/3/08 Montclair State
May 15th, 2008
VINDY.COM
The Valley’s Home Page Wrestler pleads no contest to hazing misdemeanor
Published: Tue, Dec 7, 2004
The law director complained of a lax investigation by school officials.
WARREN — Court officials issued strong warnings about inappropriate behavior to a Howland High School wrestler and to officials supervising the program.
Ray Crawford, 18, of Allenwood Drive appeared Monday before municipal Judge Terry Ivanchak on a charge of gross sexual imposition, a fourth-degree felony. That charge was reduced after a series of deliberations between the prosecution and defense, and agreement of the victim’s family, to disorderly conduct, a fourth-degree misdemeanor.
Crawford pleaded no contest.
There remains some question as to whether what happened Nov. 22 in the high school gym locker room was a ritual rite of passage or an activity that got out of hand, city Law Director Greg Hicks explained after the hearing.
“This wasn’t an isolated incident, I don’t believe,” he said.
Disagreement
There is also some disagreement among witnesses as to whether Crawford and a juvenile co-defendant exposed their genitals to a freshman, Hicks said.
He said there clearly was improper conduct, despite Howland schools’ position that the situation didn’t happen as described.
“I’m disappointed in Howland schools, in that they didn’t conduct an investigation a little more thoroughly,” said Hicks, who stressed that he has no jurisdiction in the school district.
He said that it’s not the first time such an incident, known as tea bagging, has occurred there — and that Howland coaches need to better watch what goes on.
Superintendent John Rubesich could not be reached to comment.
Court action
Judge Ivanchak accepted Crawford’s no contest plea and said the sentence would be determined at the end of the school year, after Howland’s commencement in June. He could receive 30 days in jail, a $100 fine or both.
The plea is not expected to interfere with Crawford’s choice of entering the military.
“It was the correct result, after talking with the victim, the victim’s family and the witnesses as to how this all went down,” Hicks said.
Judge Ivanchak warned Crawford and, indirectly, four other well-dressed teens
in the courtroom that no revenge should be
directed toward the freshman.
“What happens between now and when you come back will affect what happens in this court environment,” the judge said. “The worst thing that could happen to you is for something to happen to him.”
A county juvenile court charge is pending against the co-defendant.
Florida Times-Union - Jacksonville,FL,USA: We have all heard the troubling story of the hazing incident conducted by members of the wrestling team at Fleming Island High School.
Not condoned by one member. But several.
The actual hazing was broadcast on YouTube, meaning it’s bad enough that these things are going on but Internet technology now allows such deeds to be broadcast to the world. If it’s not YouTube, then there are thousands of other Web sites to post an unedited, uncensored video. Search on YouTube right now, and you’ll find 600 hazing-related videos.
Even more telling: Do a google search on hazing, and 1.6 million entries pop up.
The most simplest of questions: What’s the point?
Is sticking one’s butt or other part of one’s body in someone’s face some sort of crazed rite of manhood - or, at least it seems to me, childhood?
No. Just stupidity.
Hazing is outlawed in Florida even with the consent of the person being hazed, and punishable up to a third-degree felony. Whether there are charges or not, those guilty wrestlers shouldn’t face a suspension. They should be booted off the team. Period. You want to send a serious message about hazing and how a school district (yes, the entire district, not just one school and not just one athletics department) is going to handle such nonsense? Then be serious in your punishments. Send a message.
Sports teams, from the high school levels to professional ranks, are full of initiations and pranks. College football freshmen sing their school song at preseason practices to entertain the upperclassmen. Rookies in Major League Baseball get a pie in the face. Many an athlete has returned from the shower room to find his or her clothes disappeared.
Those are harmless pranks; everybody gets a good laugh.
I once saw a Boston Red Sox player put a ring of glue on the floor in the locker room around a rookie reporter, and light it on fire. No danger, really; just a ring of fire. The player glanced at me as he was doing it, whispering “ssssssh.” And I went along with it, while chuckling.
Then again, there have been other deeds in the locker room I would not be silenced over.
What happened at Fleming Island should be a strong message to every other high school in the county. This won’t be tolerated. There should be a public apology. The school district should set up mandatory classes for all coaches and all athletes to attend. No longer should it be acceptable for coaches to turn their heads or senior captains in any sport to be the instigators because they remember what happened to them in their freshman years.
Let’s end it.
March 14, 2005 Hanover, VA leave for fire fighters
May 15th, 2008
Jimmy Hamrick, Jeremy’s father, says mentally, the firehouse experience was positive for Jeremy, but now he does not want to go back. J
eremy says he was duct taped to a chair, and then to an outdoor flag pole. His mouth was covered, his arms secured by his side. He was left outside with no coat on. The back wheels of the chair picked up and it flipped over and he landed on his face, with nothing to catch himself with because of the duct tape.
What his father calls an “initiation” gone wrong lead to several injuries. According to Jimmy Hamrick, “you trust these people to help you in your time of need, and they’ve done this to my child. It makes you wonder who you’re supposed to trust.”
8News also spoke with officials at the Hanover County Fire Department. Division Chief Robert Phipps tells 8News, “the Hanover Fire Department does not condone this type of behavior. An internal investigation has been conducted and we are waiting on the findings from Social Services. Three firefighters have been placed on administrative leave.”
The Hanover Sheriff’s Department has completed their investigation and says no charges will be filed.
2004 Athletics Hazing by Kate Lockwood and Hank Nuwer
May 15th, 2008
Indiana University
Bloomington, Indiana
Possible cross county team hazing
August 27, 2004
Eight freshman members of the university’s men’s cross country team were found running on campus wearing nothing but supporters, and were consequently arrested by IUPD. Investigation continues into the possibility of hazing.
University of North Carolina
Wilmington, North Carolina
Hazing on women’s swim team
April 2004
Younger members of the women’s swim team were allegedly forced to wear certain clothing, paint their faces and run through a local car wash. Sanctions for members of the swim team included hours of community service and mandatory student-athlete education programs.
University of Buffalo
Buffalo, New York
Alleged soccer team hazing
September 2004
Freshman team members were allegedly forced to large quantities of prune juice throughout the course of a day, consume alcohol and were sprayed with spray paint. One freshman team member was taken to a local hospital for dehydration.
Skidmore College
Saratoga Springs, Florida
September 18, 2004
Hockey team hazing
Several freshmen members of the men’s ice hockey team were forced to drink alcohol while attending a party at a fellow student’s apartment. An investigation confirmed hazing had taken place at the party.
Southern Illinois University – Carbondale
Pi Kappa Alpha
Pledge death
April 4, 2004
Pi Kappa Alpha pledge Brent E. Johnson, 19, drowned while camping with other members. The incident has been labeled non hazing-related, but evidence of hazing throughout the fraternity’s past led officials to permanently suspend the chapter.
Southern Arkansas University
Sigma Tau Gamma
Pledge beating
April 16, 2004
Members of the Delta Iota chapter reportedly beat one of its pledges, Ty Keith, 19. Keith was hospitalized for 11 days following the incident. The university has suspended the fraternity for a period of five or more years.
Wabash College
Sigma Chi
Alcohol-related hazing
October, 15, 2004 (reported)
Paul Ackerman, 18, reports that he was forced to eat and drink on command as a pledge. Ackerman is filing a lawsuit after ending up in the emergency room after being forced to drink alcohol.
Fisk University
Kappa Alpha Psi
Pledge beating
September 2004
A potential new member of fraternity was reportedly paddled to the extent that he was unable to walk right after the incident. As a result, Fisk University has taken new steps in preventing another occurrence by forbidding Greek organizations to have any parties or recruitment events for the school year.
Oklahoma University
Sigma Chi
Alcohol-related death
September 30, 2004
Blake Adam Hammontree died after drinking large quantities of alcohol. Hammontree had a BAC of 0.42. He was found at the Sigma Chi house. Other Sigma Chi pledges admitted to being pressured to drink by other members.
Arizona State University
Pi Kappa Alpha
Pledge whipping
March 15, 2004
Anonymous photos show Pi Kappa Alpha pledges being severely whipped while holding pieces of lime in their mouths. A professional stripper may have also been present. Pi Kappa Alpha’s national headquarters has temporarily suspended the chapter while investigation continues.
University of Maryland
Sigma Alpha Epsilon
Suspected hazing
October 14, 2004 (reported)
The chapter has been charged with allegations of hazing. The university’s Office of Judicial Programs has banned many of the chapter’s Greek activities until further notice.
University of Colorado
Chi Psi
Pledge death
September 17, 2004
Chi Psi pledge Lynn Gordon Bailey, 18, died of alcohol poisoning during a pledge event. He was found at the chapter house with inked marks on his body after other members had written on him. Chapter pledges were reportedly forced to drink the large quantities of alcohol, though spokeswoman Julie Brooks argues they were not. The chapter was closed.
Emory University
Kappa Alpha Psi
Pledge physical and mental hazing
April 15, 2004 (reported)
Raymond McKoy sent a letter to numerous news organizations describing the physical and mental abuse that he and his fellow pledges endured. The incidents included physical beatings, menial tasks, sexual hazing and mental abuse.
Moderator's note: As moderator, I'll publish all relevant news stories, letters from activists, pro-hazing letters, and opinion pieces. Although hazing in fraternities, high schools, bands, camp, the military and overseas groups is a hot-button issue, civility is expected. If a letter needs editing for grammar or clarity, I'll edit and return for the letter writer's approval if an email address is attached. BIO: Hank Nuwer is the editor of The Hazing Reader (Indiana University Press) and High School Hazing (Grolier/Scholastic). My website is http://hazing.hanknuwer.com.
